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The scientific world is reeling. New discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope (a joint project by ESA, NASA, and CSA) are contradicting our deepest assumptions about how the universe works. Fundamentally, it seems the universe may not be following the rules we mostly thought we understood.
So, what does this mean for space exploration, technology, and future deep tech? And what should European space tech businesses, inventors, investors, and VC funds consider as a result of these latest discoveries?
At Beyond Earth Ventures, we focus on startups building rockets, AI for satellites, space biotech, and fusion breakthroughs. But as space enthusiasts, we also look deeper into the places where theory breaks and mystery begins.
Enter the $10bn Webb telescope, launched in 2021 from French Guiana’s spaceport to study the oldest light in the universe. It has been fully operational since July 2022. Webb is not just an upgrade from Hubble; it’s a time machine, an infrared sentinel, and a destroyer of comfortable scientific assumptions.
Thanks to its findings, we’re on the cusp of major shifts in theoretical physics and cosmology. Over the next few years, expect bold new theories, textbook revisions, and debates about everything from gravity to galaxy origins.
Let’s consider some big discoveries from Webb that challenge our current understanding of the universe:
1. The universe is expanding faster than predicted.
2. Galaxies grew up too fast.
3. Dark matter may be wrong; Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) could be right.
4. Black holes formed much earlier and are more massive than expected.
5. Complex chemistry occurred at an early stage in the universe.
6. Stars formed quickly, not slowly as models predicted.
7. Planetary disks last longer than thought.
8. Galaxies were oddly shaped.
9. Exoplanet atmosphere models are inaccurate.
10. The cosmic web was already formed early.
These discoveries aren’t just scientific trivia; they’re early signals for the tech ecosystem. Europe is uniquely positioned to lead innovation sparked by Webb’s discoveries, with new research efforts at leading centres like Germany’s Max Planck Institutes, the University of Cambridge in the UK, and ETH Zurich in Switzerland.
In the private sector, a new generation of European deep tech startups is emerging:
– Space Forge (UK) develops reusable satellites for advanced material manufacturing.
– BioOrbit (UK) advances microgravity biologics production.
– AIrmo (Germany) deploys LIDAR-equipped satellites to monitor greenhouse gas emissions in real time.
European deep tech companies are increasingly supported by Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme with a total budget of €95.5 billion. Horizon Europe backs high-risk, high-reward projects across climate, digital, and deep tech domains, serving as a bridge between frontier scientific discoveries and breakthrough commercial applications.
If the early universe is nothing like expected, then what else might we be wrong about? Could laws of physics evolve? Are hidden variables in spacetime missing? Is dark matter an illusion, and if so, what shapes galaxies? Could life have started earlier and more often than imagined?
Every question could unlock new waves of fundamental physics, technologies, or entirely new startup categories. From quantum gravity models to exotic materials to AI-designed cosmological simulations, there’s room for founders to build at the edge of mystery.
What next? A new generation of inventions, investors, and eye-opening discoveries. Europe is poised to take advantage by turning Webb’s revelations into commercial successes, shaping the future of science and society alike.
