A consolidated grant for Sheffield Astrophysics 2021-2024

Sheffield astrophysicists are using the world’s most powerful telescopes to map how galaxies, stars, and planets form and evolve over cosmic time. This research addresses a fundamental gap in knowledge: we do not yet fully understand how the Universe assembled its structures—from the first galaxies to the solar systems we see today. The team will analyse data from leading international facilities, including the James Webb Space Telescope and the Square Kilometre Array, to test models of galaxy formation and the life cycles of stars. This is fundamental, curiosity-driven science. It will not produce a new battery or a faster computer chip next year. But similar work in the past—such as studies of stellar fusion or cosmic microwave background radiation—has unexpectedly led to advances in medical imaging, satellite navigation, and semiconductor manufacturing. A deeper understanding of how stars forge heavy elements, or how galaxies regulate their own growth, could one day inform technologies we cannot yet imagine. For now, the immediate impact is a more complete picture of where we sit in the Universe.