Capabilities

ALMA is proving that it can make extremely important contributions in a variety of scientific specialties:

• Study the first stars and galaxies that emerged from the cosmic “dark ages”, billions of years ago. These objects lie at huge distances, with most of their emissions stretched out to millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, due to the expansion of the Universe. ALMA’s Deep Field.
• Within the nearby Universe, ALMA provides an unprecedented ability to study the processes of star and galaxy formation. Unimpeded by the dust that obscures visible light observations, ALMA can reveal the details of young, still-forming stars and show young planets still in the process of development.
• ALMA is allowing scientists to carry out research on the complex chemistry of the giant cosmic clouds of gas and dust that spawn stars and planetary systems.