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The recent discovery of a galaxy at z = 7.3 with undetected optical emission lines and a blue UV-to-optical continuum ratio in JWST spectroscopy is surprising and needs to be explained physically. Here, we explore two possibilities that could cause such a seemingly quiescent ∼5 × 108 M ⊙ galaxy in the early Universe: (i) stochastic variations in the star formation history (SFH) and (ii) the effect of spatially varying dust attenuation on the measured line and continuum emission properties. Both scenarios can play out at the same time to amplify the effect. A stochastic star formation model (similar to realistic SFHs from hydrodynamical simulations of similar-mass galaxies) can create such observed properties if star formation is fast-varying with a correlation time of <150 Myr given a reasonable burst amplitude of ∼0.6 dex. The total time spent in this state is less than 20 Myr, and the likelihood of such a state to occur over 500 Myr at z = 7 is ∼50% (consistent with current observations). On the other hand, we show that a spectrum with blue UV continuum and lack of emission lines can be reproduced by a blue+red composite spectrum. The UV continuum is emitted from dust-free density-bounded H ii regions (blue component), while the red component is a dust-obscured starburst with weakened emission lines due to strong differential dust attenuation between stellar and nebular emission. Future resolving far-infrared observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array will shed light on the latter scenario.

The exceptional spectra of the most luminous z > 10 sources observed so far have challenged our understanding of early galaxy evolution, requiring a new observational benchmark for meaningful interpretation. As such, we construct spectroscopic templates representative of high-redshift, star-forming populations, using 482 confirmed sources at z = 5.0−12.9 with JWST/NIRSpec prism observations, and report on their average properties. We find z = 5−11 galaxies are dominated by blue UV continuum slopes (β = −2.3 to −2.7) and reduced Balmer indices, characteristic of dust-poor and young systems, with a shift towards bluer slopes and younger ages with redshift. The evolution is mirrored by ubiquitous C iii] detections across all redshifts (rest-frame equivalent widths of 5−14 Å), which increase in strength towards early times. Rest-frame optical lines reveal elevated ratios (O32 = 7–31, R23 = 5–8, and Ne3O2 = 1−2) and subsolar metallicities (log(O/H) = 7.3−7.9), typical of ionization conditions and metallicities rarely observed in z ∼ 0 populations. Within our sample, we identify 57 Lyα emitters, which we stack and compare to a matched sample of nonemitters. The former are characterized by more extreme ionizing conditions with enhanced C iii], C iv, and He ii + [O iii] line emission, younger stellar populations from Balmer jumps, and a more pristine interstellar medium seen through bluer UV slopes and elevated rest-frame optical line ratios. The novel comparison illustrates important intrinsic differences between the two populations, with implications for Lyα visibility. The spectral templates derived here represent a new observational benchmark with which to interpret high-redshift sources, lifting our constraints on their global properties to unprecedented heights and extending out to the earliest of cosmic times.

We report JWST/NIRSpec observations of a star-forming galaxy at z = 2.76, MACS J1149-WR1. We securely detect two temperature-sensitive auroral lines, [S iii] 6312 (7.4σ) and [O ii] 7320+7331 doublets (10σ), and tentatively [n ii] 5755 (2.3σ) for the first time in an individual galaxy at z > 1. We perform a detailed analysis of its interstellar media (ISM), and derive electron temperatures, various heavy element abundances (O/H, N/O, S/O, and Ar/O) in the hot ionized region, and the neutral fraction in the warm ionized region. MACS J1149-WR1 shows a broad feature at the wavelength of He ii 4686, which consists of a broad (∼1000 km s−1), blueshifted (∼−110 km s−1) line component. Taken together with its mildly elevated N/O abundance, we conclude that MACS J1149-WR1 is experiencing a young starburst (≲10 Myr), likely hosting a large number of Wolf–Rayet (W-R) stars. None of its spectral features support the presence of active galactic nuclei, including (i) the absence of broad components and velocity shifts in hydrogen recombination lines, (ii) low [Fe ii]1.257 μm/Paβ ratio, and (iii) the absence of high-ionization lines. Our analysis using He i lines reveals a higher electron temperature and a higher attenuation value, indicating that He i may probe a smaller spatial scale than H i, presumably the region dominated by the aforementioned W-R stars. The star formation rates derived from various He i lines broadly agree with those from hydrogen recombination lines. We thus advocate that He i can be an excellent, independent probe of multiphase ISM in the era of JWST.

We present a comprehensive search and analysis of high-redshift galaxies in a suite of nine public JWST extragalactic fields taken in Cycle 1, covering a total effective search area of ∼358arcmin2 . Through conservative (8σ) photometric selection, we identify 341 galaxies at 5 < z < 14, with 109 having spectroscopic redshift measurements from the literature, including recent JWST NIRSpec observations. Our regression analysis reveals that the rest-frame UV size–stellar mass relation follows Reff∝M*0.19±0.03 , similar to that of star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 3, but scaled down in size by ∼0.7 dex. We find a much slower rate for the average size evolution over the redshift range, R eff ∝ (1 + z)−0.4±0.2, than that derived in the literature. A fraction (∼13%) of our sample galaxies are marginally resolved even in the NIRCam imaging (≲100 pc), located at ≳1.5σ below the derived size–mass slope. These compact sources exhibit a high star formation surface density ΣSFR > 10 M ⊙ yr−1 kpc−2, a range in which only <0.01% of the local star-forming galaxy sample is found. For those with available NIRSpec data, no evidence of ongoing supermassive black hole accretion is observed. A potential explanation for the observed high [O iii]-to-Hβ ratios could be high shock velocities, likely originating within intense star-forming regions characterized by high ΣSFR. Lastly, we find that the rest-frame UV and optical sizes of our sample are comparable. Our results are consistent with these early galaxies building up their structures inside out and being yet to exhibit the strong color gradient seen at lower redshift.

We present analyses of a nitrogen-enriched star-forming galaxy, ID60001, at z = 4.6928 based on James Webb Space Telescope/NIRSpec Multi-Object Spectroscopy and NIRCam photometry. From rest-frame optical emission lines we derive the nitrogen-to-oxygen (N/O) abundance ratio of ID60001 to be log(N/O)=−0.76−0.03+0.03 ( [N/O]=0.10−0.03+0.03 ), which is significantly elevated at the corresponding metallicity 12+log(O/H)=7.75−0.01+0.01 (Z/Z⊙ = 0.12) compared to local counterparts. We discuss possible scenarios for elevated N/O abundance in ID60001, including pristine gas inflow, Wolf–Rayet (W-R) stars, and oxygen depletion by Type II supernova winds. Based on the moderately broadened He iiλ4686 emission line, galaxy morphology, and star formation history, we conclude that the elevated N/O abundance of ID60001 is likely originated from massive (>25 M⊙) W-R stars that directly collapse into a black hole. We also stress the importance of reliable electron density measurements when deriving N/O abundance with rest-frame optical emission lines.

We study the morphological properties of mid-infrared selected galaxies at 1.0 < z < 1.7 in the SMACS J0723.3-7327 cluster field to investigate the mechanisms of galaxy mass assembly and structural formation at cosmic noon. We develop a new algorithm to decompose the dust and stellar components of individual galaxies by using high-resolution images in the MIRI F770W and NIRCam F200W bands. Our analysis reveals that a significant number of galaxies with stellar masses between 109.5 < M */M ⊙ < 1010.5 exhibit dust cores that are relatively more compact than their stellar cores. Specifically, within this mass range, the nonparametric method indicates that the dust cores are 1.23 (±0.05) times more compact than the stellar cores on average when evaluated with flux concentration of the two components within a fixed radius. Similarly, the parametric method yields an average compactness ratio of 1.27 (±0.06). Notably, the most massive galaxy (M * ∼ 1010.9 M ⊙) in our sample demonstrates a comparable level of compactness between its stellar core and dust, with a dust-to-stellar ratio of 0.86 (0.89) as derived from nonparametric (parametric) method. The observed compactness of the dust component is potentially attributed to the presence of a (rapidly growing) massive bulge that in some cases is associated with elevated star formation. Expanding the sample size through a joint analysis of multiple Cycle 1 deep-imaging programs can help to confirm the inferred picture. Our pilot study highlights that MIRI offers an efficient approach to studying the structural formation of galaxies from cosmic noon to the modern Universe.

We present results on the Paschen-α (Paα) emitting galaxies observed as part of the JWST FRESCO survey in the GOODS-North and GOODS-South fields. Utilizing the JWST NIRCam wide field slitless spectroscopy (WFSS), we analyze emission line fluxes, star formation rates, and spatially resolved flux distributions of 97 Paα emitters at 1 < z < 1.6. To assess dust extinction within our sample, we combine Paα fluxes with archival Hα data taken with the Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 G141 grism. We employ 2D Paα and F444W mapping to trace the distributions of star formation and stellar mass, respectively. Our observations indicate that lower mass galaxies are almost dust free in Paα and exhibit smaller sizes both in star formation and underlying stellar continuum. In contrast, galaxies with stellar masses above 109.5M⊙ display diverse dust extinction and star formation patterns. This indicates that the structures and properties of massive galaxies evolve through different phases, which involve, e.g., star formation in massive clumps, compaction, and inside-out quenching. While average dust extinction rises with stellar mass, there is significant scatter among high-mass systems. This study demonstrates the capabilities of JWST WFSS in conducting systematic investigations of emission line galaxies and highlights the pivotal role of Paα in advancing our understanding of dust extinction and obscured star formation in the early Universe.

We present new measurements of galaxy luminosity functions (LFs) from JWST/NIRCam imaging over the redshift range z = 4.5–9.7, using photometric catalogs from JADES and public extragalactic fields. Our analysis includes rest-frame UV and B-band LFs, as well as apparent LFs in F090W, F115W, F200W, F356W, and F444W. We present the first constraints on the rest-frame B-band LF at z ∼ 7–8 and extend existing measurements at z ∼ 5 to MB = −18 mag. The B-band LFs evolve more strongly with redshift than UV LFs, though both decline more gradually than predicted by simulations at z > 5. No single existing simulation reproduces all observed trends, with discrepancies likely driven by assumptions about binary evolution and stellar population synthesis models. The apparent LFs in F356W and F444W show hints of a bright-end excess at all redshifts, extending to fainter magnitudes at higher redshift. While extreme emission-line galaxies may partially account for it, the excess may also indicate a population of moderately red, optically bright sources—potentially dusty star-forming galaxies or obscured AGNs. Finally, we find that rest-frame B-band luminosity correlates more tightly with stellar mass than UV, making it a powerful tracer of mass assembly and reinforcing the diagnostic value of rest-frame optical LFs in uncovering the physical processes that drive early galaxy formation.

We analyze new JWST NIRCam and NIRSpec data on the redshift 9.11 galaxy MACS1149-JD1 (hereafter JD1). Our NIRCam imaging data reveal that JD1 comprises three spatially distinct components. Our spectroscopic data indicate that JD1 appears dust free but is already enriched, 12+log(O/H)=7.90−0.05+0.04 . We also find that the carbon and neon abundances in JD1 are below the solar abundance ratio. Particularly the carbon under-abundance is suggestive of recent star formation where Type II supernovae have already enriched the interstellar medium (ISM) in oxygen but intermediate mass stars have not yet enriched the ISM in carbon. A recent burst of star formation is also revealed by the star formation history derived from NIRCam photometry. Our data do not reveal the presence of a significant amount of old populations, resulting in a factor of ∼7× smaller stellar mass than previous estimates. Thus, our data support the view that JD1 is a young galaxy.

We present deep JWST NIRSpec observations in the sight line of MACS J1149.5+2223, a massive cluster of galaxies at z = 0.54. We report the spectroscopic redshift of 28 sources at 3 < z < 9.1, including nine sources with the detection of the OIIIλ4363 auroral line. Combining these with 16 OIIIλ4363 -detected sources from publicly available JWST data, our sample consists of 25 galaxies with robust gas-phase metallicity measurements via the direct method. We observe a positive correlation between stellar mass and metallicity, with an ∼0.5 dex offset down below the local relation. Interestingly, we find a larger-than-expected scatter of ∼0.3 dex around the relation, which cannot be explained by redshift evolution among our sample or other third parameters. The scatter increases at higher redshift, and we tentatively attribute this to the enrichment process having higher stochasticity, due to shallower potential wells, more intense feedback processes, and a higher galaxy merger rate. Despite reaching a considerably low-mass regime ( logM*/M⊙∼7.3 ), our samples have metallicity of log(O/H) +12 ≳ 7, i.e., comparable to the most metal-poor galaxies in the local Universe. The search for primordial galaxies may be accomplished by extending toward a lower mass and/or by investigating inhomogeneities at smaller spatial scales. Lastly, we investigate potential systematics caused by the limitation of JWST’s Micro-Shutter Assembly observations. Caution is warranted when the target exceeds the slit size, as this situation could allow an overestimation of global metallicity, especially under the presence of a strong negative metallicity gradient.