NASA released a new near-infrared image of the Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334) to mark the third anniversary of scientific operations by the James Webb Space Telescope. Captured with Webb’s NIRCam instrument, the observation peers through dense dust about 4,000 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. The picture reveals previously unseen sub-structures—dubbed miniature “pads” or “toe beans”—where massive young stars excavate surrounding gas and dust, creating a bright blue glow. Astronomers say the detail will help unravel the multi-stage process that converts giant molecular clouds into stellar nurseries and eventually halts further star formation. “Three years after launch, Webb is still breaking its own records and exposing new cosmic questions,” said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, NASA’s acting director of astrophysics. He added that insights from Webb are shaping follow-on missions such as the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope and the planned Habitable Worlds Observatory.