Karin Sandstrom (UCSD): "Early Science from the "Physics at High Angular Resolution in Nearby Galaxies" JWST Treasury

JWST observations of nearby galaxies reveal the physics of the interstellar medium and star formation in stunning detail (5-50 pc resolution). I will present early results from the PHANGS-JWST Treasury program (GO 2107; PI Janice Lee), focusing on four galaxies which were observed in July and August. PHANGS-JWST will eventually cover 19 nearby galaxies, chosen for their deep ancillary data from ALMA, VLT-MUSE, and Hubble, among other observations. The PHANGS-JWST NIRCam and MIRI imaging reveal a wealth of detail — embedded star clusters, pervasive filamentary structure, a multitude of bubbles and shells throughout the diffuse ISM. I will highlight some of the key early science results from our team, including new insights into the behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; characterization of filaments and bubbles; the relationship between mid-IR emission, gas, and star formation; discovery of deeply embedded clusters; constraints on stellar feedback and molecular cloud lifetimes; and more.