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Thermal dust emission is infrared radiation produced by dust at a higher temperature than normal. This radiation is of interest in the study of the dust itself and also is an interest regarding its effect on observation of objects within or beyond the Milky Way (for foreground subtraction), including studies of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). It also serves as a sign of whatever phenomena is heating the dust, which can be useful observing within the Milky Way and also in investigating other galaxies. It can indicate star formation, given short-lived early stars and their supernovae heat surrounding dust. AGNs also heat surrounding dust.