Early Universe

The study of the early universe focuses on understanding the first stages after the Big Bang, including cosmic inflation and the formation of matter. Key elements include:

  • Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) - Remnants from about 380,000 years post-Big Bang.
  • Recombination Era - The period when electrons combined with protons to form hydrogen atoms.
  • Dark Ages - A phase where no stars or galaxies existed yet, the universe was dark and filled primarily with neutral hydrogen gas.

Key Concepts

  • cosmic-microwave-background
  • recombination-era
  • dark-ages
  • populations-of-stars

Recent Discoveries

  • Potential detection of Population III stars in GN-z11 by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
    • Evidence suggests these are among the universe’s first generation of stars.
    • Observations indicate a significant step towards understanding early star formation and chemical enrichment.

2026 04 12 JWST Detects Evidence of Universes Primordial Population III Stars in