Were the first stars dark?
A new study suggests that the universe's first stars were dark, invisible 'dark stars' powered by dark matter. These massive stars could be billions of years old and would generate gamma rays, neutrinos, and antimatter.
First Stars
Articles tagged with First Stars
Oldest stars may shed light on dark matter, researchers report in Science
The universe's earliest stars, formed in warm dark matter strings, could help clarify whether the universe is made of warm or cold dark matter. These ancient stars would have formed in long filaments and could provide new insights into dark matter's energy and its impact on galaxy formation.
Astronomers find hundreds of young, distant galaxy clusters
A team of astronomers has found nearly 300 new galaxy clusters and groups, including 100 at extreme distances of eight to 10 billion light years. This discovery will allow scientists to study very young galaxies two-thirds of the way back to the Big Bang.
Scientists piece together the most distant cosmic explosion
Researchers analyze gamma-ray burst GRB 050904 to understand the conditions of the early universe. The burst, detected in 2005, provides a probe to study the universe beyond the reach of large telescopes.
Astronomers measure mass of a single star - first since the Sun
Astronomers have directly measured the mass of a single star, the first time this feat has been accomplished for any star other than our own sun. The star, nearly 2,000 light-years away, was found to have one-tenth the mass of the Sun using a combination of old and new astronomical techniques.
New theory finds middle ground between conflicting evidence for first stars
A new theory by Jason Tumlinson and colleagues reconciles two conflicting pieces of evidence on the nature of the first stars. The theory suggests that these early stars were smaller than previously thought, with masses between 20-100 times that of the sun.
Supercomputer simulations provide details of formation of the first star universe
Cosmologists have developed a new simulation model that suggests the first star in the universe formed from a cloud of hydrogen and helium at least 100 times more massive than our sun. The simulations provide insights into the chemical elements produced in stars, including metals heavier than lithium.
Simulation Reveals Very First Stars That Formed In The Universe
Astronomers used numerical cosmology to study the earliest structures that formed in the universe, finding tiny star clusters containing 1,000-10,000 solar masses. These early clusters were likely the 'spark plugs' that started the formation of galaxies.