Spot the first star of the universe

For the first time, astronomers found traces of one of the earliest stars in the universe.

Scientists have found traces of a giant star in the chemical composition of a star in our galaxy. That star is called SDSS J0018-0939 , which has a low metallic value.

'This is a rather unique star with a very specific chemical model, never seen before. The star revealed the chemical composition of the earliest star formed in the universe several hundred million years ago, after the Big Bang explosion, "said Dr. Wako Aoki (Japan National Observatory). .

The first stars were born a few hundred million years ago after the Big Bang - (Photo: BBC News)

The researchers used the Subaru telescope, creating a spectrum of 150 stars with high resolution, by breaking down light in different wavelengths. Then, study the chemical composition of a low-metallic star , deduce the chemical composition of the first supernova explosions.

Nuclear synthesis occurs in the core of the first generation stars that produce heavier elements that we know today, like carbon, oxygen, magnesium and iron. How that happens, how the transformation of the universe is increasingly complicated, depending on the masses of the first stars.

"The second clue in this study, we found that the two barium and strontium elements are extremely low. Thus, the giant star exploded before they could produce such a heavy element."

However, scientists do not know whether a large number of big stars actually exist. Giant stars exist only three million years, shorter than what was expected. So, maybe no first giant star survives to this day. If so, we must observe them in galaxies further.

This new discovery helps astronomers collect the entire history of star formation, including the various chemical elements that created life on our Earth.