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Astrophysics

Scientists Recreate Universe’s First Molecule, Shedding Light on Star Formation Puzzle

Long before stars lit up the sky, the universe was a hot, dense place where simple chemistry quietly set the stage for everything to come. Scientists have now recreated the first molecule ever to form, helium hydride, and discovered it played a much bigger role in the birth of stars than we thought. Using a special ultra-cold lab setup, they mimicked conditions from over 13 billion years ago and found that this ancient molecule helped cool the universe just enough for stars to ignite. Their findings could rewrite part of the story about how the cosmos evolved from darkness to light.
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The universe’s history is divided into distinct periods. The Big Bang marked the beginning of the universe around 13.8 billion years ago. Initially, temperatures were incredibly high and densities were unimaginable. However, just a few seconds later, the universe had cooled down enough for the first elements to form, primarily hydrogen and helium. These elements remained completely ionized at this point, as it took nearly 380,000 years for temperatures in the universe to drop enough for neutral atoms to form through recombination with free electrons.

The oldest molecule in existence is the helium hydride ion (HeH+), formed from a neutral helium atom and an ionized hydrogen nucleus. This marks the beginning of a chain reaction that leads to the formation of molecular hydrogen (H2), which is by far the most common molecule in the universe.

Recombination was followed by the ‘dark age’ of cosmology, where the universe became transparent due to bound electrons but lacked light-emitting objects like stars. Several hundred million years passed before the first stars formed. However, simple molecules such as HeH⁺ and H2 were crucial for star formation during this early phase.

In order for a gas cloud in a protostar to collapse to the point where nuclear fusion can begin, heat must be dissipated. This occurs through collisions that excite atoms and molecules, which then emit energy in the form of photons. At temperatures below around 10,000 degrees Celsius, however, this process becomes ineffective for dominant hydrogen atoms.

Further cooling can only take place via molecules that can emit additional energy through rotation and vibration. Due to its pronounced dipole moment, the HeH⁺ ion is particularly effective at these low temperatures and has long been considered a potentially important candidate for cooling in the early universe.

During this period, collisions with free hydrogen atoms were a major degradation pathway for HeH⁺, forming a neutral helium atom and an H2⁺ ion. These subsequently reacted with another H atom to form a neutral H2 molecule and a proton, leading to the formation of molecular hydrogen.

Researchers at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik (MPIK) in Heidelberg have now successfully recreated this reaction under conditions similar to those in the early universe for the first time. They investigated the reaction of HeH⁺ with deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen containing an additional neutron in the atomic nucleus alongside a proton.

The experiment was carried out at the Cryogenic Storage Ring (CSR) at the MPIK in Heidelberg—a globally unique instrument for investigating molecular and atomic reactions under space-like conditions. For this purpose, HeH⁺ ions were stored in the 35-metre-diameter ion storage ring for up to 60 seconds at a few kelvins (-267 °C), and were superimposed with a beam of neutral deuterium atoms.

By adjusting the relative speeds of the two particle beams, the scientists were able to study how the collision rate varies with collision energy, which is directly related to temperature. They found that the rate at which this reaction proceeds does not slow down with decreasing temperature but remains almost constant.

“This result brings us closer to solving the mystery of star formation,” explains Dr Holger Kreckel from the MPIK. “The reactions of HeH⁺ with neutral hydrogen and deuterium therefore appear to have been far more important for chemistry in the early universe than previously assumed.”

This observation is consistent with the findings of a group of theoretical physicists led by Yohann Scribano, who identified an error in the calculation of the potential surface used in all previous calculations for this reaction. The new calculations using the improved potential surface now align closely with the CSR experiment.

Since the concentrations of molecules such as HeH⁺ and molecular hydrogen (H2 or HD) played an important role in the formation of the first stars, this result brings us closer to solving the mystery of their formation.

Source:Max-Planck-Institut fur Kernphysik
Original Link:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803011840.htm
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Astrophysics

The Unifying Language of Mathematics: A New Perspective on Physics and Cosmology

By exploring positive geometry, mathematicians are revealing hidden shapes that may unify particle physics and cosmology, offering new ways to understand both collisions in accelerators and the origins of the universe.
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August 19, 2025

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The Unifying Language of Mathematics: A New Perspective on Physics and Cosmology

Mathematics and physics have long been intertwined, with each field driving the development of new mathematical ideas and concepts. Recent work by mathematicians Claudia Fevola from Inria Saclay and Anna-Laura Sattelberger from the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences has shed light on how algebraic structures and geometric shapes can be used to understand phenomena ranging from particle collisions to the large-scale architecture of the cosmos.

The research centers around algebraic geometry, a field that explores the relationships between algebraic equations and geometric shapes. The authors draw on this knowledge to develop a new mathematical framework, positive geometry, which has far-reaching implications for our understanding of physics and cosmology.

Positive geometry is not just a tool, but a language that can unify our understanding of nature at all scales. It offers an alternative way to compute scattering amplitudes, from which one can derive probabilities of scattering events. This approach has significant implications for particle physics, as it provides a more efficient and accurate method for calculating the behavior of particles in high-energy collisions.

Moreover, positive geometry is being applied to cosmology, where scientists are using the faint light of the cosmic microwave background and the distribution of galaxies to infer what shaped the early universe. Similar mathematical tools are now being used to reconstruct the physical laws that governed the birth of the cosmos.

The study highlights the potential of positive geometry to influence fundamental research in both physics and mathematics. The authors emphasize that this is a young field, but it has the potential to significantly impact our understanding of nature at all scales.

The recent developments in positive geometry are not only advancing our understanding of the physical world but also pushing the boundaries of mathematics itself. It is now up to the scientific community to work out the details of these emerging mathematical objects and theories and to validate them. Encouragingly, several successful collaborations have already laid important groundwork.

This rewritten article aims to provide a clear and concise overview of the research on positive geometry and its implications for physics and cosmology, making it accessible to a general audience. The prompt for image generation is designed to visually represent the complex concepts discussed in the article, while also conveying the beauty and intricacy of mathematics.

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Asteroids, Comets and Meteors

The Elusive Planet Next Door Continues to Baffle Astronomers

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has detected strong evidence for a giant planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A, the nearest Sun-like star to Earth. Located just 4 light-years away, this possible Saturn-mass world may travel between one and two times the distance from its star that Earth does from the Sun. The planet appears to lie in the habitable zone, though its gas giant nature makes it unlikely to host life.
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The search for exoplanets has been a thrilling adventure in recent years, with scientists using various methods to detect worlds beyond our solar system. One such method involves observing the light emitted by stars, which can be affected by the presence of planets. In the case of the Alpha Centauri star system, located just 4 light-years away from Earth, astronomers have been trying to confirm the existence of a giant planet orbiting one of its three stars.

Using the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, researchers have found strong evidence of a possible gas giant planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A. The observations were made in August 2024 and February 2025, using the coronagraphic mask aboard MIRI to block the light from Alpha Centauri A. While the initial detection was exciting, additional observations in April 2025 did not reveal any objects like the one identified in August 2024.

To investigate this mystery, researchers used computer models to simulate millions of potential orbits, incorporating the knowledge gained when they saw the planet and when they did not. These simulations suggested that the planet could be a gas giant approximately the mass of Saturn, orbiting Alpha Centauri A in an elliptical path varying between one to two times the distance between the Sun and Earth.

While the existence of this planet is still uncertain, it would mark a new milestone for exoplanet imaging efforts if confirmed. The potential planet seen in the Webb image of Alpha Centauri A would be the closest to its star seen so far, and its very existence in a system of two closely separated stars would challenge our understanding of how planets form, survive, and evolve in chaotic environments.

The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory, and its MIRI instrument was developed through a 50-50 partnership between NASA and ESA. The telescope is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it.

If confirmed by additional observations, the team’s results could transform the future of exoplanet science. This would become a touchstone object for exoplanet science, with multiple opportunities for detailed characterization by Webb and other observatories. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set to launch by May 2027, is equipped with dedicated hardware that will test new technologies to observe binary systems like Alpha Centauri in search of other worlds.

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Astrophysics

Harnessing the Power of Black Holes: A Tiny Spacecraft’s Quest to Rewrite Physics

A visionary plan proposes sending a paperclip-sized spacecraft, powered by Earth-based lasers, to a nearby black hole within a century. Led by astrophysicist Cosimo Bambi, the mission would test the limits of general relativity and explore the mysteries of event horizons. While current technology can t yet achieve it, advancements in nanocraft design, laser propulsion, and black hole detection could make the journey possible within decades, potentially rewriting the laws of physics as we know them.
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The possibility of sending a tiny spacecraft to a nearby black hole has sparked excitement among astrophysicists. Cosimo Bambi, an expert on black holes, has outlined the blueprint for such a mission in the journal iScience. If successful, this century-long journey could revolutionize our understanding of physics and the laws governing space and time.

Bambi believes that with advancements in technology, it’s not entirely impossible to achieve this feat. The first challenge lies in finding a black hole close enough to target. Previous knowledge suggests there might be one lurking 20-25 light-years from Earth, but detecting it won’t be easy due to their invisible nature. Instead, scientists study them by observing the effects they have on nearby stars or distortions in light.

New techniques for discovering black holes may lead to finding a nearby one within the next decade. Once identified, the next hurdle is getting there with a spacecraft that can withstand the journey. Bambi proposes using nanocrafts – gram-scale probes consisting of a microchip and light sail – accelerated by Earth-based lasers to a third of the speed of light.

At this pace, the craft could reach a black hole 20-25 light-years away in about 70 years, with data gathering taking another two decades to get back to Earth. This would make the total mission duration around 80-100 years. Upon reaching the black hole, researchers can run experiments to answer pressing questions like: does it truly have an event horizon? Do the rules of physics change near a black hole? And does Einstein’s theory of general relativity hold under extreme conditions?

Bambi acknowledges that creating such a spacecraft is currently beyond our capabilities and would require significant advancements in technology. However, with advancements in funding and technological progress over the next 30 years, he believes it may be possible to make this vision a reality.

As Bambi notes, people once thought detecting gravitational waves or observing black hole shadows was impossible, but we achieved those milestones within a century. This work highlights the power of human ingenuity and our relentless pursuit of understanding the universe’s secrets.

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