Scientist may have found universe’s first star

Remnants of a star that exploded more than 13 billion years ago could be the first star of the universe, BBC news reported. 

All that is left of this pioneer is the gas cloud it threw out into space when it first exploded.

The remains of the star are said to have been found when its contents were illuminated by brilliant light coming from the surroundings of a black hole.

To identify the stars, researchers from the Cambridge Institute of Astronomy and California Institute of Technology, used two of the world’s most powerful telescopes -- the Keck facility in Hawaii and the Very Large Telescope in Chile.

Scientists claim the study could provide details of key events which happened in the earliest stages of the universe.

The Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy Professor, Max Pettini told the BBC, “It’s a period we know very little about, but the Universe at that time was a rather boring place, just filled with hydrogen and helium gas and not much else; there was no light - that’s why it’s called the Dark Ages.”

Scientists believe that the very first stars to shine in the Universe were hot giants that fundamentally changed the cosmic environment, but many mysteries remain to be solved.

Now, a new type of telescope which detects low-frequency radio signals from outer space is to be built in Europe, the Telegraph reported. The article said these telescopes would be able to see deeper into space, meaning astronomers could find clues to help unravel how the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang.

By Moon Ye-bin (yebinm@heraldcorp.com)
Intern reporter

Edited by Paul Kerry