NASA’s Flying Telescope Spots Oldest Type of Molecule in the Universe
About ten seconds after the big bang, the
relatively small but rapidly expanding universe consisted of atomic
nuclei, electrons and photons all floating freely in a superheated
plasma. Eventually things cooled enough for these particles to form
stable atoms, and the universe was filled with mostly hydrogen and
helium. Some 100,000 years into the history of the universe, atoms
finally combined to form the first molecules—neutral helium atoms
combined with positively charged hydrogen atoms to form the molecule
helium hydride.
relatively small but rapidly expanding universe consisted of atomic
nuclei, electrons and photons all floating freely in a superheated
plasma. Eventually things cooled enough for these particles to form
stable atoms, and the universe was filled with mostly hydrogen and
helium. Some 100,000 years into the history of the universe, atoms
finally combined to form the first molecules—neutral helium atoms
combined with positively charged hydrogen atoms to form the molecule
helium hydride.
