The early universe wasn’t nearly as pristine as scientists thought

What happened

As gravity gathered this material into dense clouds, stars began to form. JWST has revealed that galaxies were spreading carbon, oxygen, and other heavy elements through space just 500 million years after the Big Bang.

The surprising discovery suggests the young universe became chemically enriched much earlier than expected, potentially erasing traces of its very first stars. Science News from research organizations The early universe wasn’t nearly as pristine as scientists thought JWST reveals that some of the universe’s first galaxies were already spreading the ingredients for planets and life across the cosmos just 500 million years after the Big Bang.

Date: October 2, 2026 Source: University of Arizona Summary: JWST has revealed that galaxies were spreading carbon, oxygen, and other heavy elements through space just 500 million years after the Big Bang. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Only about 500 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was roughly 3% of its current age, some of the first stars and galaxies had already begun to shine. New evidence suggests that picture may be incomplete.