NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) may have discovered the universe’s oldest stars, called Population III or POP III stars. These ancient stars are found in a galaxy called LAP1-B, about 13 billion light-years away from Earth.
The study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters suggests that JWST’s infrared spectrum showed intense ultraviolet light from these stars. Researchers led by astronomer Eli Visbal believe that the conditions for Population III star formation were met in LAP1-B.
Three key factors support this claim:
– A low-metallicity environment suitable for star formation.
– Low-mass clusters with only a few large stars present.
– Meeting mathematical conditions for the initial mass function.
The discovery could provide insights into the structure and evolution of the universe’s first cosmic systems, potentially serving as building blocks for larger galaxies.
Further study is needed to confirm these findings and understand how Population III stars transitioned into the second generation of stars.
Source: https://www.ndtv.com/feature/nasa-may-have-detected-oldest-stars-in-universe-formed-after-big-bang-9674369