Astronomers have discovered that water may have formed in the universe just 100 million years after the Big Bang. Computer simulations suggest that dense cloud cores left over from the deaths of two first-generation stars produced significant amounts of water, a key ingredient for life.
Researchers ran computer simulations to study the lives and deaths of two massive stars, one with 13 times the mass of the sun and another 200 times the sun’s mass. These stars exploded as supernovas, dispersing elements like oxygen and hydrogen into space. As the ejected matter expanded and cooled, it eventually formed water vapor.
The simulations showed that the conditions for water formation were met in dense regions of the supernova remnants, where atoms could meet and react to form water. The amount of water produced was significant, with the smaller star producing a mass equivalent to one-third of Earth’s total mass and the larger star producing enough water to equal 330 Earths.
The discovery suggests that the universe may have been habitable much earlier than previously thought. However, forming more complex molecules like those found in life requires relatively dense and cool conditions. Further research is needed to determine if this early water can be combined with other elements to form the building blocks of life.
Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/water-supernovas-early-universe