Earliest detection of metal challenges what we know about the first galaxies
https://phys.org/news/2024-06-earliest-metal-galaxies.html
By the University of Cambridge
Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), detecting carbon in a galaxy just 350 million years after the Big Bang. This finding marks the earliest detection of any element other than hydrogen, challenging our understanding of the first galaxies. Led by the University of Cambridge, the international team observed a young, compact galaxy, revealing significant amounts of carbon. This discovery sheds light on the chemical evolution of the universe, suggesting that carbon formed much earlier than previously thought. The study of such early metals provides crucial insights into the formation of stars, planets, and potentially life itself.