This 3d animation shows our Universe’s first stars’ light, emerging from the early mix of matter and energy of our universe. Astronomers from Arizona state university and MIT detected light from the universe’s first stars, much earlier in the universe’s history than previously thought. The massive blue stars are embedded in the early universe’s gaseous filaments, and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) is just visible at the edges where the light of the stars does not reach. The filaments of gas criss-crossing the early universe absorbed the stars’ UV light, and in turn, the UV light dims our recordings of the CMB.
For more information on the Firs Stars Animation, visit the case study on creating the astronomy visuals for the National Science Foundation. Related images include the First stars illustration and the updated History of the Universe illustrated infographic.