‘Universe’s watery birth’: How the first stars drenched space in cosmic oceans
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Primordial Fire
Water’s hydrogen originated from the Big Bang, making it one of the universe’s earliest molecules.
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Cosmic Fusion
Oxygen, a key ingredient of water, was forged in the fiery cores of massive stars through nuclear fusion.
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Early Universe
Water was thought to be rare in the early universe, increasing with each generation of stars.
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Population Stars
Astronomers classify stars into Pop I, II, and III, with Pop III being the oldest and least metallic.
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First Stars
Pop III stars, massive and composed of hydrogen and helium, were the universe’s first light sources.
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Explosive Origins
When massive Pop III stars died, they exploded as pair-instability supernovae, enriching space with water.
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Water Clouds
Simulations suggest early molecular clouds had 10–30 times more water than today’s Milky Way clouds.
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Early Life?
By 200 million years post-Big Bang, molecular clouds could have contained enough water for life to emerge.
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Cosmic Dryness
Astrophysical processes likely destroyed early water, creating a “dry period” before later star generations.
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Ancient Waters
Water around us may trace back to the first stars, linking today’s life to the universe’s ancient beginnings.
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