About 13.8 billion years ago, the newborn universe was a blazing sea of energy and particles. Within minutes of the Big Bang, conditions had cooled enough for the very first atoms—mostly hydrogen, ...

Seconds after the Big Bang, the newborn universe gave rise to the first elements—ionized forms of hydrogen and helium. These particles combined, forging helium hydride—the first ever molecule. It ...

Immediately after the Big Bang, which occurred around 13.8 billion years ago, the universe was dominated by unimaginably high temperatures and densities. However, after just a few seconds, it had ...

The first type of molecule that ever formed in the universe has been detected in space for the first time, after decades of searching. Scientists discovered its signature in our own galaxy using the ...

It's safe to say that our existence wouldn't be possible without molecules. Even beyond all the matter on Earth, molecules are what shaped the Universe into what it is today. But what was the first ...

To understand the dawn of chemistry, scientists can’t use test tubes and flasks: They need a modified Boeing 747 jet. Caitlin Saks and Arlo Pérez Esquivel learn all about NASA’s unique SOFIA ...

Molecules containing noble gases shouldn’t exist. By definition, these chemical elements — helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon — are the party poopers of the periodic table, huddling in the ...

Scientists have long suspected that helium hydride was the first molecule in the universe, but no one has ever detected it in space until now. NASA researchers have spotted helium hydride many light ...

Reaction scheme and energetic level of the investigated reaction of the helium hydride ion with deuterium. It is a swift and barrierless reaction, contrary to earlier theories. Background: The ...