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, ...

In a monumental breakthrough, scientists have recreated the universe’s first molecule, helium hydride (HeH⁺), solving a puzzle that has baffled astronomers for over 13 billion years. The discovery ...

Recreating the conditions of the very early universe has allowed researchers to observe the earliest molecule in the universe, helium hydride, and its behavior. The achievement has produced more than ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...