The young Universe witnessed supernovae of unprecedented violence, marking the end of life for colossal stars. One such explosion, observed using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), offers a unique glimpse into the earliest cosmic moments.
This supernova, named AT 2023adsv, was detected as part of the JADES program, utilizing JWST's capabilities to explore the far reaches of the Universe. Located at a staggering distance, it exploded approximately 11.4 billion years ago, when the Universe was only 2 billion years old.
Illustration of a massive star going supernova in the young Universe.
Insert: the supernova 2023adsv observed by JWST in 2022 and 2023.
Credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva)/NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, JADES Collaboration
The first stars, much more massive and hotter than those today, experienced titanic explosions. These primordial supernovae, like AT 2023adsv, differ from those observed in the local Universe in terms of their energy and violence. They play a crucial role in the chemical enrichment of galaxies.
Studying these distant explosions allows scientists to better understand the life and death of stars in the young Universe. The JADES program has already identified more than 80 ancient supernovae, offering a unique window into the first generations of stars.
AT 2023adsv, with an estimated mass 20 times that of the Sun, represents a special case. Its explosion, twice as energetic as the average, suggests that the properties of supernovae may have evolved over time. This discovery opens new perspectives on stellar evolution.
The JADES collaboration continues to explore these phenomena with JWST, while the future Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, planned for 2026, promises to multiply discoveries. Together, these instruments will map the history of supernovae and better understand the evolution of the Universe.
JADES deep field showing the location of newly discovered supernovae.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, JADES Collaboration
Research on AT 2023adsv and other ancient supernovae is essential for reconstructing cosmic history. They reveal how the first stars shaped the Universe, enriching the cosmos with heavy elements necessary for the formation of today's stars and planets.
What is a supernova?
A supernova is the cataclysmic explosion of a star at the end of its life, marking one of the most energetic events in the Universe. This phenomenon occurs when the star exhausts its nuclear fuel, causing its core to collapse under gravity.
The resulting explosion disperses the heavy elements synthesized by the star into interstellar space. These elements, such as iron and silicon, are essential for the formation of new stars, planets, and even life.
Supernovae are classified into several types based on their explosion mechanism. Type II supernovae, for example, result from the collapse of massive stars, while Type Ia supernovae are associated with white dwarfs in binary systems.
Studying supernovae not only helps us understand the death of stars but also allows us to measure cosmic distances and explore the expansion of the Universe.
Why were the first stars different?
The first stars, known as Population III, formed in a young Universe composed almost exclusively of hydrogen and helium. Their unique chemical composition influenced their size, temperature, and lifespan.
These stars were massive, often dozens of times heavier than the Sun, and burned their nuclear fuel at a frenetic pace. Their short existence ended with extremely violent supernova explosions.
The absence of heavy elements in their environment also affected their evolution. Unlike current stars, they could not cool effectively, which favored the formation of giant stars.
The supernovae of these first stars played a key role in the chemical enrichment of the Universe, sowing the seeds for subsequent stellar generations and the cosmic structures we observe today.