Astronomers detect oldest known stardust in distant galaxy

Observations offer clues to early cosmic history

illustration of galaxy dust

DISTANT DUST  Observations from an array of telescopes in Chile show that a distant, young galaxy (illustrated above) is filled with dust probably produced by the first supernova explosions in the universe.

M. Kornmesser/ESO

Astronomers may have spotted some of the earliest stardust ever created in the cosmos.