New research indicates that supernovas, resulting from the explosive deaths of the earliest stars, may have generated vast amounts of water, potentially enabling life as early as 100 million years after the Big Bang. This study, uploaded to arXiv on January 9, focuses on simulations of population III stars, which are estimated to have masses around 200 times that of the Sun.
The researchers propose that the dense material expelled during supernovas created conditions favorable for water molecule formation, with concentrations possibly up to 30 times higher than observed in interstellar gas clouds within the Milky Way. This process could have introduced water as a key component of the first galaxies, possibly laying the groundwork for life.
The findings challenge traditional views on water accumulation in the universe. While it has been thought that water formed over billions of years through gradual processes, this research suggests its existence could date back much earlier. The study raises questions about current water levels in the universe, which appear lower than expected, and considers that ionization and other astrophysical processes may have disrupted early water molecules.
While water is essential for life on Earth, the presence of water in the early universe does not necessarily imply a higher likelihood of extraterrestrial life. Further studies and observations are anticipated to clarify the validity of this theory and its implications for cosmic evolution.