![\"Scientists](\"https:\/\/wp-assets.futurism.com\/2019\/04\/first-molecule-universe-helium-hydride-300x158.png\")
<\/div>Happy Hunting<\/h2>
Based on scientists’ calculations, the first molecule to ever form from stray atoms in the universe<\/a> was likely helium hydride, a combination of helium and hydrogen.<\/p> For decades, physicists have hunted the universe for the elusive molecule. And now an international team of researchers say they’ve finally found it<\/a> — thereby confirming the presumed first step in the universe’s chemistry.<\/p> In a study<\/a> published in the journal Nature<\/em> Wednesday, the researchers describe how they used NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), the world’s largest airborne observatory, to detect helium hydride in a planetary nebula about 3,000 light-years away from Earth.<\/p> “It was so exciting to be there, seeing helium hydride for the first time in the data,” researcher Rolf Guesten said in a news release<\/a>. “This brings a long search to a happy ending and eliminates doubts about our understanding of the underlying chemistry of the early universe.”<\/p> READ MORE: <\/strong>The Universe’s First Type of Molecule Is Found at Last<\/a> [NASA]<\/p> More on the early universe:<\/strong> Scientists Now Know When the First Stars Formed in the Universe<\/a><\/em><\/p> The post Astronomers Finally Found the Universe’s First Type of Molecule<\/a> appeared first on Futurism<\/a>.<\/p> See the original post here: Happy Hunting Based on scientists\u2019 calculations, the first molecule to ever form\u00a0from stray atoms in the universe was likely helium hydride,\u00a0a combination of helium and hydrogen. Continue reading No Doubt<\/h2>
Astronomers Finally Found the Universe’s First Type of Molecule<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"