Tracing the Lineage of the First Stars
While we have yet to directly observe the first stars of the cosmos, a new study suggests that their direct descendants, known as second-generation stars, may be lurking in our own galaxy's halo. These stars can be identified by their ratios of carbon and magnesium to iron, rather than their iron-to-helium ratio. Stars with a high carbon-to-iron ratio likely formed from the remnants of a single first-generation star, while those with a lower ratio likely formed from a mix of first and second-generation material. As more sky surveys come online, it is expected that these second-generation stars will be discovered, providing insights into the early history of our universe.