Cannibal stars, boson stars: What was the early universe like
Scientists say that just seconds after the Big Bang, the Universe might have created some pretty wild stuff—like primordial black holes, boson stars made from quantum particles, and even "cannibal stars" that powered themselves by eating their own particles.
These discoveries could change how we think about dark matter and the way cosmic structures formed.
How did the early universe look like?
The team found that right after cosmic inflation, dense clumps of matter could have collapsed into tiny black holes (some as small as asteroids).
There were also hints of short-lived boson stars and cannibal stars—objects powered by particle self-destruction instead of fusion.
Most didn't last long but left a mark on the early cosmos.
What about dark matter?
Some of these ancient black holes might actually make up a chunk of dark matter—the mysterious stuff holding galaxies together.
Figuring out how these exotic objects formed helps us piece together the story of our Universe's earliest days and gives scientists new ways to search for answers about dark matter and cosmic origins.