The Evolution of the Universe: From the Big Bang to Now
- The Big Bang (~13.8 billion years ago)
The universe began as a tiny, super-hot point that exploded, creating space, time, and energy. - The Inflation Era
In a fraction of a second, the universe expanded incredibly fast, growing from smaller than an atom to a huge size. - The First Atoms Form
As things cooled down, tiny particles combined to make simple atoms like hydrogen and helium. - The Cosmic Microwave Background (380,000 years later)
The universe became clear enough for light to travel freely—this ancient light can still be seen today. - The Dark Ages
The universe was filled with gas, but no stars had formed yet, so it was completely dark. - The First Stars Light Up (~150 million years later)
Gravity pulled gas together to create the first stars, lighting up the universe for the first time. - Galaxies Begin to Form
Stars grouped together into galaxies, creating the structures we see in the night sky. - Heavy Elements Are Made
Stars produced heavier elements like carbon and oxygen, which spread when they exploded as supernovae. - The Universe Expands Faster
A mysterious force called dark energy began to speed up the expansion of the universe. - Today and the Future
We live in a universe full of galaxies, stars, and planets. In the far future, it might keep expanding, collapse back, or rip apart—scientists are still figuring it out!