The modern Universe

Our current era of the Universe looks very different to those that went before

One of the big differences between the early and modern Universe is how galaxies look. The first galaxies tended to be smaller and long and thin. Today’s galaxies are usually either flat, spiral galaxies like our own Milky Way or rugby-ball-shaped elliptical galaxies. Early galaxies also had a much higher rate of star formation. Today, only 4–8 Suns’ worth of material is turned into stars within the Milky Way every year. In the earliest galaxies, it’s more like hundreds of Suns’ worth. Over time, the structure of the Universe has also become more intricate. Today, the cosmos resembles a giant web, with vast filaments and superclusters of galaxies strung out like fairy lights on invisible cord of dark matter. Yet this took time to construct. Astronomers have spotted the first…

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BBC Sky at Night United Kingdom (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2025

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