---
title: "Astronomers Finally Found the Universe’s First Type of Molecule"
description: "Scientists finally detect helium hydride, a combination of helium and hydrogen, thought to be the first molecule to form in the universe."
date: "2019-04-19"
modified: "2019-04-19"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/first-molecule-universe-helium-hydride"
categories:
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "early universe"
  - "helium hydride"
  - "Molecule"
  - "the digest"
---

# Astronomers Finally Found the Universe’s First Type of Molecule

![Scientists finally detect helium hydride, a combination of helium and hydrogen, thought to be the first molecule to form in the universe.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/first-molecule-universe-helium-hydride.png>)
*\<em\>Image: JPL/NASA\</em\>*

## Happy Hunting

Based on scientists' calculations, the first molecule to ever form from stray atoms in the [universe](<https://futurism.com/universe-first-stars-big-bang>) was likely helium hydride, a combination of helium and hydrogen.

For decades, physicists have hunted the universe for the elusive molecule. And now an international team of researchers say they've [finally found it](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/the-universe-s-first-type-of-molecule-is-found-at-last>) — thereby confirming the presumed first step in the universe's chemistry.

https://youtu.be/rRVpyiXvV9g

## No Doubt

In a [study](<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1090-x>) published in the journal *Nature* 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.

"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](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/the-universe-s-first-type-of-molecule-is-found-at-last>). "This brings a long search to a happy ending and eliminates doubts about our understanding of the underlying chemistry of the early universe."

**READ MORE:** [The Universe’s First Type of Molecule Is Found at Last](<https://www.nasa.gov/feature/the-universe-s-first-type-of-molecule-is-found-at-last>) \[NASA\]

**More on the early universe:** *[Scientists Now Know When the First Stars Formed in the Universe](<https://futurism.com/universe-first-stars-big-bang>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)