Did cannibal stars and boson stars populate the early universe?

Ancient Cosmic Origins

Scientists propose that during the universe’s first second—when it was extremely small, dense, and unimaginably hot—exotic, massive particles could have formed and clustered together. These early structures might have led to the creation of unusual stellar bodies long before ordinary stars appeared.

Cannibal Stars and Boson Stars

According to the hypothesis, two types of primordial stars may have shaped the early cosmos. The first, known as “cannibal stars,” are thought to have formed by consuming smaller stellar neighbors, growing in mass and energy as they absorbed surrounding material. The second type, “boson stars,” could have been made entirely from bosons—particles that follow different quantum rules than the familiar matter in ordinary stars.

These boson stars, if they existed, might have been stable, dense, and invisible to ordinary light, influencing cosmic evolution only through gravity.

Influence on Cosmic Structure

Researchers believe that such exotic stars could have affected how galaxies formed by altering dark matter distribution or by contributing to early supermassive black hole formation. While no direct observational evidence yet confirms their presence, ongoing astrophysical simulations aim to test these early-universe models.

“If we can link certain gravitational signatures or cosmic background signals to these exotic stellar forms, it would reshape our understanding of the first moments after the Big Bang,” notes the study’s co-author.

Author’s summary: The study suggests the early universe may have contained exotic “cannibal” and “boson” stars, potentially influencing galaxy formation and early cosmic structure through unique gravitational effects.

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Physics World Physics World — 2025-11-26

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