The formation of the first stars and galaxies

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current understanding and observational efforts related to the formation of the first stars, galaxies, and black holes, highlighting their role in transforming the early Universe and the prospects for future discoveries.

Contribution

It synthesizes recent observational and theoretical advances in understanding the formation of the first cosmic structures and discusses future directions in this research area.

Findings

First stars and galaxies significantly influenced early Universe evolution.

Upcoming observations are expected to answer key open questions.

Theoretical models are increasingly aligned with observational data.

Abstract

Observations made using large ground-based and space-borne telescopes have probed cosmic history all the way from the present-day to a time when the Universe was less than a tenth of its present age. Earlier on lies the remaining frontier, where the first stars, galaxies, and massive black holes formed. They fundamentally transformed the early Universe by endowing it with the first sources of light and chemical elements beyond the primordial hydrogen and helium produced in the Big Bang. The interplay of theory and upcoming observations promises to answer the key open questions in this emerging field.