James Webb Uncovers Universe's Oldest Supernova, Challenges Early Star Theories

• JWST directly observed the universe's oldest supernova, occurring 730 million years after the Big Bang.
• Linked to GRB 250314A, this event offers insights into early star formation and death during the Epoch of Reionization.
• Initial detection by SVOM as a gamma-ray burst, confirmed by ESO's VLT, and then by JWST's NIRCAM.
• The supernova's properties are surprisingly similar to modern ones, challenging theories about early, low-metallicity stars.
• This discovery suggests consistent star formation/death rules and will aid in understanding early galaxy evolution.

Why It Matters: JWST's oldest supernova discovery challenges early universe theories, revealing consistent stellar evolution.