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Big Bang, stages of early universe. Artwork showing the origin and development of the universe (Big Bang), an initial expansion from an infinitely com
Big Bang, stages of early universe. Artwork showing the origin and development of the universe (Big Bang), an initial expansion from an infinitely compact state billion years ago. At centre is the original singularity (white). Expanding from this is the inflationary period (yellow). This was followed by the quark-gluon plasma (pink). As the universe cooled, particles such as neutrons (orange) and protons (purple) formed. Electrons, photons and neutrinos are also shown. Nuclei of deuterium and helium formed, then by around 380,000 years electrons bound to the nuclei to form atoms, mostly of hydrogen (hydrogen atom at bottom right).
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Photo credit: © HARALD RITSCH/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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