This Star Is Older Than the Universe (Sort Of)

A Star That Shouldn’t Exist. 

In 2000, astronomers studying an ancient star named HD 140283, often nicknamed the "Methuselah Star," stumbled upon a stunning mystery. This lone star, found just 190 light-years from Earth, appeared to be older than the universe itself.

That’s not just bizarre it’s impossible. Or so we thought.

This strange case left scientists scratching their heads. If the universe is around 13.8 billion years old, how could any star be 14.5 billion years old?

Let’s break this down in simple terms and explore what this star really tells us about the universe, time, and how we measure the cosmos.

What Exactly Is the Methuselah Star?

Named after the Biblical figure who lived the longest, the Methuselah Star has fascinated scientists for decades. It’s a Population II star, meaning it formed very early in the universe’s history at a time when stars didn’t contain many of the heavier elements we see today.

Its low metal content and bright shine make it easy to spot, but also confusing to explain. Based on its chemical fingerprint and brightness, scientists originally calculated that it could be around 14.5 billion years old older than the universe.

But how could that be?

The Universe's Age: How Do We Even Know?

To understand the mystery, we need to look at how we measure the age of the universe itself. Scientists rely on something called the cosmic microwave background the afterglow of the Big Bang to estimate the universe’s age at around 13.8 billion years.

That figure has been confirmed using multiple methods, including data from the Planck satellite, which measures tiny temperature changes in space. This number is solid it’s not a wild guess.

So, if the universe is younger than the star… either the star’s age is wrong, or our understanding of the cosmos needs a serious update.

Maybe the Star Isn’t That Old

The original age estimate of HD 140283 used stellar evolution models, which depend on a lot of variables like how fast stars burn fuel, how bright they appear, and what elements they contain.

But even a small error in those numbers can lead to big mistakes.

In 2013, new data from the Hubble Space Telescope helped scientists revise the age estimate to about 13.7 billion years, with a margin of error of plus or minus 800 million years.

That means the star is likely just a little younger than the universe but the overlap is so close, it's easy to see why the numbers caused such a stir.

What Makes This Star So Unique?

HD 140283 is not just old it’s a cosmic time capsule. Because of its low metal content, it likely formed right after the first stars exploded and spread heavier elements into space.

That gives us rare insight into what the universe looked like in its earliest days. Most stars from that time have long since died out or become part of larger systems. This one is still shining on its own, close enough for us to study.

It’s like discovering a living dinosaur in your backyard.

Could It Change How We See the Universe?

The Methuselah Star’s strange age isn’t just a math problem. It touches on deep questions about how stars form, how the universe expanded, and how we define time itself.

If the star really had been older than the universe, that might have pointed to:

• Flaws in the Big Bang theory
• New physics we haven’t discovered yet
• Or even alternative timelines for how the universe formed

While the revised estimates solve the main contradiction, the debate pushed scientists to double-check their models, refine their tools, and explore more ancient stars for answers.

What Other Ancient Stars Might Be Hiding?

HD 140283 isn’t the only ancient star out there. As telescopes get better, especially with missions like the James Webb Space Telescope, we’re spotting more stars and galaxies from the first billion years after the Big Bang.

Each one is a piece of the puzzle, helping us map the timeline of everything from the first atoms to modern galaxies.

Studying stars like these doesn’t just tell us about the past. It helps us understand the rules of the universe, and whether those rules are as fixed as we thought.

A Star Older Than Time? Not Quite — But Close

So, is this star really older than the universe? Probably not. But it's close enough to make us question how we know what we know.

In science, that’s not a mistake it’s progress.

The Methuselah Star reminds us that space still holds secrets, and sometimes the numbers that don’t quite add up lead to the most exciting discoveries.

After all, in a universe this big, the oldest stars may still have the newest things to teach us.