A radio signal from the beginning of the universe could reveal how everything began
A radio signal from the early universe could allow us to understand how everything that surrounds us began.
The signal – known as the 21-centimetre signal – could finally let us understand how the first stars and galaxies switched on, and brought the universe from darkness to light.
'This is a unique opportunity to learn how the universe's first light emerged from the darkness,' said co-author Anastasia Fialkov from Cambridge University, in a statement. 'The transition from a cold, dark universe to one filled with stars is a story we're only beginning to understand.'
The signal comes to us from more than 13 billion years ago, just a hundred million years after the Big Bang. The faint glow is created by hydrogen atoms that fill up the space between regions of space where stars are being formed.
Scientists now believe they will be able to use the nature of that signal to better understand the early universe. They will do that with a radio antenna called REACH – the Radio Experiment for the Analysis of Cosmic Hydrogen – which will try and capture radio signals to reveal data about the beginnings of the universe.
To better understand how that project might work, researchers created a model that predicted how REACH as well as another project called the Square Kilometre Array will be able to provide information about the masses and other details of the first stars.
'We are the first group to consistently model the dependence of the 21-centimetre signal of the masses of the first stars, including the impact of ultraviolet starlight and X-ray emissions from X-ray binaries produced when the first stars die,' said Professor Fialkov.
'These insights are derived from simulations that integrate the primordial conditions of the universe, such as the hydrogen-helium composition produced by the Big Bang.'
'The predictions we are reporting have huge implications for our understanding of the nature of the very first stars in the Universe,' said co-author Eloy de Lera Acedo, Principal Investigator of the REACH telescope.
'We show evidence that our radio telescopes can tell us details about the mass of those first stars and how these early lights may have been very different from today's stars.
'Radio telescopes like REACH are promising to unlock the mysteries of the infant Universe, and these predictions are essential to guide the radio observations we are doing from the Karoo, in South Africa.'
The work is described in a new paper, 'Determination of the mass distribution of the first stars from the 21-cm signal', published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
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'Investigators were allowed some flexibility in dose adjustments to balance efficacy and safety, but regardless of dose adjustments participants lost significant weight. These findings are relatable to clinical practice, where dosing is often adjusted based on individual needs and clinical judgement.' Safety data generated in the REDEFINE 1 and 2 trials were comparable with the GLP-1 RA class. Overall, discontinuation rates due to adverse events were low, with 6% for CagriSema versus 3.7% for placebo in REDEFINE 1 and 8.4% with CagriSema versus 3% with placebo in REDEFINE 2.1,3 In REDEFINE 1, adverse events were mainly gastrointestinal (79.6% in the CagriSema group vs. 39.9% with placebo), including nausea (55% vs. 12.6 %), constipation (30.7% vs. 11.6%), vomiting (26.1% vs. 4.1%) and were mostly transient and mild-to-moderate in severity.1 Results from REDEFINE 2, a phase 3 study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of CagriSema plus lifestyle interventions in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), were also simultaneously presented during a scientific symposium at the ADA's Scientific Sessions and published in NEJM.3 In REDEFINE 2, if all participants adhered to treatment, the estimated mean change in body weight from baseline to week 68 was –15.7% with CagriSema versus –3.1% with placebo.3* When applying the treatment policy estimand, the estimated mean change in body weight from baseline to week 68 was –13.7% with CagriSema versus –3.4% with placebo.3** A greater proportion of participants receiving CagriSema, compared with placebo, reduced their body weight by >5% (83.6% vs. 30.8% of participants), ≥10% (65.6% vs. 10.3%), ≥15% (43.9% vs. 2.4%), and ≥20% (22.9% vs. 0.5%;).3 The safety results from CagriSema in REDEFINE 2 were similar to those reported in REDEFINE 1.3 The REDEFINE clinical programme will continue to assess the efficacy and safety of CagriSema. Most recently, Novo Nordisk initiated the REDEFINE 11 trial with the first patient visit occurring in early June 2025. REDEFINE 11 will explore further weight loss potential and safety of CagriSema 2.4 mg / 2.4 mg through a longer trial duration and other protocol changes compared to REDEFINE 1 and 2. * Based on the trial product estimand; this estimand estimates what the effect would be if all participants adhered to treatment ** Based on the treatment policy estimand: treatment effect regardless of treatment adherence About CagriSemaCagriSema is being investigated by Novo Nordisk as a once-weekly subcutaneous injectable treatment for adults with overweight or obesity (REDEFINE programme) and as a treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes (REIMAGINE programme). CagriSema is a fixed-dose combination of a long-acting amylin analogue, cagrilintide 2.4 mg and semaglutide 2.4 mg. About the REDEFINE clinical trial programmeREDEFINE is a phase 3 clinical development programme with once-weekly subcutaneous CagriSema in obesity. REDEFINE 1 and REDEFINE 2 have enrolled approximately 4,600 adults with overweight or obesity. REDEFINE 1 was a double-blind, placebo-and active-controlled 68-week efficacy and safety phase 3 trial of once-weekly CagriSema, cagrilintide 2.4 mg and semaglutide 2.4 mg versus placebo in 3,417 adults with obesity or overweight with one or more comorbidities and without type 2 diabetes. REDEFINE 2 was a double-blind, randomized, placebo- and controlled 68-week efficacy and safety phase 3 trial of once-weekly CagriSema versus placebo in 1,206 adults with type 2 diabetes and either obesity or overweight. Multiple REDEFINE clinical trials are currently underway including: REDEFINE 3, an event-driven cardiovascular outcomes phase 3 trial; REDEFINE 4 an 84-week head-to-head efficacy and safety phase 3 trial of once-weekly CagriSema versus once-weekly tirzepatide; and REDEFINE 11, a phase 3 trial with longer duration and other protocol changes compared to REDEFINE 1 and 2. About obesity Obesity is a serious chronic, progressive, and complex disease that requires long-term management.4-6 One key misunderstanding is that this is a disease of just lack of willpower, when in fact there is underlying biology that may impede people with obesity from losing weight and keeping it off.4,6 Obesity is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics, social determinants of health, and the environment.7,8 Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 77,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube. Contacts for further information Media: Ambre James-Brown +45 3079 9289 abmo@ Liz Skrbkova (US) +1 609 917 0632 lzsk@ Investors: Jacob Martin Wiborg Rode +45 3075 5956 jrde@ Ida Schaap Melvold +45 3077 5649 idmg@ Sina Meyer +45 3079 6656 azey@ Max Ung +45 3077 6414 mxun@ Frederik Taylor Pitter +1 609 613 0568 fptr@ References: Garvey WT, Blüher MD, Contreras CKO, et al. CagriSema in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine 2025. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502081 A Research Study to Look at How Well CagriSema Helps People Living With Obesity Lose Weight and Maintain Weight Loss in the Long-term. Last Accessed: June 2025. Available at: Davies MJ, Harpreet S, Bajaj MD, et al. CagriSema in Adults with Overweight or Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine 2025. Kaplan LM, Golden A, Jinnett K, et al. Perceptions of barriers to effective obesity care: results from the national action study. Obesity. 2018;26(1):61-69. Bray GA, Kim KK, Wilding JPH; World Obesity Federation. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. Rev. 2017;18(7):715-723. Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, et al. American association of clinical endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for medical care of patients with obesity. Endocr Pract. 2016;22 (Suppl 3):1-203. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult obesity facts. Last accessed: June 2025. Available at: World Obesity Federation. World Obesity Atlas 2023. Last accessed: June 2025. Available at: Attachment PR250622-ADA-CagriSema
