We live in the universe's long afternoon.

Star formation peaked 10-12 billion years ago — 'cosmic noon' — when galaxies forged new stars 10 to 100 times faster than today, gas-rich beyond their own weight in stars. Then black holes cooked the gas hot, dark energy pulled the mergers apart, and the making slowed to today's trickle.

The universe had a blazing adolescence, and it's behind us. Something to hold lightly on a quiet evening.