Oxygen Detected in Most Distant Galaxy, Challenging Early Universe Theories

Astronomers have detected oxygen in JADES-GS-z14-0, the most distant galaxy discovered to date. The galaxy's light traveled 13.4 billion years to reach Earth, indicating it existed when the universe was only 300 million years old. Using the ALMA radio telescope, Dutch and Italian astronomers confirmed the presence of oxygen, initially detected by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This finding challenges existing theories about star evolution in the early universe, known as the "Cosmic Dawn," which was expected to be dominated by light elements like hydrogen and helium. JADES-GS-z14-0 contains ten times more heavy elements than anticipated. Sander Schouws of Leiden Observatory likened the discovery to finding a teenager where only newborns were expected, suggesting galaxies formed much earlier than previously believed. The James Webb Space Telescope's observations since 2022 have revealed that early-universe galaxies were brighter and more developed than scientists predicted, prompting a reconsideration of the universe's formation and evolution.