James Webb discovers oxygen beyond Earth in a distant galaxy – How does it form?

JADES-GS-z14-0 appears as a tiny speck in the Fornax constellation. (Image: ESA)

Astronomers have detected oxygen in the farthest known galaxy, reshaping views on how quickly galaxies mature. The galaxy, named JADES-GS-z14-0, formed at least 290 million years after the Big Bang. It was first identified by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in 2024.

Earliest Oxygen in the Universe
Oxygen and other heavy elements form inside stars and spread when stars explode. Since this oxygen appeared when the universe was just 2% of its current age, scientists are puzzled. The discovery suggests that stars were born and died much faster than previously thought.

Two research teams reported their findings on 20 March in Astronomy & Astrophysics and The Astrophysical Journal. Lead researcher Sander Schouws from Leiden University said the galaxy formed and matured faster than expected. He compared it to "finding an adolescent where only babies were expected."

A Galaxy Rich in Heavy Elements
Cosmologists believed galaxies formed slowly in the first few hundred million years after the Big Bang. But JADES-GS-z14-0 and similar galaxies challenge this idea. JWST detected a vast halo of young stars around the galaxy's core, burning for at least 90 million years.

Scientists used Chile’s Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to analyse the galaxy. They were shocked to find it had ten times more oxygen than expected. Lead author Stefano Carniani from Scuola Normale Superiore in Italy said this discovery raises new questions about galaxy formation.

What Could Explain the Mystery?
Astronomers are unsure how JADES-GS-z14-0 produced heavy elements so quickly. Some suggest early massive black holes or the effects of dark energy may have played a role. Others believe feedback from exploding stars might have accelerated element formation.

The findings challenge long-standing theories about how galaxies form and evolve. Scientists hope future research will shed light on this cosmic puzzle.