>>16626188
>why would the furthest visible galaxy be full of oxygen and why would it stump scientists
The discovery of oxygen in the furthest visible galaxy — one that formed very early in the universe's history — is surprising because oxygen is a "heavy element" that didn't exist right after the Big Bang. Here’s a quick breakdown of why it’s puzzling:

Primordial Elements: After the Big Bang, the universe was mostly hydrogen and helium, with a tiny bit of lithium. Heavier elements like oxygen only formed later through nuclear fusion in stars.

Stellar Evolution Timeline: For oxygen to appear in large quantities, you need several generations of stars to form, live, die (in supernova explosions), and spread their oxygen into space. Seeing a distant (and therefore ancient) galaxy already rich in oxygen means this process must have happened extremely fast — faster than expected.

Early Star Formation: The presence of oxygen suggests that the first stars (called Population III stars) formed very quickly, burned through their fuel rapidly, and exploded as supernovae much sooner than scientists predicted. This challenges existing models of early star formation and galaxy evolution.

Implications for Cosmic Evolution: If galaxies enriched themselves with oxygen so early, it means the universe may have become complex more quickly than previously thought. This could reshape ideas about the conditions that led to galaxies, planets, and potentially life.

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Most Distant Galaxy Ever Seen Is Filled With Oxygen and That Makes No Sense