Dwarf galaxies keep only about 11% of their oxygen, study finds
A new analysis shows that nearby dwarf galaxies retain roughly 11 % of the oxygen they produce, with retention ranging from 4 % to 25 %. The research examined 37 galaxies within 22 million light‑years of Earth and attributes the missing oxygen to galactic winds that expel the element. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal and are part of the Galaxies Losing Oxygen via Winds project led by Kristen Wingfield McQuinn.
Key facts
- Oxygen retention varies between 4 % and 25 % across the sample.
- Average oxygen retention is about 11 %.
- Kristen Wingfield McQuinn is the project leader.
- Galactic winds are identified as the mechanism removing oxygen.
- Findings appear in The Astrophysical Journal.
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Why it matters
The results clarify how elements spread across the universe.
What changed
First published from NASA and Phys.org