News by Levels · Level 2 · Student worksheet

Hubble Helps Scientists Investigate Missing Oxygen

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________

Read the story

Researchers studying 37 nearby dwarf galaxies have found much less oxygen than they expected. A dwarf galaxy is a relatively small collection of stars, gas and dust.

Stars produce oxygen, but the study suggests that powerful winds linked to exploding stars can carry much of it away from small galaxies. The team compared the oxygen found in stars and gas with what it expected from the galaxies’ histories.

The scientists used archived Hubble Space Telescope images along with observations from other telescopes. NASA reported the findings on November 2, the day the study was published.

Where most of the missing oxygen has gone remains uncertain. It could be in gas surrounding the galaxies or farther away in intergalactic space.

Source: NASA, 2026-11-02. https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/nasas-hubble-uncovers-case-of-missing-oxygen-in-nearby-dwarf-galaxies/

Read and practise

1. How did the amount of oxygen found compare with expectations?

   1. It was about the amount expected.
   2. There was much less than expected.
   3. There was much more than expected.

2. What explanation does the study suggest for the missing oxygen?

   1. Winds linked to exploding stars may carry it away.
   2. Most missing oxygen remains locked inside the galaxies’ stars.
   3. New stars keep all the oxygen inside the galaxies.

3. Which statement describes the oxygen’s location?

   1. All of it has been found in gas around the galaxies.
   2. All of it has been found inside the galaxies’ stars.
   3. It could be in gas around the galaxies or farther away.

Your turn

Describe the proposed reason for the missing oxygen and one place it could be.

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Read online: https://newsbylevels.com/news/hubble-missing-oxygen-dwarf-galaxies-glow-study-2026/level-2/