In a stunning breakthrough, researchers uncover a mysterious source of oxygen 4,000 meters below the Pacific Ocean.
In a discovery that could change our understanding of life’s origins, scientists have found an unexpected supply of oxygen deep in the Pacific Ocean, far beyond the reach of sunlight. This phenomenon, dubbed “dark oxygen,” marks the first time oxygen production has been observed in total darkness, without the presence of photosynthetic organisms.
Traditionally, the production of oxygen has been credited solely to photosynthetic organisms like plants and algae. However, groundbreaking research published in Nature Geoscience reveals that oxygen can also form in the deep sea, where light never reaches. This astonishing finding was led by Professor Andrew Sweetman of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).
“For aerobic life to begin on the planet, there had to be oxygen, and our understanding has been that Earth’s oxygen supply began with photosynthetic organisms. But we now know that there is oxygen produced in the deep sea, where there is no light. I think we therefore need to revisit questions like, Where could aerobic life have begun?” Professor Sweetman stated.
The revelation came while researchers were sampling the seabed of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an area rich in polymetallic nodules essential for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and mobile phones. The nodules were found to carry a significant electric charge, enough to split seawater into hydrogen and oxygen through seawater electrolysis a process requiring only 1.5 volts, the same as a typical AA battery.
The team recorded readings of up to 0.95 volts on the surfaces of some nodules, indicating that substantial voltages can occur when these nodules cluster together, potentially leading to significant oxygen production.
Professor Sweetman emphasized the need for further research into this ‘dark oxygen’ phenomenon, especially considering the impacts of deep-sea mining. “Discovering oxygen production in total darkness could fundamentally alter our understanding of the conditions necessary for aerobic life. More investigation is needed to see how sediment smothering during mining might affect this process,” he said.
This extraordinary finding not only challenges long-held beliefs about oxygen production but also opens new avenues for exploring how life might have begun on Earth, and even how it could exist on other planets.
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