'Dark Oxygen' Discovered on Ocean Floor May Reshape Our Understanding of Life Origin

Recent findings by scientists on the Pacific Ocean floor may revolutionize our understanding of oxygen production and the origins of life on Earth. These discoveries indicate that oxygen could be created through processes other than photosynthesis, challenging long-held beliefs. This is prepared by SSP.

Traditionally, oxygen production on Earth was thought to only occur via photosynthesis, a light-dependent process. However, researchers, including Andrew Sweetman of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), have found evidence of "dark oxygen" being generated in darkness, suggesting alternative oxygen sources. This striking discovery has been published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

The researchers, led by Sweetman, found electrically charged minerals called polymetallic nodules, which can generate oxygen by splitting seawater into hydrogen and oxygen through seawater electrolysis—a process facilitated by the nodules acting like natural batteries. Significant findings showed these nodules can possess up to 0.95 volts and, when combined, produce even higher voltages, enhancing oxygen production.

"Our understanding of when and how oxygen first became available to aerobic life forms may need re-evaluation," stated Nicholas Owens, Director of SAMS. Until now, it was presumed oxygen was first produced around three billion years ago by cyanobacteria, but the presence of an alternative source raises the necessity for a radical reconsideration of these views.

Field and laboratory tests consistently demonstrated increased oxygen levels near these nodules, reaffirming their potential role in oxygen production independently of sunlight.

This discovery could have profound implications for deep-sea mining, which targets metals like manganese, nickel, and cobalt contained within polymetallic nodules for use in various electronic applications. Yet, conservation concerns arise regarding the potentially harmful effects of such mining on ocean life.

Franz Geiger, a Northwestern University chemistry professor involved in the study, expressed caution, citing past deep-sea exploratory missions in the 1970s and '80s that devastated local marine life. "Any mining operations should be conducted prudently to prevent irrevocable damage to these underwater ecosystems," he warned.

Both Sweetman's oceanic fieldwork and Geiger’s electrochemistry experiments underscore this critical discovery. As researchers continue to study this phenomenon, their goal is to fully understand its implications for marine and global ecosystems.

Do not miss a thrilling video by TED-Ed about the importance of oxygen in oceans and whether it can dissapear: