Close Menu
Stratnews GlobalStratnews Global
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • YouTube Warns Opposition in Pakistan, Journalists of Possible Channel Bans
    • BAE Systems and Avioniq Bring AI Combat Aid to Eurofighter Typhoon Pilots
    • Tianzhou-8 Leaves China’s Space Station Ahead of Controlled Re-entry
    • M&S Chair Urges UK Firms to Report Major Cyberattacks Promptly
    • Rare Juvenile Ceratosaurus Set for Auction at Sotheby’s in New York
    • Largest Martian Meteorite on Earth Heads to Auction at Sotheby’s
    • Suhora Technologies Partners with Orbital Sidekick: Advanced Hyperspectral Satellite Services in India Soon
    • A Sovereign Mobile Operating System, Enter Aurora OS
    Stratnews GlobalStratnews Global
    Write for Us
    Wednesday, July 9
    • Space
    • Science
    • AI and Robotics
    • Industry News
    Stratnews GlobalStratnews Global
    Home » Dark Oxygen: A New Discovery Changing the Understanding of Earth’s Oxygen Sources

    Dark Oxygen: A New Discovery Changing the Understanding of Earth’s Oxygen Sources

    StratNewsGlobal Tech TeamBy StratNewsGlobal Tech TeamJuly 26, 2024 Economy & Culture No Comments3 Mins Read
    Dark Oxygen

    Discovery of Dark Oxygen: New Insights into Earth’s Oxygen Sources

    For decades, scientists have theorised about dark matter, believed to hold galaxies together through its gravitational pull. The mystery of dark matter continues, but now scientists have discovered what they call dark oxygen on the ocean floor.

    Oxygen from the Ocean’s Depths

    A recent study in Nature Geoscience, an Earth sciences research journal, reveals oxygen emitted from mineral deposits 4,000 metres (about 13,000 feet) below the Pacific Ocean’s surface. This discovery took place in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a region covering 4.5 million square kilometres (1.7 million square miles).

    Andrew Sweetman, a professor at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), led this study. His team’s research suggests there is an additional oxygen source on the planet apart from the oxygen produced by photosynthesis.

    What is Dark Oxygen?

    Dark oxygen originates from polymetallic nodules found in the CCZ. These coal-like mineral rocks contain manganese and iron. Unlike the oxygen produced by photosynthesis from plants and algae, these nodules generate oxygen without sunlight.

    This discovery could change scientists’ understanding of how life began on Earth. Sweetman mentioned in a SAMS video that this research might indicate an ancient oxygen source, suggesting aerobic life could have existed before photosynthesis. This insight raises questions about life on other planets as well.

    Discovering Dark Oxygen

    The discovery of dark oxygen follows a decade-long research mission. In 2013, researchers aimed to understand how much oxygen organisms on the CCZ seafloor consumed. They deployed landers, mechanical platforms that free-fall to the ocean floor, to measure oxygen levels at 4,000 metres.

    Contrary to expectations, they found increased oxygen levels at the ocean bed. Initially doubting their equipment, Sweetman and his team recalibrated and repeated their experiments, consistently finding the same results. Further tests revealed that manganese nodules were responsible for the oxygen production.

    In the lab, they observed seawater electrolysis, a process that splits seawater into hydrogen and oxygen, occurring in these nodules. This process was likened to the charge of an AA battery.

    Implications of the Discovery

    Sweetman’s findings suggest that some minerals can produce oxygen without sunlight. Nick Owens, director of SAMS, described these findings as “utterly profound.”

    The discovery has significant environmental implications. It highlights the need to protect areas that produce oxygen naturally. Sweetman emphasised the importance of considering these findings in the context of deep ocean mining. The oxygen produced by these ecosystems is crucial, and mining activities must be carefully planned to avoid disrupting these processes.

    Additionally, discovering another oxygen source prompts scientists to revisit theories about the origins of life on Earth. Understanding this ancient oxygen production could offer new insights into early aerobic life and the potential for life on other planets.

    Conclusion

    The discovery of dark oxygen on the ocean floor has far-reaching implications. It challenges existing scientific understanding of oxygen sources and the origins of life. As research continues, this newfound knowledge will shape future studies in marine science and planetary exploration.

    Author

    • StratNewsGlobal Tech Team
      StratNewsGlobal Tech Team

      View all posts
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit Telegram WhatsApp
    StratNewsGlobal Tech Team
    • Website

    Keep Reading

    Rare Juvenile Ceratosaurus Set for Auction at Sotheby’s in New York

    Advances in Diabetes, Gene Editing, and Stroke Care Unveiled

    African Scientists Extract Two-Million-Year-Old Proteins, Revealing Human Origins

    India’s Biofuel Push Raises Maize Prices, Hurting Small Poultry Farmers

    Experts Say Education and AI Tech Key in Dengue Prevention at Asian Dengue Summit

    WHO Reports Polio Outbreak in Papua New Guinea After Virus Found in Healthy Children

    Add A Comment
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Latest Posts

    YouTube Warns Opposition in Pakistan, Journalists of Possible Channel Bans

    July 9, 2025

    BAE Systems and Avioniq Bring AI Combat Aid to Eurofighter Typhoon Pilots

    July 9, 2025

    Tianzhou-8 Leaves China’s Space Station Ahead of Controlled Re-entry

    July 9, 2025

    M&S Chair Urges UK Firms to Report Major Cyberattacks Promptly

    July 9, 2025

    Rare Juvenile Ceratosaurus Set for Auction at Sotheby’s in New York

    July 9, 2025

    Largest Martian Meteorite on Earth Heads to Auction at Sotheby’s

    July 9, 2025

    Suhora Technologies Partners with Orbital Sidekick: Advanced Hyperspectral Satellite Services in India Soon

    July 8, 2025

    A Sovereign Mobile Operating System, Enter Aurora OS

    July 8, 2025

    OceanOneK Robot Lets Scientists Feel the Deep Sea While Exploring Shipwrecks

    July 8, 2025

    Content Moderators Demand Mental Health Protections Amid Surge in Online Violence

    July 8, 2025

    Subscribe to News

    Get the latest sports news from NewsSite about world, sports and politics.

    • Astronomical Events
    • Space Missions
    • Industry News
    • Science
    StratNewsGlobal Tech
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
    © 2025 StratNews Global, A unit of BharatShakti Communications LLP
    • About Us
    • Contributors
    • Copyright
    • Contact
    • Write for Us

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.