‘Life’s breath in the deep’: Mystery oxygen found far below ocean’s surface but how did it get there?
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Dark Oxygen
A recent study in Nature Geoscience reveals oxygen production at ocean depths without light, suggesting that oxygen can form in dark conditions previously thought inhospitable for its creation.
Unexpected Increase
Researchers initially examined deep-sea oxygen consumption, but found instead an increase, raising questions about oxygen production mechanisms in deep, dark waters.
Mineral Mystery
The study found oxygen production was linked to polymetallic nodules and metalliferous sediments on the ocean floor, which may create energy through an electrolysis-like reaction.
Electrolysis Theory
The research team suggests these nodules, packed with metals, might allow currents to separate oxygen from water molecules, mimicking electrolysis and sparking “dark” oxygen production.
Oxygen Flux
The amount of oxygen produced may vary based on the concentration and type of nodules, hinting that the ocean floor’s oxygen levels could fluctuate with mineral diversity.
Mining Impact
The research, funded by a mining company, highlights potential consequences of deep-sea metal extraction, crucial for rechargeable batteries and electronics but with environmental risks.
Ecological Cost
Mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, rich in metals like lithium and cobalt, risks destroying fragile ecosystems and creating harmful sediment plumes in the Pacific Ocean.
Life Implications
This discovery suggests potential oxygen sources for complex life, pointing to a previously unknown way oxygen might support life beyond photosynthesis.
Evolution Puzzle
The findings raise questions about the role of deep-sea nodules in Earth’s evolution, highlighting how life’s origins remain a deep mystery shaped by Earth’s complex geochemistry.