Discovery of 'dark oxygen' in deep-sea metals

Image credit: yannispap via Unsplash

A recent study published in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience reveals the discovery of 'dark oxygen' in metal-rich lumps from the deep sea, a finding that could reshape our understanding of the origins of life on Earth. This oxygen, trapped in the mineral structures of these nodules, hints at previously unknown biochemical processes that may have played a role in early life formation. Remarkably, this is the first time scientists have observed oxygen production without the involvement of organisms. The discovery opens up new avenues for research into how life might have emerged in extreme environments.

Source

Sweetman, A.K., Smith, A.J., de Jonge, D.S.W. et al. Evidence of dark oxygen production at the abyssal seafloor. Nat. Geosci. 17, 737–739 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01480-8

Additional Reading

https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/rivers-oceans/discovery-of-dark-oxygen-from-deep-sea-metal-lumps-could-trigger-rethink-of-origins-of-life

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/22/dark-oxygen-in-depths-of-pacific-ocean-could-force-rethink-about-origins-of-life

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/22/science/dark-oxygen-discovery-deep-sea-mining/index.html