Scientists Discover 'Dark Oxygen' Production by Metallic Minerals in Pacific Ocean

Jul 22, 2024, 06:09 PM

Scientists have discovered that metallic minerals on the deep ocean floor can split water to produce oxygen, a process previously thought to require photosynthesizing organisms. This unexpected finding, detailed in a new study published in Nature Geoscience by researchers at Northwestern University, reveals that these potato-shaped minerals act like 'geobatteries' to generate 'dark oxygen' in the total darkness of the Pacific Ocean. The discovery, which raises oxygen levels in the deep sea, has led researchers to reconsider how to mine these materials to avoid depleting this oxygen source critical for deep-sea life. The study also prompts a reevaluation of the origins of aerobic life, challenging long-standing scientific consensus. These metallic lumps give off almost as much electricity as AA batteries.