Scientists find ‘Dark Oxygen’: How metal nodules in depths of Ocean are rewriting Science – Science News

Deep Ocean ,Dark Ocean: In a groundbreaking revelation, scientists have unearthed a new source of oxygen in the depths of the ocean, dubbed as “dark oxygen”. This dark oxygen, as a study suggests, is generated by metallic nodules present on the seafloor. Previously, it was believed that most of the oxygen we rely on came from marine plants performing photosynthesis, a process which is dependent on sunlight. However, at depths exceeding 5km where sunlight cannot reach, these natural metal formations appear to catalyze the splitting of seawater (H2O) into hydrogen and oxygen, thus contributing significantly to the ocean’s oxygen supply. This baffling discovery challenges existing paradigms about oxygen production in Earth’s most inaccessible marine environments.

Who found “dark oxygen” in depths of ocean floor?

The discovery of dark oxygen is credited to a team led by Dr. Andrew Sweetman, a marine scientist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science. Their research, published in Nature Geoscience, documented the presence of elevated oxygen levels near polymetallic nodules – potato-sized metallic formations found on the seabed.

How significant is the discovery of dark oxygen?

This discovery has major implications. It suggests that there might be unknown processes generating oxygen in the deep sea, independent of sunlight. This could rewrite our understanding of the global oxygen cycle and potentially offer insights into the origin of life on Earth, where early life forms might have thrived in similar oxygen-depleted environments.

The Challenges Remain

Sweetman and his colleagues conducted their research in a deep sea area between Hawaii and Mexico, a BBC report said. This region is part of a vast stretch of seafloor covered with metal nodules. These nodules form over millions of years when dissolved metals in seawater gather on bits of shell or other debris.

The nodules contain metals like cobalt, lithium, and copper, which are crucial for making batteries. Many mining companies are working on ways to collect these nodules from the seafloor and bring them up to the surface.

However, Professor Sweetman suggests that the dark oxygen produced by these nodules could also support life on the seafloor. His findings, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, highlight new concerns about the potential risks associated with the proposed deep-sea mining projects.