An international team of scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery: oxygen is being produced by potato-shaped metallic nodules thousands of feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. This finding, published in Nature Geoscience, challenges the established understanding of oxygen production and could potentially revolutionize our theories on the origins of complex life on Earth.
Radical rethink on oxygen production
The research, led by Professor Andrew Sweetman from the Scottish Association for Marine Science, reveals that oxygen is being generated in complete darkness at a depth of around 4,000 meters (13,100 feet). Previously, it was believed that only photosynthetic organisms like plants and algae, which require sunlight, could produce oxygen.
“For aerobic life to begin on the planet, there had to be oxygen, and our understanding has been that Earth’s oxygen supply began with photosynthetic organisms,” said Sweetman. “But we now know that there is oxygen produced in the deep sea, where there is no light. This necessitates a re-evaluation of where aerobic life could have originated.”
Discovery of “Dark Oxygen”
The phenomenon, termed “dark oxygen”, was discovered during a ship-based field study in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an abyssal plain located between Hawaii and Mexico. The research team analyzed the seabed to understand the potential impacts of deep-sea mining and found that many metallic nodules were carrying a “very high” electric charge. This charge can split seawater into hydrogen and oxygen through a process known as seawater electrolysis.
“Through this discovery, we have generated many unanswered questions and need to consider how we mine these nodules, which are effectively batteries in a rock,” Sweetman remarked. Further research into this “dark oxygen” production is deemed essential.
Implications for deep-sea mining
The study, partly funded by The Metals Company, a Canadian firm aiming to commence mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone by late 2025, highlights the environmental implications of deep-sea mining. This controversial practice involves using heavy machinery to extract valuable minerals and metals, such as cobalt, nickel, copper, and manganese, from polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor. These minerals are crucial for producing electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels.
Scientists have cautioned that the full environmental impacts of deep-sea mining are difficult to predict. Environmental campaigners argue that the practice is inherently unsustainable and will lead to ecosystem destruction and species extinction.
“The discovery that a process associated with polymetallic nodules is producing oxygen in an area targeted by the deep-sea mining industry underscores the urgent need for a moratorium,” said Sofia Tsenikli, deep-sea mining global campaign lead for the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition. “This research highlights how much we still have to learn about the deep sea and raises critical questions about how deep-sea mining could impact deep-sea life and processes.”
Conclusion
This discovery not only challenges long-held scientific beliefs about oxygen production but also intensifies the debate on the future of deep-sea mining. As the scientific community delves deeper into the mysteries of dark oxygen, it becomes increasingly clear that we must tread carefully when considering the exploitation of our planet’s final frontiers.
