Scientists have discovered “dark oxygen”, a remarkable discovery that they state could end up rewriting the origins of life on Earth.
This discovery has made researchers incredibly confused, as they always thought they knew how oxygen could be formed and created. Now, with this finding, everything has changed.
Studying the Ocean’s Floor
This stunning discovery came during an expedition in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, located in the North Pacific Ocean.
Scientists were studying the seafloor and analyzing potato-sized metallic nodules that can be found strewn on the seafloor in this area. Researchers initially were studying what impacts the potential mining of these nodules could have when they made this discovery.
Oxygen in Oceans
According to this new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience, the team initially anticipated that they would find less oxygen the deeper they went down to the bottom of the sea.
Instead, they found the opposite. They continued to see oxygen. This made the team take a closer look — and they were stunned when they found out why this oxygen was so prevalent.
The Production of Deep-Sea Oxygen
Ultimately, the team realized that these nodules were helping to form the production of deep-sea oxygen — or what they have dubbed “dark oxygen.”
This discovery marks the first time that scientists have ever found oxygen being generated without any involvement or organisms.
Faulty Sensors?
Andrew Sweetman, a Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) leader and professor, as well as the study’s lead author, opened up about how the team initially thought their sensors were faulty.
“When we first got this data, we thought the sensors were faulty, because every study ever done in the deep sea has only seen oxygen being consumed rather than produced,” Sweetman explained.
A Life-Changing Discovery
However, the team continued on and kept checking their instruments. Eventually, they realized that the instruments weren’t faulty at all.
This led to the team suggesting that the small metallic nodules found on the seafloor help to produce oxygen. They do this through seawater electrolysis, which splits seawater into both oxygen and hydrogen when there is an electric charge.
Finding an Electric Charge in the Ocean
Scientists have further suggested that this electric charge may come from within the nodules on the seafloor, as they may have a difference in their electrical potential.
This difference, and the entire process, could lead to a redistribution of electrons.
A First-Time Discovery
This incredible discovery of dark oxygen has never been made before. This marks the first time scientists have seen the production of oxygen without an organism present.
As a result, the team attached to this study has explained that this could completely change the origin of life on Earth.
Oxygen Forming From Light
Normally, scientists have thought that oxygen can only naturally be produced from light through processes such as photosynthesis.
However, there is no light to be found where these nodules — and this dark oxygen production — was discovered. The seafloor is 13,000 feet below the ocean’s waves. No light can penetrate into this area of the deep sea.
The Origins of Life on Earth
This discovery further challenges what we know about the origins of life on Earth, which began with the production of oxygen.
Sweetman said, “For aerobic life to begin on the planet, there has to be oxygen and our understanding has been that Earth’s oxygen supply began with photosynthetic organisms. But we now know that there is oxygen produced in the deep sea, where there is no light. I think we therefore need to revisit questions like: where could aerobic life have begun?”
Mining These Nodules
Sweetman also explained that the team’s initial purpose — to find out what would happen if they mined these nodules — has now left them with more concerns and questions.
“Through this discovery, we have generated many unanswered questions and I think we have a lot to think about in terms of how we mine these modules, which are effectively batteries in a rock,” Sweetman stated.
Looking at the Origins of Life
Now that these scientists have made this discovery, more analysis may be made about the origins of life on Earth — and how maybe science has thus far gotten it wrong.
Now that dark oxygen has been introduced, scientists could theorize other ways life could have initially begun on Earth.
