Source: diving-air-oxygen-kringel
As our skies become murkier, the respect and appreciation we have for a clean and fresh environment increases by leaps and bounds. Human activities have ruined the purity of the Earth’s atmosphere and breathing has become an extreme sport in so many affected areas.
Where would we go for a nice, fresh breath of oxygen? Let’s go to the deep, dark regions of the ocean. No? Why not? We wouldn’t find any oxygen there, you say? Well, surprise surprise- we have discovered oxygen in the deep trenches of the ocean! Don’t believe me? Read more to find out.
What we know
Source: wikimedia-Manganknolle_By User Koelle
Andrew Sweetman and his colleagues are a group which has been studying the ocean floor and aquatic ecosystems for more than 10 years. They have worked on studying polymetallic nodules which are potato-sized rocks containing metals like copper, cobalt, nickel, lithium, and manganese. These nodules can be used for making batteries but Sweetman believes that these could also be doing something even better- oxygen.
Now, here’s the catch. Oxygen is created by plants in the process of photosynthesis which utilizes sunlight. So, we need sunlight. But how does sunlight get to these super deep areas underwater? Well, simply put, it doesn’t. These nodules are making oxygen in areas without sunlight without using it!
What do scientists think?
Scientists have decided to call this newly found discovery ‘dark oxygen’- most definitely because it doesn’t sunlight and any creatures other than these nodules for its creation. Sweetman recounts how him and his team “thought the sensors were faulty, because every study ever done in the deep sea has only seen oxygen being consumed rather than produced”. The first time this happened was in 2013. It was later in 2021 after it had happened multiple times that the team decided nothing was faulty.
They published a paper collectively in the journal Natural Geoscience in July 2024 which suggested that these nodules produce oxygens through seawater electrolysis. In this process, seawater splits into hydrogen and oxygen because of an electric charge. This charge arises because of a difference in electric potential between the metal ions present in the nodules.
What does this mean for us?
Fortunately, nothing harmful. This discovery has made researchers, and companies very excited.
Researchers are excited as this opens up new possibilities for studies revolving around the origins of life on Earth. The electrolysis theory still hasn’t been proven absolutely correct but if it is successful, it would mean we have cracked one of the biggest riddles confusing our scientists till date. This could also point towards a potential source of life on other planets.
Mining companies are happy because they have found a new source of oxygen! This has raised concern in the marine science community which fears that their mining will disrupt this process and damage marine life in surrounding areas.
We have worries and happy thoughts both about this situation. The scientific community is surely going to unearth some very awesome facts about our planet. Hopefully, there won’t be any disturbances coming in the way of this research.
Resources
- Magistroni, M. (2024, July 24). The Mysterious Discovery of “Dark Oxygen” on the Ocean Floor. WIRED; WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/dark-oxygen-deep-sea-polymetallic-nodules-discovery/
- Davide Castelvecchi. (2024). Mystery oxygen source discovered on the sea floor — bewildering scientists. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-02393-7
- Gill, V. (2024, July 22). Dark oxygen made by deep sea “batteries.” Bbc.com; BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c728ven2v9eo
- Pare, S. (2024, July 25). Discovery of “dark oxygen” from deep-sea metal lumps could trigger rethink of origins of life. Space.com; Space. https://www.space.com/deep-sea-dark-oxygen-from-metal-lumps-evidence-for-origins-of-life
