Scientists found that manganese and iron nodules on the ocean floor, through electrochemical activity, can produce oxygen in the dark, potentially changing the understanding of oxygen production and the origins of life.
The discovery challenges the belief that light is necessary for oxygen production; implications include impacting deep-sea mining for minerals crucial for green energy transition, with concerns about effects on climate change containment.
The lead author of the study, Andrew Sweetman, was surprised by oxygen readings from the Pacific Ocean's bottom in 2013, initially suspecting a malfunction in the research equipment.
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