The recent discovery of the so-called “dark oxygen” **[in the depths](https://noticiasambientales.com/ciencia/las-emisiones-de-co2-alcanzan-el-12-de-un-evento-de-extincion-marina/)** of the Pacific Ocean has sparked intense debate in the scientific community, the mining industry, and environmentalists. A study published in *Nature Geoscience* on July 22, 2024, revealed that certain polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton zone, between Mexico and Hawaii, **could be producing oxygen without the need for sunlight**, challenging traditional theories about the origin of life on Earth.
Researchers from the Scottish Association for Marine Science stated that this finding questions the belief that only photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, generate oxygen on Earth. According to the study, these nodules **would produce enough electrical current to split seawater into hydrogen and oxygen** through electrolysis, a process that was previously considered dependent on solar radiation.
However, this hypothesis **contradicts the widely accepted theory** that life on Earth began 2.7 billion years ago thanks to microorganisms performing photosynthesis.
### Skepticism and Criticisms
The scientific community reacted with caution and skepticism. Since the study was published, at least five papers have been presented to review or refute these conclusions. Matthias Haeckel, a biogeochemist from the Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research GEOMAR in Germany, pointed out that “**the study lacks clear evidence and raises many questions**.”
Olivier Rouxel, a researcher at Ifremer in France, **questioned the feasibility of deep-sea nodules generating electricity** for millions of years, likening them to batteries that inevitably run out.
A team led by Chaomin Sun from the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed a different explanation. Their research suggests that **bacteria on the seafloor can produce oxygen without light** and, in doing so, favor the formation of polymetallic nodules. “I am surprised by the amount of oxygen these microorganisms generate,” Sun told New Scientist.
### Impact on the Mining Industry and the Environment
The discovery also impacted the mining industry, as **the nodules contain valuable metals such as manganese, nickel, and cobalt**, essential for clean energy technologies. However, Michael Clarke from The Metals Company, a mining company that funded the study, expressed disappointment and suggested that the results may be due to methodological errors.
Environmental organizations like Greenpeace seized the debate to reinforce their **opposition to deep-sea mining**. “This discovery underscores how little we know about life at the bottom of the ocean and the urgency to halt its exploitation,” the NGO stated.
While the controversy continues, the study’s lead author, Andrew Sweetman, announced that he will address the criticisms with additional data. “**Scientific debate is essential for advancing knowledge**,” he concluded.
### What is “Dark Oxygen”?
According to experts, “dark oxygen” **originates in the [ocean depths](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/que-es-un-arrecife-de-coral-y-como-se-forman/)**, apparently from metal scraps found on the seafloor. This oxygen is produced through what is known as electrolysis, **a chemical process where water molecules are broken down into their constituent atoms when supplied with electricity**.
This state of oxygen **was first identified in 2023**, as a result of research conducted by a team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Physics in Germany. The discovery not only impacted the scientific community but also **opened up the debate on the theory of the origin of life on Earth**.
The debate sparked by the discovery of “dark oxygen” led many to question the theory that oxygen was first produced about 3 billion years ago by cyanobacteria. Not to mention that it is also believed that **it could create oxygenated habitats on other oceanic worlds**, such as Enceladus or Europa, and create conditions for the emergence of extraterrestrial life.
Source: DW.
Have you visited our YouTube channel yet? Subscribe now!
