Forget everything you THOUGHT you knew about oxygen production on Earth!
A team of international scientists just discovered that ‘dark oxygen’ is being generated in the deep seafloor — WITHOUT the need for light!
Why is this such a big deal?
Until now, it has been believed that photosynthesis (the natural chemical reaction in photosynthetic organisms like plants, algae, and cyanobacteria when exposed to sunlight) is the primary process by which oxygen is produced and is essential to supporting life on Earth.
Enter seawater electrolysis in the deep ocean.
A groundbreaking new study found that deep-sea polymetallic nodules—mineral-rich concretions found on the seafloor and the main target of the industry—are helping to create oxygen through the natural electrolysis of seawater (splitting H2O into hydrogen and oxygen atoms) due to the metals embedded into these nodules!
With 21.1 billion tons of nodules clustered in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, these nodules seem to work together as a natural, oxygen-producing ‘geobattery’.
WOW.
This discovery of dark oxygen is now transforming humanity’s understanding of the planet’s oxygen production systems.
But, we’re already on the precipice of disrupting polymetallic nodules, a natural resource we don’t fully understand yet and one that took millions of years to form.
Unfortunately, this critical oxygen-producing system is at risk as exploitative companies want to commercially mine the seabed to extract these very nodules.
Scientists believe deep-sea mining would cause irreparable ecosystem and biodiversity harm, and could even threaten the ocean’s ability to sequester humanity’s carbon emissions.
While this discovery that nodules produce oxygen SHOULD make mining them off-limits, uproar calling to leave this pristine environment untouched hasn’t been enough… yet.
Share this post for awareness and learn more about this groundbreaking discovery here → https://bit.ly/soa-dop