Deep in the sea, the strange production of oxygen by iron pebbles

by time news

2024-07-22 17:51:00

A group of scientists discovered that oxygen gas is produced 4,000 meters below the surface of the ocean, where no light can penetrate the ocean. The discovery is “fascinating” but raises many questions, according to experts.

Discover them « Questions what we know about the origins of life on Earth » : A group of researchers from around the world say that they have discovered that the metallic minerals at the bottom of the sea produce free oxygen by themselves, in complete darkness. Their results, published on Monday Natural Science, come, like them, « defiance » the idea that only photosynthetic organisms create oxygen using energy from the sun.

Professor Andrew Sweetman’s team, from the Scottish Society for Marine Science (SAMS), made the discovery while investigating the sea of ​​the Clarion-Clipperton area, which is 4.5 million square kilometers between Hawaii and Mexico. In this area, at a depth of more than 4,000 meters, the sea floor is partially lined with billions of tons of polymetallic nodules, these large iron pebbles that are mainly of manganese and iron, but also…

This article is reserved for subscribers. You have 85% left to explore.

Do you want to read more?

Unlock all items immediately.

Already subscribed? Look at the house

#Deep #sea #strange #production #oxygen #iron #pebbles

You may also like

Leave a Comment