The recent discovery of “dark oxygen” production in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone has challenged conventional understanding that oxygen generation is solely tied to photosynthesis, which requires sunlight.

About Dark Oxygen

• Definition: Refers to oxygen being produced deep below the ocean surface without sunlight or photosynthesis.
• Discovery: In July 2024, scientists identified “dark oxygen” at a depth of 13,100 feet in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean.
• Mechanism Of Dark Oxygen Production
  • Metallic nodules rich in manganese and iron on the seafloor were found to generate oxygen.
  • Oxygen production occurs through electrochemical activity by splitting seawater (H₂O molecules) into hydrogen and oxygen, even in the absence of light.
• Significance:
  • Challenges the belief that photosynthesis is the sole source of oxygen.
  • Suggests the possibility of oxygen-rich environments existing on other planets, potentially supporting extraterrestrial life.
  • Indicates that oxygen production on Earth may have predated photosynthesis, reshaping theories about the origins of life.

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About Clarion-Clipperton Zone

• Location: A vast plain in the North Pacific Ocean situated between Hawaii and Mexico.
• Resources: Contains large deposits of polymetallic nodules rich in minerals like manganese, nickel, copper, and cobalt.
  • These minerals are critical for green technologies, including electric vehicles and solar panels.