Polymetallic seafloor nodules generate oxygen in darkness via electrochemical processes
Potato-sized mineral nodules rich in manganese and iron on the abyssal Pacific seafloor appear to produce oxygen in total darkness through electrochemical 'geobattery' processes with measured voltages ~0.95 V. Sealed chamber experiments showed oxygen levels rising unexpectedly.
TLDR
This phenomenon, known as 'dark oxygen,' challenges fundamental assumptions about oxygen production and has implications for understanding deep-sea ecosystems, the origins of life, and potential oxygen generation on other worlds. The finding occurs amid debates over measurement artifacts and real-world stakes regarding deep-sea mining of battery metals, with follow-up research ongoing through initiatives like the Nippon Foundation's DORI program.
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