In a breakthrough discovery, scientists have found that polymetallic nodules resting on the deep seafloor can

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In a breakthrough discovery, scientists have found that polymetallic nodules resting on the deep seafloor can produce oxygen—even in the absence of sunlight. These nodules generate microcurrents that split surrounding seawater into hydrogen and oxygen, a process dubbed “dark oxygen” production. This means that life-sustaining oxygen can be created without photosynthesis, redefining our understanding of biological possibilities in extreme environments.

This discovery not only sheds new light on the resilience of deep-sea ecosystems but also opens the door to revolutionary thinking in astrobiology. If oxygen can be produced without sunlight deep beneath our oceans, similar mechanisms might exist on other planets or moons with subsurface oceans. These insights could dramatically shift how we search for life beyond Earth.

,DeepSeaDiscovery ,DarkOxygen ,OceanScience

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