Discovery of “Dark Oxygen” Produced at the Sea Floor Where No Light Can Reach! GEO GIRL

A recent (2024) study has found molecular oxygen (O2) being produced at the seafloor! They are calling it 'dark' oxygen because, up to this point, we understood oxygen to form only by photosynthesis (aka: at Earth's surface, where light can reach). However, this dark oxygen was produced ~4000 m below the surface, where no light can reach! This discovery reshapes our fundamental understanding of how oxygen and carbon are cycled through Earth's systems. No longer is O2 production bound to Earth's surface. This has major implications for how we view Earth's chemical cycles and biosphere moving forward. In this video, I talk about the discover of dark O2 and the potential significances of this! Hope you enjoy ;D 0:00 Evolution of Oxygen on Earth 1:48 The Oxygen Cycle (as we knew it…) 3:20 Why O2 ‘shouldn’t’ be produced on the seafloor 4:10 Discovery of ‘Dark’ Oxygen 4:49 Where Dark O2 has been detected 5:16 How Dark Oxygen Forms 7:46 Significance of Dark Oxygen 10:06 Significance for the Origin of Life 12:39 Significance for Mining References: Main article: Sweetman et al., 2024: doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01480-8 CNN summary: Scientific American summary: www.scientificamerican.com/article/cells-discovere… Article on dark oxygen being produced biologically in soils: www.wired.com/story/the-secret-of-how-cells-make-d… My thallium article if you're interested: doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2023.07.011 GEO GIRL Website: www.geogirlscience.com/ (visit my website to see all my courses, shop merch, learn more about me, & donate to support the channel if you'd like!) Hey there, Earth enthusiast! Check my favorite Earth-friendly products: Bamboo toilet paper: shrsl.com/3cvku Bamboo paper towels: shrsl.com/3cvkw Compostable tableware: shrsl.com/3cvkz Compostable trash bags: shrsl.com/3cvl0 Bamboo cutlery + straw! : shrsl.com/3cwfl Eco-Friendly Tote (great for grocery shopping!): shrsl.com/3cwfp Reusable straws + cleaning brushes (my fav!): shrsl.com/3cwft Eco-friendly laundry detergent: shrsl.com/3cwgo Directly offset your carbon footprint with Wren: shrsl.com/3d0t2 (Just click link, press get started, take the free C footprint quiz, then choose how much you want to reduce your footprint by donating to the C sequestration projects they're funding!) Non-textbook books I recommend: Oxygen by D. Canfield: amzn.to/3gffbCL Brief history of Earth by A. Knoll: amzn.to/3w3hC1I Life on young planet by A. Knoll: amzn.to/2RBMpny Some assembly required by N. Shubin: amzn.to/3w1Ezm2 Your inner fish by N. Shubin: amzn.to/3cpw3Wb Oxygen by N. Lane: amzn.to/3z4FgwZ Alien Oceans by K. Hand: amzn.to/3clMx1l Life's Engines: amzn.to/3w1Nhke Tools I use as a geologist/teacher/student: Geology field notebook: amzn.to/3lb6dJf Geology rock hammer: amzn.to/3DZw8MA Geological compass: amzn.to/3hfbdLu Geological hand lens: amzn.to/3jXysM5 Camera: amzn.to/3l6fGRT Carbon-neutral pencil bag: shrsl.com/3cvjv Carbon-neutral backpack: shrsl.com/3cvkc Disclaimer: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission, but there is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week! And as always, let me know your topic suggestions in the comments down below!

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