Children often ask "Why?" as they explore the world. This curiosity can fade as we grow older, and we sometimes ignore new ideas that challenge what we think we know. I experienced this firsthand when I stumbled upon a remarkable source of oxygen in the deep sea—yet overlooked it for nine years.
Back in 2013, while studying carbon cycling in the Clarion-Clipperton zone of the Pacific Ocean, I deployed a lander system that returned with unexpected bubbles. I thought it was just a glitch. Two years later, I used oxygen sensors to investigate further. Instead of recording oxygen consumption, they indicated oxygen production—an oddity in the deep, dark ocean where sunlight doesn’t reach. My initial reaction was to dismiss the data as faulty.
Traditionally, we learn that oxygen is produced through photosynthesis, which relies on light. This understanding made it hard for me to believe that oxygen could be created at depths of 4,000 meters. It wasn’t until 2021, when I employed a different measurement technique, that I realized we had discovered something extraordinary: dark oxygen, generated without any sunlight.
In the summer of 2024, my team published our findings in Nature Geoscience. This revelation challenges our previous notions about the deep sea and could redefine our understanding of life on Earth. However, the exact mechanisms behind this dark oxygen remain a mystery. We suspect that polymetallic nodules—rock-like formations rich in metals like manganese—might be involved. Interaction with seawater could create the electrical potential necessary to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Recent research from China supports this idea, suggesting oxygen can form during the development of these nodules.
In 2025, we aim to answer more questions about this phenomena. If we prove that oxygen can be produced without sunlight, it may change our views on life possibilities in other parts of the universe, especially on icy moons like Enceladus and Europa, where sunlight is scarce. Our discussions with NASA indicate that dark oxygen might pave the way for new insights into extraterrestrial life.
We’re also excited to explore the central Pacific Ocean with specially designed landers. These advanced vehicles will allow us to investigate depths of up to 11,000 meters, where pressures are staggering—over one ton per square centimeter. Our research will focus on whether hydrogen is released alongside dark oxygen and whether it nurtures unique microbial communities in the ocean’s depths.
Our project marks a significant step toward uncovering the mysteries of the hadal zone, which constitutes about 45% of the ocean and remains largely unexplored. Additionally, our findings have implications for deep-sea mining, as these nodules contain valuable metals for technologies like electric vehicles and mobile devices. How this industry affects the seabed’s ecology is yet to be determined, but our research will contribute to understanding the balance needed to protect these vital ecosystems.
In summary, curiosity is a powerful driver of discovery. As we delve into the depths of our oceans, we can’t help but embrace a child-like enthusiasm and continue to ask, “Why?”
For further details on this remarkable research, you can read our published study in Nature Geoscience here.
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