Metallic nodules sought by deep sea miners could be making oxygen in the depths
By 
Anthony King2024-07-30T13:30:00
Water-splitting at the bottom of the Pacific holds intriguing implications for the origin of life on Earth – and further afield
Investigation of the depths of the Pacific Ocean has thrown up a surprise – oxygen is unexpectedly being generated there, despite there being no light for plants to photosynthesise. The most likely source of this oxygen is polymetallic nodules acting as a geo-battery on the ocean floor, the international team of researchers conclude.
Commercial interest in these nodules has grown in recent years because they contain high levels of elements such as nickel, lithium and cobalt that are used in rechargeable batteries. This interest has also led to concerns about the environmental impact of deep sea mining on the ocean floor.