'Dark oxygen' mission takes aim at other worlds

Summary: Scientists recently discovered that metal lumps on the deep seabed can produce

oxygen in total darkness, challenging the belief that oxygen is only made by plants in

sunlight. This finding could impact how we understand life on Earth and on other planets, as

oxygen is essential for survival. The research team, led by Prof. Andrew Sweetman, plans to

explore deeper ocean areas using high-tech equipment to confirm and study this process.

The discovery has sparked debates among scientists, environmentalists, and mining

companies, especially since these metal lumps are also valuable for making batteries. While

mining companies push for extraction, many scientists are urging caution to protect

deep-sea ecosystems.

My Input: This discovery is amazing because it shows how much we still don’t know about

our planet. The idea that oxygen can be made in the dark could also help us understand if

life could exist on other planets. At the same time, I think we need to protect the deep-sea

environment. Mining could harm the animals and plants living there, so I agree with

scientists who say we should study these areas more before making big decisions.

Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq6gg5mnn8eo