Tag

Polymetallic Nodules

All articles tagged with #polymetallic nodules

science12 days ago•13 min saved

Dark Oxygen in the Deep: Pacific Seafloor Nodules Spark Scientific Debate

In 2024 a Nature Geoscience study reported rising oxygen levels inside sealed chambers placed over deep-sea nodules in total darkness, hinting at local oxygen production by the seafloor—potentially via electrolysis. If real, this would challenge the view of the abyss as a strict oxygen sink and have implications for deep-sea ecology and mining. By 2026, however, the finding was contested, with critiques pointing to experimental artefacts and calling for replication and tighter controls before drawing broader conclusions.

via Space Daily|

#abyssal-ocean #dark-oxygen #deep-sea-mining

planet-earth3 months ago•72 min saved

Experts challenge deep-sea 'dark oxygen' claim, call for retracting 2024 study

A 2024 study claimed that deep-sea polymetallic nodules could generate oxygen in total darkness via seawater electrolysis, but a December 2025 opinion article from marine scientists and electrochemists argues the results are flawed and likely artifacts, citing improper chamber ventilation, absence of negative controls, missing hydrogen data, and a thermodynamics violation; the authors defend their work and plan a spring CCZ expedition to test the phenomenon, but many experts say the study should be retracted unless the evidence is revised.

via Live Science|

#dark-oxygen #deep-sea #deep-sea-mining

science4 months ago•6 min saved

Deep-Sea Nodules May Generate Oxygen Without Sunlight

Researchers found oxygen concentrations rising inside sealed patches of seafloor more than 4,000 meters deep in the Pacific, suggesting a form of “dark oxygen” produced by electrolysis within polymetallic nodules rather than photosynthesis, a discovery with implications for ocean chemistry and debates over deep-sea mining.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#clarion-clipperton-zone #dark-oxygen #deep-sea-chemistry

science5 months ago•5 min saved

Deep-Sea Mission Set to Verify Dark Oxygen From Ocean Nodules

Scientists plan two 11-km-deep landers in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone to test whether metallic seabed nodules emit oxygen, a controversial claim dubbed 'dark oxygen.' The study, which could reshape ideas about life's origins, will measure seafloor respiration and rule out buoyant air artefacts while contending with mining industry skepticism; results are expected within days of deployment, with broader analyses following the ship’s June return.

via ScienceAlert|

#clarion-clipperton-zone #dark-oxygen #deep-sea-mining

science6 months ago•4 min saved

Scientists Discover 'Dark Oxygen' 4,000 Meters Below Sea Level

Scientists have discovered that polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone produce 'dark oxygen' 4,000 meters below the sea surface, potentially rewriting our understanding of oceanic oxygen sources and the origins of life, while complicating deep-sea mining debates due to ecological concerns.

via Yahoo|

#dark-oxygen #deep-sea-mining #environmental-impact

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Unraveling the Mystery of Dark Oxygen

A study published in Nature Geosciences reveals that metal nodules on the ocean floor release oxygen, challenging the belief that deep-sea oxygen solely originates from surface sources. These nodules, rich in metals like manganese, function like batteries, breaking down water into hydrogen and oxygen. This "dark oxygen" supports deep-sea ecosystems and raises concerns about the environmental impact of mining these nodules for rare metals. The findings prompt a reevaluation of oxygen production processes and the origins of life on Earth.

via Ynetnews|

#deep-sea #marine-ecosystems #mining-impact