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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists have discovered 'dark' oxygen being produced 13,450 feet below the ocean surface in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone
• This phenomenon, observed since 2013, challenges the assumption that oxygen cannot be produced without sunlight
🔭 The context: The discovery was made while assessing marine biodiversity in areas rich in polymetallic nodules, which are critical for green technologies
• The research indicates that these nodules may function as natural 'geobatteries', producing oxygen through an electrochemical process similar to seawater electrolysis
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This finding has significant implications for our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and the potential impacts of deep-sea mining
• It also raises questions about the origins of life and the role of the ocean floor in global oxygen production
⏭️ What's next: Further research is needed to understand the full implications of dark oxygen production and its role in deep-sea ecosystems
• The discovery could influence policies on deep-sea mining, with some countries already calling for a moratorium to protect marine biodiversity
💬 One quote: "I thought, ‘My God for the last eight or nine years, I’ve just been ignoring something profound and huge,’" said Andrew Sweetman, lead researcher and professor at the Scottish Association for Marine Science
📈 One stat: The US Geological Survey estimates that 21.1 billion dry tons of polymetallic nodules exist in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone
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