Oxygen is being produced by metals thousands of feet under the Pacific Ocean, a phenomenon termed "dark oxygen."
The oxygen is generated by polymetallic nodules on the ocean bed, containing metals like manganese, nickel, and cobalt.
High voltage potentials on nodule surfaces suggest seawater electrolysis may contribute to this oxygen production.
In 2013, ocean scientist Andrew Sweetman's equipment detected oxygen production 13,000 feet below the surface
The existence of 'dark oxygen' prompts new questions about the origins of aerobic life on Earth
Researchers discovered this while studying the potential impacts of deep-sea mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.
Deep-sea mining, planned to extract valuable minerals for tech industries, poses a threat to marine ecosystems and species.