Oxygenation Without Photosynthesis

[exchemist]

I thought this was interesting: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02393-7

It seems manganese nodules on the sea floor can somehow generate free oxygen! The mechanism has yet to be explained. If this is confirmed it could add another aspect to the story of how the Great Oxygenation Event took place. It has also potential implications for the environmental effect of mining these nodules.

 

[DaveC426913]

Yeah. I read that too.

Basically, semiheavy metals generating low voltage, causing electrolysis of oxygen from water. Pretty cool.

 

[exchemist]

Yeah. I read that too.

Basically, semiheavy metals generating low voltage, causing electrolysis of oxygen from water. Pretty cool.

I must say I'd like to see these findings replicated, in view of the mystery surrounding the mechanism, which makes me a little bit unsure whether to take them at face value.

But assuming the results are real, it occurs to me it could be very interesting indeed to explore the mechanism. The world is badly in need of more efficient methods of electrolysing water for hydrogen. These nodules, if they are indeed somehow catalysing the process, could give some valuable pointers towards human catalyst design.