Scientists discover oxygen production without light in deep ocean

Scientists have discovered that polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor can produce oxygen without light, challenging the belief that only photosynthetic organisms generate Earth's oxygen. This process, linked to electrochemical activity of metals like manganese and iron, was observed in the Pacific Ocean's Clarion-Clipperton Zone. The findings, published in Nature Geoscience, could impact deep-sea mining practices and our understanding of life's origins.