A groundbreaking study led by Prof. Andrew Sweetman of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) is set to explore the phenomenon of “Dark Oxygen,” a form of oxygen produced in the absence of light. This revolutionary discovery, made last summer, challenges the long-held belief that oxygen production is exclusively a byproduct of photosynthesis. The project is backed by a £2 million support package from The Nippon Foundation.
The team will deploy advanced sensors to the deepest parts of the ocean, aiming to determine how oxygen can be created in complete darkness, far from the reach of sunlight. The study will investigate whether this process occurs in other deep-sea environments and examine its implications for life on Earth and beyond.
“Our discovery of Dark Oxygen was a paradigm shift in our understanding of the deep sea and potentially life on Earth, but it threw up more questions than answers,” said Prof. Sweetman. “If oxygen production is possible without photosynthesis, it could fundamentally change how we view the possibility of life on other planets. NASA is already interested in the implications for extraterrestrial life.”
The research will involve innovative, purpose-built landers capable of descending to the Hadal Zone, depths between 6,000 and 11,000 meters. This zone constitutes 45% of the ocean and remains largely unexplored. The landers will collect samples and data to uncover whether hydrogen is released during Dark Oxygen production and how it supports microbial life in these extreme conditions.
The study will also explore the impact of climate change on these processes, potentially offering insights into the resilience of deep-sea ecosystems.
Supported by The Nippon Foundation, the project represents a major step forward in deep-sea exploration. “The sea is vital to sustaining human life and biodiversity, but even today so much of the deep sea is unknown,” said Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of The Nippon Foundation.
Prof. Nick Owens, Director of SAMS, emphasized the importance of the research: “The discovery of Dark Oxygen was arguably the most significant in the history of SAMS. It has reinforced the UK’s position as a global leader in marine exploration.”
The findings could reshape not only our understanding of Earth’s deep-sea ecosystems but also the conditions necessary for life on other planets. The research is endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade activity by IOC UNESCO, marking it as a pivotal project for the future of marine science.
As researchers prepare to embark on this three-year journey, the study of Dark Oxygen could unlock answers to some of the most profound questions about life’s origins and its potential existence elsewhere in the universe.