Scientists Unveil Revolutionary New Research on Earth's Deepest Ocean to Resolve Secrets of Life

Renowned scientists led by Prof. Andrew Sweetman from Scotland Association for Marine Science (SAMS) will embark on the most detailed examination yet of our deep ocean, seeking answers about how life began on Earth and whether life can be sustained on other planets in and outside our solar system.

A £2 million support package from The Nippon Foundation has enabled SAMS to send purpose-built sensors to the deepest parts of the ocean, further investing last summer's groundbreaking discovery of so-called 'Dark Oxygen'.

This remarkable finding contradicts the previously held scientific consensus that oxygen is produced solely through light-intolerant photosynthesis, as it was formed in complete darkness on the deep sea floor. This breakthrough paved way for exploring how life could begin on Earth and sparked new inquiries.

"We sought to resolve some of these questions with our discovery of Dark Oxygen," said Prof. Sweetman, leading this research initiative. "This investigation will provide some more clarity on the production mechanisms. It also has significant implications for understanding possible oxygen production in other planets without direct sunlight."

If this phenomenon can sustain life in ways unlinked to photosynthesis, it may reevaluate our understanding of how to maintain viable ecosystems outside Earth's solar radiation zones.

The Nippon Foundation's £2 million support will be mainly concentrated towards central Pacific areas and enable the design and deployment of purpose-built sensors as well as research land-based vehicles.

Researchers seek answers regarding other similar 'Dark Oxygen' occurrence possibilities around the globe, the possibility of releasing hydrogen during this natural process, what role might dark oxygen contribute to the subsurface ecosystems that may support life in such regions, as well as any negative impact climate change has on deep-sea habitats.

This 3-year research project will make profound history for its groundbreaking nature since no other lander-based device will be able to operate at the lower limits of this Hadal zone than our instrument.