This vast area between Hawaii and Mexico is one of the least understood regions on Earth, and it’s home to polymetallic nodules, mineral-rich rocks that appear to be at the heart of this strange new process.
Traditionally, it’s been believed that almost all oxygen on Earth comes from photosynthesis — the conversion of sunlight into chemical energy by plants and microorganisms.
But researchers now have evidence that these deep-sea nodules may act like “geobatteries,” naturally generating small electrical currents (around 0.95 volts) capable of splitting seawater molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, no sunlight required.
The implications are staggering.
This could mean that aerobic (oxygen-based) life could have existed in Earth’s ancient oceans before photosynthetic organisms evolved, rewriting parts of our understanding of life’s early history.
It also suggests that similar processes could happen on other planets, hinting at new possibilities in the search for extraterrestrial life.
The Clarion-Clipperton Zone is already under environmental scrutiny due to plans for deep-sea mining, as companies race to extract nickel, cobalt, and other metals critical for batteries and green technology.
This discovery adds another layer of concern: disrupting these geobatteries and their ecosystems could have unseen consequences not just for deep-sea biodiversity, but potentially for Earth’s chemical cycles.
Scientists are now pushing for more rigorous protections for the CCZ and other deep-sea environments, warning that we might destroy critical natural processes before we even fully understand them.
This discovery reminds us that Earth’s mysteries are still very much alive — hidden in the dark depths of the oceans.