Explaining the ‘Dark Oxygen’ phenomenon — oxygen production discovered on the deep ocean floor without sunlight.

I made a 12-minute explainer about the recently observed “dark oxygen” phenomenon in the deep ocean.

Some studies suggest that polymetallic nodules on the seafloor generate small electrical currents that split seawater molecules, producing oxygen in complete darkness thousands of meters below the surface.

These structures also show remarkable examples of biomimicry — scientists and engineers are studying them to develop corrosion-resistant materials, self-cleaning surfaces, and even designs for spacecraft in extreme environments.

I’d love to hear what members of this community think about the science, biomimicry insights, or ways the video could be explained better.