New Mars Forums

Official discussion forum of The Mars Society and MarsNews.com

You are not logged in.

Announcement

Announcement: This forum is accepting new registrations by emailing newmarsmember * gmail.com become a registered member. Read the Recruiting expertise for NewMars Forum topic in Meta New Mars for other information for this process.

#1 2024-07-26 13:27:33

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,824

Dark Oxygen, (And Hydrogen as well)

Moderators can choose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_XigW2QcB4
Quote:

Profound Scientific Discovery: Deep Ocean Floor Rocks Electrolyze Water Producing “Dark Oxygen”

Paul Beckwith
33.4K subscribers

They seem to argue that the electrolysis comes from the nodules themselves, I am going to venture that it could be that electric voltage differentials between the sediments and the Ocean water itself may prompt a current flow though the nodules that would power the electrolysis. 

Maybe they know better.  Good chances.

Anyway, we may want to know of the potential of this for off world settlements.  A world that is quite cold might have ground currents generated from various natural occurrences.

There is a great deal to learn from this I expect in any case.

Done

Last edited by Void (2024-07-26 13:35:11)


End smile

Offline

#2 2024-07-26 18:31:45

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 19,422

Re: Dark Oxygen, (And Hydrogen as well)

This post is reserved for an index to posts that may be contributed by NewMars members over time!

Thanks to Void for bringing this discovery into the forum.

(th)

Offline

#3 2024-07-27 10:25:21

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Dark Oxygen, (And Hydrogen as well)

We knew that plants were not the only source and until now we did not have the proof. 'Dark oxygen' discovery: Study finds lumps of metal producing 'dark oxygen' on ocean floor

d41586-024-02393-7_27374152.jpg?as=webp

In science class, kids learn that plants need sunlight to do photosynthesis and create the oxygen we breathe. But, oxygen is being produced on the abyssal seafloor, which is so deep that sunlight cannot reach it, according to a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience.

oxygen is created by metallic “nodules” that look like lumps of coal. But, instead of heating a grill, they’re splitting H2O (water) molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

The phenomenon was first observed in 2013, when the lead scientist of the study, Andrew Sweetman, a professor at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, was studying the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an area in the Pacific Ocean between Mexico and Hawaii. He believed his equipment was faulty when it showed that oxygen was being made on the dark sea floor, reports CNN.

Offline

#4 2024-07-28 18:13:16

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,824

Re: Dark Oxygen, (And Hydrogen as well)

OK, posting about this again: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technolo … 69d8&ei=60
Quote:

Newly discovered ocean oxygen source rewrites life origins
Story by PAA • 4d • 2 min read

Quote:

The latest research published in the journal "Nature Geoscience" indicates that oxygen is produced in the ocean depths—below a level of 13,123 feet.

Quote:

A special research device was dropped into the ocean, which sat on the bottom and conducted automatic experiments. It released cylindrical instruments that enclosed a small section of the seabed along with water, creating a "closed microcosm." It then measured changes in oxygen concentration in the enclosed area.

The instrument clearly indicated that oxygen was being produced in this location. Initially, scientists thought the device was damaged, which is why readings were taken for as long as 10 years.

The process of photosynthesis was immediately ruled out because no sunlight reaches the ocean floor. A possible explanation for this phenomenon is small metallic rocks, one of which generated a voltage of about 1.5 volts.

Scientists explained that such voltage represents about 60 percent of the electrical potential needed for water electrolysis, the process causing it to split into hydrogen and oxygen. Therefore, larger rocks likely have the ability to carry out this process. Researchers suggest they are responsible for producing oxygen on the ocean floor.

I suddenly realized that for eight years I’d been ignoring this potentially amazing new process, 4,000 meters (over 13,000 feet) down on the ocean floor, said Andrew Sweetman.

So, I do feel conservative about this.  That is, until it is understood, being careful with those ocean floors is important.

Next, "Where does the power for this come from?"  Some articles say they act like a battery, but if you drop a battery into sea water it may create Oxygen and Hydrogen, but it will discharge.  I have guessed ground currents, a differential between the sea bottom and the sea water above it.  But that could be wrong.  If it is wrong, then it looks like there is something important to discover.

Can the rocks be moved to another location and produce Oxygen, (And Hydrogen)?  Another location could be nearby, or in a location in the ocean which does not have such rocks.  Even perhaps is the shallow ocean.

If it is the rocks alone, in all cases, then something needs to be figured out as to where the power comes from.

However, if rocks can be moved to various locations and sometimes work and sometimes do not, then why?

Could we artificially create simulations of the rocks?  If so, would they work in a location on Mars?

I guess that the terminology I should use is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telluric_current
Quote:

A telluric current (from Latin tellūs 'earth'), or Earth current,[1] is an electric current that flows underground or through the sea, resulting from natural and human-induced causes. These currents have extremely low frequency and traverse large areas near or at Earth's surface. Earth's crust and mantle are host to telluric currents, with around 32 mechanisms generating them, primarily geomagnetically induced currents caused by changes in Earth's magnetic field due to solar wind interactions with the magnetosphere or solar radiation's effects on the ionosphere. These currents exhibit diurnal patterns, flowing towards the Sun during the day and towards the geomagnetic poles at night.

See I also speculated a long time ago that volcanism could be in part stimulated by such electric currents.  This could explain some of the heat in the interior of some worlds.

It is not assured that other worlds will behave in the same ways responding for instance to the solar wind.  But there could be a hope of exploiting something like that on Mars.  What about the supposed water under the south polar ice cap on Mars.  Current flows?

Mars may also have electric currents from dust devils and dust storms.

What happens if you mix CO2 with water near the ocean surface and let the mix drop to the sea floor to turn a turbine?  Doe the ecosystem have the ability to absorb the Carbon from the CO2?  Will the PH remain acceptable?

Obviously, dose of CO2 will matter.  Normally the sea floor would get Carbon from sinking polar currents, and from detritus from higher ocean layers.  Great care would be mandated.

Done

Last edited by Void (2024-07-28 18:36:58)


End smile

Offline

#5 2024-07-28 19:01:16

Void
Member
Registered: 2011-12-29
Posts: 7,824

Re: Dark Oxygen, (And Hydrogen as well)

Ok, another article indicates that the rocks removed to tanks on a ship, will be active for about 3 days, suggesting that they do discharge over that time.  (Maybe).

So, then is there a way that they get "Charged" on the ocean floor?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iixZ6UptVNo
Quote:

We Just Discovered "Dark" Oxygen on Earth - Breakthrough Explained

Dr Ben Miles
294K subscribers

85,609 views  10 hours ago  ✪ Members first  #science #discovery #nature
Link to the paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s4156...

Done

Last edited by Void (2024-07-28 19:05:35)


End smile

Offline

#6 2024-07-29 18:36:03

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,433

Re: Dark Oxygen, (And Hydrogen as well)

At 1 atmosphere being 33 ft and going to the working depth we are at just under 400 atm, 400 bar ect. huge pressure is being seen.

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB