Scientists have discovered that magma deep inside Earth can store surprising amounts of extra oxygen, potentially revealing a hidden contributor to our planet’s oxygen-rich atmosphere. The findings suggest that ancient volcanic eruptions may have helped transform Earth’s atmosphere billions of years ago, with implications for understanding life on other planets. Scientists discover a hidden oxygen reservoir deep inside Earth.
Com Scientists have discovered that molten rock deep inside Earth can store far more oxygen than previously believed. The finding challenges long-standing assumptions about magma and raises an intriguing possibility: oxygen released from Earth’s interior may have helped transform the planet’s atmosphere billions of years ago. Through high-pressure experiments and advanced computer simulations, researchers found that magma can absorb additional oxygen beyond the amount normally required by its chemical composition.
This hidden oxygen could provide a previously unrecognized connection between Earth’s deep interior, volcanic activity, and the development of an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Ho-kwang Mao of the Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (HPSTAR), working with Prof. Haiyang Niu of Northwestern Polytechnical University and Prof.
