Recently, scientists have discovered a phenomenon known as ‘dark oxygen’ in deep-sea environments—where certain microorganisms produce oxygen under extreme conditions of complete darkness, high pressure, and low temperature, without relying on photosynthesis. This finding challenges the long-held view that oxygen is primarily generated through photosynthesis and offers a new perspective on early life evolution and deep-sea ecosystem dynamics. Researchers hypothesize that ‘dark oxygen’ may originate from chemical reactions between seafloor minerals and water, or be produced by specific archaea and bacteria through metabolic pathways not yet fully understood. To further investigate its sources and mechanisms, international research teams are planning integrated studies involving in-situ deep-sea measurements, laboratory simulations, and genomic analyses. These efforts could reveal novel pathways in biogeochemical cycles and provide crucial insights for the search for extraterrestrial life—such as in the subsurface oceans of Mars or Europa. As deep-sea exploration technologies advance, ‘dark oxygen’ may become a pivotal link connecting Earth sciences, life sciences, and astrobiology.
近期，科学家在深海环境中发现了一种被称为“暗氧”的现象，即在无光、高压、低温的极端条件下，某些微生物能够通过非光合作用的方式产生氧气。这一发现挑战了传统认知中“氧气主要由光合作用产生”的观点，为理解地球早期生命演化和深海生态系统提供了全新视角。科研人员推测，“暗氧”可能源于海底矿物与水之间的化学反应，或由特定古菌和细菌通过尚未完全阐明的代谢途径生成。为进一步探明其来源与机制，国际多个研究团队正计划开展深海原位探测、实验室模拟以及基因组学分析等综合研究。这些工作不仅有助于揭示深海生物地球化学循环的新路径，还可能对寻找地外生命（如火星或木卫二的冰下海洋）提供重要线索。未来，随着深海探测技术的进步，“暗氧”现象或将成为连接地球科学、生命科学与天体生物学的关键桥梁。
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