Scientists have helped solve a longstanding mystery about how Earth remained habitable after oxygen first accumulated in its atmosphere more than 2 billion years ago, providing evidence that an ancient ocean chemistry sustained life-friendly conditions.
The study, published in Nature Communications, was led by researchers including UC Riverside geologist Andrey Bekker. They found that changes in ancient ocean chemistry created a self-sustaining cycle that helped keep oxygen levels high after they first rose. The cycle depended on phosphorus recycling, which fueled biological productivity and helped maintain oxygen in the atmosphere.
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