Newly Discovered Oxygen Reaction Existed in Primitive Atmosphere 626q4d Sheds Light on Origin of Life

New findings show oxygen can form in CO2-rich atmospheres without biological life 3z5u4o

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 4 January 2025 19:15 IST

Newly Discovered Oxygen Reaction Existed in Primitive Atmosphere, Sheds Light on Origin of Life

Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech 105o2e

Mars' atmosphere has ions, but no proof of O2 formation yet

Highlights

New oxygen pathway could reshape life detection methods
CO2 and helium ions form molecular oxygen, study shows
Oxygen can exist without biological processes on other planets

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A new method for atmospheric composition on extraterrestrial worlds.

Insights from the Study 103260

According to research led by Shan Xi Tian and Jie Hu from the University of Science and Technology of China, a reaction between helium ions (He+) and carbon dioxide (CO2) can result in the formation of molecular oxygen (O2).

This mechanism was explored using advanced experimental setups, including time-of-flight mass spectrometry and ion velocity mapping. The reaction pathway was reconstructed under controlled conditions to determine how oxygen could form through abiotic means.

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Potential Implications for Mars and Beyond 2h542d

As per a Space.com report, the study suggests that this reaction may occur in Mars' upper atmosphere, given the prevalence of CO2 and helium ions produced by solar winds. While ions such as O+, O2+, and CO2+ have been detected in the Martian ionosphere, conclusive evidence of O2 formation through this mechanism has not yet been observed.

Scientific Validation and Future Applications 4x6q3b

David Benoit, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Physics and Astrochemistry at the University of Hull, told Space.com that this discovery offers a significant addition to understanding oxygen formation in planetary atmospheres. The findings are expected to be integrated into future astrochemical models to refine predictions about exoplanetary atmospheres. The simultaneous presence of CO2, helium, and oxygen could validate this pathway as a viable source of molecular oxygen on distant worlds.

This research emphasises that oxygen, a critical marker for habitability, might form independently of life, redefining parameters in the search for extraterrestrial organisms.

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