Metallic Rocks In The Ocean Produce Oxygen Without Photosynthesis

Anton Petrov
26 Jul 202412:51

Summary

TLDRThe video delves into the potential ramifications of deep-sea mining of polymetallic nodules, which are mineral deposits rich in metals like manganese, cobalt, and nickel. These 'ocean potatoes' not only harbor significant biodiversity but also produce oxygen, suggesting a non-photosynthesis based oxygenation of early oceans. The discovery challenges our understanding of life's evolution and raises concerns about the environmental impact of mining these nodules, which could disrupt ecological niches and the planet's oxygen balance.

Takeaways

  • ๐ŸŒŠ The script discusses a potentially groundbreaking discovery in ocean sciences related to polymetallic nodules, which could impact deep-sea mining and our understanding of life's origin.
  • ๐Ÿ” Polymetallic nodules, also known as manganese nodules, are mineral deposits rich in metals like manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium, which are in high demand for battery production.
  • ๐ŸŒ These nodules are found in vast quantities on the ocean floor, particularly in regions with hydrothermal vents, and can be as large as potatoes or large eggs, lying on the seafloor.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก The historical interest in mining these nodules dates back to the 1970s and 1980s, but concerns over environmental damage led to a halt in such activities by the early 1980s due to economic reasons rather than environmental regulations.
  • ๐Ÿšซ Mining these nodules could cause irreversible damage to the marine ecosystem, as they are a crucial part of the biosphere with high biodiversity, similar to coral reefs.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฌ Recent studies have found that these nodules may produce oxygen, a discovery that was unexpected and could have significant implications for understanding the evolution of life and the origin of oxygen on Earth.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ The nodules act like natural batteries, producing voltage that can lead to the electrolysis of water, resulting in the production of oxygen and hydrogen.
  • โณ These geological phenomena grow extremely slowly, taking millions of years to form, and may have been present for over 500 million years, potentially oxygenating early oceans and providing an environment for complex life to evolve.
  • ๐ŸŒฟ The discovery challenges the traditional view that photosynthesis was the primary source of oxygen for the evolution of complex life, suggesting that non-photosynthesis processes could have played a significant role.
  • ๐ŸŒ The implications of this discovery are not only scientific but also ethical, as mining these nodules could have detrimental effects on the planet's biodiversity and ecological balance.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฎ The script suggests that similar conditions to those that form these nodules could exist on other celestial bodies, potentially providing environments conducive to the origin of life elsewhere in the universe.

Q & A

  • What is the significance of the discovery discussed in the video?

    -The discovery discussed in the video is significant because it involves polymetallic nodules, which are mineral deposits found on the ocean floor. These nodules contain various metals like manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium, which are in high demand for battery production. The discovery could have major implications for deep-sea mining and the environment.

  • What are polymetallic nodules commonly referred to as?

    -Polymetallic nodules are commonly referred to as manganese nodules, although they contain more than just manganese.

  • What is the typical size of these polymetallic nodules?

    -The typical size of these polymetallic nodules is similar to that of a potato or a large egg.

  • Why are mining companies interested in these nodules?

    -Mining companies are interested in these nodules because they contain various metals that are in high demand, especially for the production of batteries.

  • What historical context is provided about the interest in mining these nodules?

    -In the 1970s and 1980s, there was a surge in interest in mining these nodules as countries explored ways to extract them from the ocean floor. However, concerns about environmental damage and economic factors led to a decline in interest.

  • What environmental concerns were raised about mining these nodules?

    -Environmental concerns included the potential destruction of bioecological niches and irreversible damage to biodiversity, similar to the impact of mining coral reefs.

  • Why did mining efforts for these nodules largely stop in the 1980s?

    -Mining efforts largely stopped in the 1980s due to economic reasons, specifically a sudden decrease in metal prices, which led to near bankruptcies for many companies involved in these ventures.

  • What new discovery about these nodules has been made in recent studies?

    -Recent studies have discovered that these nodules seem to produce oxygen, which contributes to the high biodiversity in certain regions of the ocean.

  • How do these nodules produce oxygen?

    -The nodules act like natural batteries, producing voltage that leads to the electrolysis of water, resulting in the production of oxygen and hydrogen.

  • What implications does this discovery have for our understanding of the origin of life on Earth?

    -This discovery suggests that these nodules could have played a role in oxygenating early oceans, providing an environment necessary for more complex life to evolve. It challenges the idea that photosynthesis was the only source of oxygen for early life.

  • What potential impact could mining these nodules have on the environment?

    -Mining these nodules could lead to a major environmental collapse, as they contribute significantly to biodiversity and oxygen production in the ocean. Eliminating this source of 'dark oxygen' could have unknown effects on the rest of the ocean life and even the planet.

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŒŠ Oceanic Discovery: Polymetallic Nodules

This paragraph introduces the topic of polymetallic nodules, also known as manganese nodules, which are mineral deposits found on the ocean floor. These nodules contain valuable metals like manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium, making them a target for mining companies, especially for battery production. The speaker discusses the historical interest in mining these nodules, which peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, and the subsequent environmental concerns that led to a halt in mining activities. The paragraph also highlights the potential ecological damage caused by mining these nodules, as seen in past attempts, and the current resurgence of interest due to the demand for battery materials.

05:01

๐ŸŒฑ Unusual Oxygen Production by 'Ocean Potatoes'

The second paragraph delves into a surprising discovery about the polymetallic nodules: their ability to produce oxygen. Scientists observed elevated oxygen levels around these formations, leading to the hypothesis that the nodules act like batteries, generating voltage that causes electrolysis of water, producing oxygen and hydrogen. This natural process, termed 'dark oxygen,' is not dependent on photosynthesis and contributes significantly to the biodiversity in the deep ocean. The paragraph also discusses the potential implications of mining these nodules, which could disrupt this natural oxygen production and have far-reaching effects on marine life and the planet's ecosystem. Additionally, the speaker speculates on the role these nodules might have played in the early oxygenation of Earth's oceans, possibly supporting the evolution of complex life.

10:02

๐ŸŒŒ Implications for Life Beyond Earth

In the final paragraph, the speaker explores the broader implications of the discovery, suggesting that similar geological processes could occur on other celestial bodies, potentially providing conditions for the origin of complex life elsewhere. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of understanding these natural 'geo-batteries' and their role in the evolution of life and the source of early oxygen on Earth. It also underscores the potential environmental consequences of mining these nodules, not only for Earth but also for other planetary bodies. The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to stay informed about these developments and the ongoing research in this field.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กManganese Nodule

Manganese Nodules, also referred to as polymetallic nodules, are rock-like formations that typically form on the ocean floor. They are rich in various metals such as manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium. These nodules are significant in the video's context as they are the central focus of potential deep-sea mining efforts. The script mentions that these nodules can be as large as a potato or a large egg and are a subject of interest due to their potential use in battery production.

๐Ÿ’กDeep Sea Mining

Deep Sea Mining refers to the extraction of minerals and deposits from the ocean floor. In the video, it is highlighted as a potentially lucrative industry that could have significant environmental impacts. The script discusses the history of interest in deep sea mining, particularly in relation to manganese nodules, and the potential ramifications if such mining operations were to expand.

๐Ÿ’กBiodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular ecosystem, including the number of species and their genetic diversity. The video emphasizes the high biodiversity around manganese nodules, suggesting that these formations play a crucial role in supporting various life forms in the ocean. The script warns that mining these nodules could lead to irreversible damage to these ecological niches.

๐Ÿ’กHydrothermal Vents

Hydrothermal vents are openings in the Earth's crust, typically found on the ocean floor, where geothermally heated water issues from the Earth's interior. The video mentions that manganese nodules are especially frequent near hydrothermal vents, indicating that these geological features may play a role in the formation or concentration of these nodules.

๐Ÿ’กPolymetallic Nodule

Polymetallic Nodules are mineral deposits that contain multiple metals, often found on the ocean floor. They are a key focus in the video due to their composition and potential for use in industries like battery manufacturing. The script describes these nodules as containing a mix of minerals and metals, making them highly valuable.

๐Ÿ’กElectrolysis

Electrolysis is a process that uses an electric current to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction. In the context of the video, it is suggested that manganese nodules may act like batteries, producing voltage that could lead to the electrolysis of water, resulting in the production of oxygen and hydrogen. This discovery is significant as it provides a new understanding of how oxygen might be produced in the deep ocean.

๐Ÿ’กOxygen Production

Oxygen Production in the video is discussed in relation to the manganese nodules' ability to generate oxygen through a process similar to electrolysis. This is a surprising finding as it challenges traditional understanding of oxygen production in the ocean, which is typically associated with photosynthesis. The script highlights the importance of this 'dark oxygen' in supporting biodiversity.

๐Ÿ’กEnvironmental Impact

Environmental Impact refers to the effects that human activities have on the environment. The video discusses the potential negative impacts of deep sea mining, particularly on the biodiversity around manganese nodules. The script suggests that mining these nodules could cause irreversible damage to the ocean's ecosystem.

๐Ÿ’กEvolution of Life

Evolution of Life is the process by which different kinds of living organisms develop and diversify from earlier forms during the history of the Earth. The video suggests that the discovery of manganese nodules producing oxygen might lead to a reevaluation of how complex life evolved on Earth. The script proposes that these nodules could have provided an early source of oxygen, influencing the development of life.

๐Ÿ’กGeo Batteries

Geo Batteries, as mentioned in the video, refer to the natural geological formations that can produce electricity. The manganese nodules are described as acting like batteries, generating voltage that could facilitate the electrolysis of water. This concept is central to the video's exploration of how these nodules might contribute to oxygen production in the deep ocean.

๐Ÿ’กPhotosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with carbon dioxide and water, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. The video contrasts this process with the production of 'dark oxygen' from manganese nodules, suggesting that oxygen in the deep ocean may not rely solely on photosynthesis.

Highlights

Anton discusses a potentially groundbreaking discovery in ocean sciences with implications for the origin of life and deep-sea mining.

The unusual rock formation known as polymetallic nodules, rich in metals like manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, and lithium, could be crucial for battery production.

Mining companies are interested in these nodules due to the high demand for metals in battery technology, despite the environmental concerns.

In the 1970s and 1980s, there was a surge in interest for mining these nodules, but the projects were abandoned due to economic reasons, not environmental.

Studies show that mining these nodules can cause irreversible damage to the marine ecosystem, similar to mining coral reefs.

Recent studies have found that these nodules may have been oxygenating early oceans, providing an environment for complex life to evolve.

The recovery of microbial communities in mined areas is slow, with some taking up to 50 years, indicating the long-term impact of mining.

A renewed interest in mining these nodules has emerged due to the shortage of materials like lithium for batteries.

Researchers discovered that these 'ocean potatoes' produce oxygen, a finding that was completely unexpected.

The oxygen production by the nodules could be linked to a natural process similar to batteries, where they act as geo-batteries.

The nodules were found to have voltages up to 95 volts, which could be increased through clustering, leading to natural electrolysis.

The process of electrolysis in these nodules produces 'dark oxygen,' oxygen not requiring photosynthesis, supporting high biodiversity.

Mining these nodules could lead to a significant environmental collapse due to the loss of dark oxygen and its impact on marine life.

The discovery suggests that the origin of complex life on Earth might not have needed photosynthesis, as an alternative oxygen source existed.

The existence of these nodules challenges our understanding of the great oxygenation event and the role of photosynthetic bacteria in complex life.

The discovery implies that similar conditions for complex life could exist on other planets, opening up new possibilities for astrobiology.

The study's findings emphasize the importance of not mining these nodules to prevent detrimental effects on the planet's ecosystems.

Anton invites viewers to subscribe and stay updated for future discussions on this topic as more discoveries and clarifications emerge.

Transcripts

play00:00

hello person this is Anton and today

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we're going to discuss what could

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potentially become one of the most

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exciting discoveries in Ocean sciences

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and in studies regarding the origin of

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life in the last few decades a discovery

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that could have huge ramifications if

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one day deep sea mining finally takes

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off and starts to recover a lot of

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different minerals and deposits from the

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bottom of the oceans but in order to

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understand why this discovery is so

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important let's discuss a little bit of

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history and basically what happened back

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in the 1970s and 1980s and all of this

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is about this and unusual Rock like

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formation that goes by different names

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normally it's known as the manganes

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nodule but because it doesn't just

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contain manganes it's much more often

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referred to as poly metallic nodule a

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type of a mineral deposit that usually

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forms on the ocean floor and can

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actually be present in huge amounts in

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certain regions of the ocean and the

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depending on the location and also

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depending on how they were created they

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will often contain different types of

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metals now manganese and iron are pretty

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common here but they can also contain

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Cobalt nickel copper lithium and

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basically a lot of other stuff many

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different mining companies today are

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desperately looking for because of the

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demand when it comes to batteries and

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because these nodules mix various

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minerals and various metals and a

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normally a size of a potato or some kind

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of a large egg and also just generally

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lie on the seaf floor and can just

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easily be picked up naturally quite a

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lot of companies out there have been

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trying to find a way to exploit this and

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to collect them in order to obviously

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sell them so they can then be used for

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new batteries and in the last few years

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several private companies received

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certain rights to potentially mine them

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in certain locations but nothing so far

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has materialized and honestly for the

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reasons we'll discuss today hopefully it

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never will but I guess what's important

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to understand is that this is not the

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first time someone has been interested

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in mining them as a matter of fact back

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in 1970s there was a sudden huge

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explosion in pretty much all countries

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talking about this and basically trying

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to find a way to extract them from the

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ocean floor just because you literally

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have this metal line there and you just

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have to pick it up in order to then

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extract everything as long as you have a

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ship and a long enough hose and based on

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a lot of different surveys we know that

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these things are pretty much everywhere

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and they don't just appear in oceans

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they even appear in various lakes and

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are especially very frequent near

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hydrothermal vents or ancient locations

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where hydrothermal vents existed but

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usually at high depths normally around 2

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to 4 km and in certain locations there

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are so many of them that they literally

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form the sea Flor but as you can see

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from this picture they also obviously

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serve as a really important part of

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biosphere the amount of biodiversity

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around them seems to be really really

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high and so even in the 70s and in the

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80s there was a bit of a concern in

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regards to mining this because it

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basically looked like we were mining a

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coral reef destroying huge amounts of

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bioecological niches and potentially

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causing irreversible damage and while

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surprisingly around the early 1980s

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after just a few initial attempts this

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particular type of mining completely

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stopped although ironically it wasn't a

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result of some kind of a realization

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that we're destroying the biosphere or

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any kind of a regulation it was pure

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economics the sudden decrease in metal

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prices in the late '70s early 80s

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basically led to near bankruptcies for

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many different companies and the

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abandonment of these projects by 1982

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and so between 1960s and 1984 something

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like half a billion dollars was

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completely lost on many of these

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Ventures no profits were made and

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because there were certain locations

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where we know a lot of damage has been

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done for the past four to five decades

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several scientific teams have been

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actually trying to find out okay so what

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exactly happened there and did those

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areas recover here's actually one of the

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locations extremely close to the gapas

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island and while you can learn about the

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actual details in one of the links in

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the description but just to quote some

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of the discoveries even 26 years later

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microbial communities had only partially

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recovered and the full recovery could

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take up to 50 years whereas when it

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comes to meapa there was no signs of

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recovery even after 26 years with only

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some SC Avengers returning to the area

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but the conclusion being that mining

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caused a dramatic and irreversible

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damage to various types of life that

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used to exist here but despite these

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conclusions in the last I guess 3 to 4

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years there's been now A Renewed

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interest just because of the need for

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new batteries and because of the

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shortage of things like lithium and so

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several companies are now trying to once

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again Harvest these unusual ocean

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potatoes which led to additional studies

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of course including this one that one

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once again tried to assess potential

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dangers and in the process discovered

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something really no one expected these

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as I call them ocean potatoes seem to

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produce oxygen and quite a lot of it

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which is why those unusual locations had

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such a huge biodiversity and this by

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itself was absolutely unexpected and so

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I guess the next question is okay but

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how exactly does this work and what

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exactly does this mean for our

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understanding of evolution of life and

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the origin of life on the planet and by

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the way the study for this is as always

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in the description below and so here as

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the scientists were trying to study this

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they initially made a surprising

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discovery as they were measuring oxygen

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levels from the surface of the ocean

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going deeper and deeper down to the seaf

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Flor now normally in these conditions

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you kind of expect the oxygen levels to

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drop over time because there's really no

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photosynthesis where there's complete

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darkness but to their surprise near the

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bottom of the ocean they would always

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discover these oxygen rich areas and

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more surprisingly by measuring this over

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several years it seemed pretty clear

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that around these formations the oxygen

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levels were highly elevated which kind

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of made no sense and here there were

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several assumptions one of them was that

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maybe this is some kind of unusual

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organism that seems to create these

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habitable conditions in the depths of

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the oceans or maybe and I guess more

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likely this was just a problem with

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measurements and some kind of a

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contamination so basically maybe the

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equipment was not working correctly and

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so several addition observations have

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been conducted but the results were

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always the same but this time the

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researchers behind the study decided to

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try something a little bit different

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they basically collected these nodules

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bringing them to the surface and try

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different techniques in order to see if

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there's still oxygen being produced and

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the answer was yes which almost

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instantly leted them to propose a very

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bizarre hypothesis these unusual rocks

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were basically acting like batteries in

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other words they were producing voltage

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which would then lead to electrolysis of

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water producing oxygen and hydrogen as a

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result and because we know that

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approximately 1.5 volt or a typical able

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a battery is usually enough to split sea

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water in order to produce oxygen this

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explanation potentially made sense but

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it had to be confirmed by measuring the

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voltage of these nodules which is

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exactly what was done in this study for

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a single rock it was up to 95 volts

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which though is not as high as 1.5 volts

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required for electrolysis would become

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much higher if a lot of these rocks were

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touching and would thus produce a kind

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of a battery series and so by clustering

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these nodules together much higher

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voltages could be produced thus creating

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natural electrolysis with the voltage

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itself coming through a chemical process

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involving iron rust and so these natural

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Geo batteries seem to be responsible for

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a production of a lot of oxygen in the

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oceans here the scientists refer to this

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as dark oxygen or basically oxygen not

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requiring photosynthesis and also oxygen

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that seems to be responsible for a lot

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of these e ological niches producing

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tremendous biodiversity in a lot of

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these locations as a matter of fact in

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some locations the biodiversity of FAA

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in these regions is just as high as in a

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typical tropical rainforest which means

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that mining these would lead to major

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environmental collapse but I guess more

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importantly by mining these and by

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eliminating this dark oxygen we actually

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have no idea what effect this would have

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on the rest of the ocean life and even

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the rest of the planet and so in that

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sense this is a real important discovery

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which will hopefully stop these mining

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plants from becoming a reality but what

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about the origin of life well the thing

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about these unusual nodules is that

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first of all they take a really long

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time to grow a typical rock like this

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would actually take hundreds of millions

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of years as a matter of fact this is the

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slowest known geological phenomenon

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where a single centimeter takes several

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million years to acquire and mostly

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through some really complex processes

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involving precipitation of various

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metals from the seawater or really from

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any water above and it's also quite

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likely that they already existed at

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least 500 million years ago oxygenating

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early oceans and providing necessary

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environment for more complex life to

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evolve and though it's still unknown

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exactly when they started forming it's

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actually assumed to have started before

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aerobic life began on planet Earth or

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basically before oxygen was even

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required which also suggests that life

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on Earth maybe didn't even need

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photosynthetic alogy to become more

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complex as an additional source of

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oxygen already existed in the depths of

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the ocean and so because of this

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nonphotosynthetic process that very

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likely existed for billions of years we

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now might have to rethink how we believe

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complex life started on the planet and

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what oxygen source was dominant back in

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the days and so even the great

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oxygenation event and the spread of

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photosynthetic bacteria in the oceans

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along with various algae was always

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believed to be a kind of a catalyst for

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complex life this particular Discovery

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suggests that maybe things were not as

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simple and more importantly it also

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suggests that all of this could happen

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elsewhere because this is a natural

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geological process that just requires

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water and a lot of metals dissolved in

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water for all we know very similar

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conditions could exist on a lot of other

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objects out there and could thus even

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provide conditions for complex life to

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originate in the oceans of some other

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unusual world and so in some sense this

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is definitely a kind of a ground

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breaking Discovery both in regards to

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the evolution of life and the source of

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early oxygen on the planet but also in

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helping us understand that maybe mining

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any of this would be very detrimental

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for the entire planet but because this

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is a relatively recent discovery we'll

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come back and talk more about this in

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some of the future videos once there are

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additional discoveries and more

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clarifications and so until then thank

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you for watching subscribe share this

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with someone who Lov learning about

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space and Sciences come back tomorrow to

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learn something else support this

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channel on patreon by joy and membership

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or by buying the wonderful person

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stay wonderful I'll see you tomorrow and

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as always bye-bye

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[Music]

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[Music]

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Related Tags
Deep-Sea MiningBiodiversityOcean ScienceManganese NodulesPolymetallic NodulesEnvironmental ImpactLife OriginSustainabilityEcological NichesMarine EcosystemsGeo Batteries