Odd New Theory Explains How Early Earth Got Its Oxygen
By Jesse Emspak, Live Science Contributor | April 25, 2017 01:53pm ET
One of the still-unsolved mysteries about Earth's history is how the planet became oxygenated, and breathable, billions of years ago. Now, a new study says the culprit may have been the giant rock slabs that make up the Earth's outer shell.
As these so-called plates moved, in a process called plate tectonics, they would have buried carbon-rich remains of dead creatures beneath other plates as they slid underneath. In the Earth's mantle, under the crust, the carbon wouldn't be able to react with oxygen, leaving this vital ingredient in the atmosphere, the scientists said.
http://www.livescience.com/58827-how-early-earth-got-its-oxygen.html
