Science Memes

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Oxygen (mander.xyz)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

There are anaerobic bacteria that don't need oxygen to survive. That was the norm before The Great Oxidation Event when cyanobacteria started releasing oxygen into the atmosphere during photosynthesis. Prior to that there was very little oxygen in the atmosphere, and anaerobic bacteria ruled the world.

After the GOE the high concentration of oxygen killed off most of the anaerobic bacteria, and what was left were organisms that made a blood truce with oxygen. Aerobic organisms gained incredible power from utilizing oxygen for metabolism, but eventually die from the accumulated damage the oxygen does to them.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

So it's theoretically possible that some of those anaerobic bacteria survived for 4 billion years and are plotting revenge against us right now?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

Yes... But no.

They don't need to plot anything. We are already consuming oxygen and replacing it with carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Or perhaps this was their plan all along??

DUN DUN DUNNN

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

Wow, I know so little about this topic and I'm learning all kinds of cool things. Thanks for the comment. I'd never thought about aerobic being the opposite of anaerobic before either.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

There were even some found in uran mine pockets, that live off radiation. Others again by reducing metals. It only really needs that sweet electron difference.