The Oxygen Apocalpyse: how bacteria used a spin diode to wipe out ancient life
7 days ago
- #Oxygen Evolution
- #Cyanobacteria
- #Quantum Biology
- Oxygen in the atmosphere is normally in a triplet state with two unpaired electrons, making it unreactive with singlet-state biomolecules due to quantum symmetry.
- Cyanobacteria developed photosynthesis, using a manganese-oxygen cluster (OEC) as a 'quantum lockpick' to split water and release oxygen.
- Initially, oxygen reacted with dissolved iron in oceans, forming banded iron formations before accumulating in the atmosphere.
- The rise of atmospheric oxygen caused mass extinction of anaerobic organisms and led to the evolution of aerobic life, including mitochondria.
- Oxygen reduced methane levels, weakening the greenhouse effect and triggering global cooling events, possibly snowball Earth conditions.
- While oxygen enables high-energy metabolism, it also produces reactive oxygen species that contribute to cellular aging and damage.
- Modern life depends on oxygen, but it exists in a controlled balance, with antioxidants mitigating its corrosive effects.