At the forefront of deep-sea science, our team is leading the most detailed investigation yet into the mysteries of the deep ocean—an effort that could reshape our understanding of life on Earth and beyond.
Led by Professor Andrew Sweetman at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), in partnership with UHI, our research is diving into the discovery of Dark Oxygen—a groundbreaking finding that challenges the long-held belief that oxygen can only be produced through photosynthesis. This phenomenon, where oxygen is generated in complete darkness on the ocean floor, opens up new possibilities for how life might exist in extreme environments, including on other planets.
Thanks to a £2 million support package from The Nippon Foundation, we are deploying custom-built, autonomous landers equipped with advanced sensors to the deepest parts of the ocean—down to 11,000 metres. These missions will explore the Hadal Zone, a vast and largely uncharted region that makes up nearly half of the ocean’s depth.
Our three-year programme will:
- Investigate how and where Dark Oxygen is produced
- Examine whether hydrogen is released in the process and used by deep-sea microbes
- Study how climate change may be affecting deep-sea ecosystems
- Collaborate with international partners, including NASA, to explore the implications for life on other planets
This is the first UK-led project with the capability to sample below 6,000 metres, marking a major milestone in marine exploration. Endorsed by IOC UNESCO as part of the UN Ocean Decade, our work continues a legacy of discovery that began with the Challenger Expedition over 150 years ago.
As Prof. Nick Owens, Director of SAMS, puts it:
“The discovery of Dark Oxygen is one of the most significant in our history, reinforcing the UK’s role as a global leader in ocean science.”
We are proud to be supported by The Nippon Foundation, Japan’s largest philanthropic organisation, which shares our vision of a better future through ocean innovation and exploration.
