Chinese scientists have discovered that Earth’s atmosphere underwent three major oxygen surges over the past 2 billion years, shaping the planet’s habitability and the evolution of life. The study, led by Chengdu University of Technology and Nanjing University and published in Nature, analyzed triple oxygen isotopes in ancient sulfate.
The findings confirm that oxygen levels rose in stages: first in the Paleoproterozoic era (2.4–2.1 billion years ago), again in the Neoproterozoic era (about 1 billion years ago), and finally in the Paleozoic era (around 440 million years ago), reaching modern levels about 410 million years ago. Researchers say this phased oxygenation process not only supported the rise of complex eukaryotic life but also provides insights into planetary habitability, ancient oceans, and hydrocarbon formation.
Credit: CGTN
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