Billions of years ago cyanobacteria gained photosynthesis to generate their own food from the sun. This released a lot of oxygen in the atmosphere, which should have poisoned the bacteria. Somehow, they gained the ability to resist oxygen damage.

The "Catch-22" problem is how did they evolve the ability before there was a need? Scientist feel they may have discovered the reason. picked by 2manyusernames 2 years ago

Some seals and dolphins can hold their breath underwater for a cheek-popping hour or more without passing out from lack of oxygen. The secret to the superhero animal feat is elevated levels of special oxygen-carrying proteins found in their brains, a new study reveals. But the research leaves puzzles. picked by AutumnLotus 9 months ago

This Chandra X-ray Observatory image shows the debris of a massive star explosion in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small galaxy about 160,000 light years from Earth. The supernova remnant (SNR) shown here, N132D, is the brightest in the Magellanic clouds, and belongs to a rare class of oxygen-rich remnants. Most of the oxygen that we breathe on Earth is thought to have come from explosions similar... read full post picked by AutumnLotus 6 months ago

"The umpire said I couldn't play because of my tank, because of my oxygen,” Garcia told KGW.

The umpire who ejected Garcia said the oxygen is not approved equipment. picked by muppet 4 months ago

A startling discovery by scientists at the Carnegie Institution puts a new twist on photosynthesis, arguably the most important biological process on Earth. But two studies suggest that certain marine microorganisms have evolved a way to break the rules--they get a significant proportion of their energy without a net release of oxygen or uptake of carbon dioxide. picked by AutumnLotus 6 months ago

Desir said she was having trouble breathing and asked for oxygen, but a flight attendant twice refused her request, Oliver said Sunday in a telephone interview. picked by dollyllama 6 months ago

According to Biochemist Graham Logan it did. In brief, containing digestion bi-products in parcels of poop meant that there was less for the bacteria to chew on. This led to less bacteria, and it was the bacteria who were burning up all the oxygen. Which meant there was more oxygen around to play with and the Cambrian Explosion ensued picked by pocksucket 9 months ago

Scientists at the University of Bonn have discovered a new rare type of haemoglobin. The new haemoglobin type appears optically to be transporting little oxygen. Measurements of the blood oxygen level therefore present a similar picture to patients suffering from an inherited cardiac defect. After examining two patients, the scientists now understand that the new type of haemoglobin distorts the l... read full post picked by AutumnLotus 6 months ago

A mineral that acts like a sponge beneath Earth's surface stores more oxygen than expected, keeping our planet from becoming dry and inhospitable like Mars. The key to the abundant oxygen storage is the mineral majorite, which exists deep below Earth's surface in the mantle. Without the oxygen stockpile, Earth would probably be a barren planet hostile to life. picked by AutumnLotus 11 months ago

Oxygen is constantly leaking out of Earth’s atmosphere and into space. Now, ESA’s formation-flying quartet of satellites, Cluster, has discovered the physical mechanism that is driving the escape. It turns out that the Earth’s own magnetic field is accelerating the oxygen away. picked by AutumnLotus 4 days ago

A New Zealand woman on an oxygen machine died shortly after a power company cut the electricity supply to her home over an unpaid bill. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

Scientists claim they've created a totally new substance, an alloy of hydrogen and oxygen molecules, by splitting water. picked by sparky 2 years ago

The rise of oxygen and the oxidation of deep oceans between 635 and 551 million years ago may have had an impact on the increase and spread of the earliest complex life, including animals, according to a study. picked by AutumnLotus 6 months ago

The first lungless frog has been discovered lurking in the jungles of Borneo. It apparently gets all the oxygen it needs through its skin. The loss of lungs helped the frogs severely flatten their bodies. This in turn increased the surface area of their skin, which helps them absorb oxygen. picked by 2manyusernames 5 months ago

Charges are expected for a man accused of killing a kitten by beating its head against a bookcase after it chewed through his wife's oxygen tubes.

*This is so convoluted and screwed up I don't know what to say. picked by dollyllama 8 months ago

Geologists have uncovered evidence of when Earth may have first supported an oxygen-rich atmosphere similar to the one we breathe today. The study suggests that upheavals in the earth’s crust initiated a kind of reverse-greenhouse effect 500 million years ago that cooled the world’s oceans, spawned giant plankton blooms, and sent a burst of oxygen into the atmosphere. picked by AutumnLotus 10 months ago

Get your campfires and aerosol cans of hair spray ready. picked by Skid 2 years ago

As reservoirs of valuable information go, nothing beats the sun. This sphere of heat and energy holds 99.9 percent of the solar system, saved in all original proportions after planets and meteorites formed. Analyzing the mix of hydrogen, oxygen and noble gases found in the sun can answer one of the biggest questions of the universe: How did our solar system evolve? picked by AutumnLotus 10 months ago

Scientists combine two molecules that occur naturally in blood to engineer molecular complex that uses solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. picked by aoeu 2 years ago

A Swiss company has created the world's first "aqua" car, that is able to drive on land, on top of water and even up to 33 feet under the sea. picked by dollyllama 7 months ago