New Study Reveals Complex Dynamics of Earth's Great Oxidation Event

Research uncovers fluctuating oxygen levels in ancient oceans and atmosphere over a 200-million-year period.

Scientists analyzed marine shales from South Africa to study oxygen fluctuations during the Great Oxidation Event.
Thallium isotope ratios and redox-sensitive elements provided insights into oceanic and atmospheric oxygen levels.
Findings show that oxygen levels rose and fell multiple times before stabilizing.
The study highlights the intricate processes that paved the way for the evolution of complex life.
Research underscores the importance of oceanic oxygen content for early life development.