The Change in Day Length Caused an Oxygen Explosion on Earth: A Study.

According to ТСН: Researchers from the University of Michigan and the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research discovered that the slowdown of Earth's rotation could have played a key role in the emergence of oxygen in the atmosphere.

In an article published in the journal Nature Geoscience, scientists explore the connection between the elongation of the day and massive oxygen events that significantly changed the evolution of life on the planet.

Change in Day Length

About 1.4 billion years ago, a day lasted only 18 hours. Over time, the gravitational influence of the Moon began to slow down Earth's rotation, causing the day to gradually lengthen. Currently, it is increasing by 1.8 milliseconds per century. Microbiologist Gregory Dick believes that such a change in the daily cycle could have created conditions for oxygen accumulation in the atmosphere.

Role of Cyanobacteria

The main producers of oxygen were cyanobacteria, capable of photosynthesis. Research in the Middle Island Sinkhole karst cave on Lake Huron showed that these microorganisms activate only a few hours after sunrise. A longer day provided them with more opportunities for photosynthesis, which, in turn, contributed to oxygen accumulation.

The Impact of Earth's Rotation on Evolution

This mechanism may explain two key stages in Earth's history: the Great Oxygen Event 2.4 billion years ago and the Neoproterozoic oxygen event that occurred between 550 and 800 million years ago.

Marine biologist Arjun Chennu notes that researchers have managed to establish a connection between the daily rhythms of microbial communities, the slowdown of the planet's rotation, and the influence of the Moon for the first time. He considers this an example of the close relationship between biological processes and cosmic phenomena.

It is noteworthy that former NASA astronaut Ron Garan, who spent 178 days in orbit and completed over 2800 orbits around the Earth, shared insights about the so-called 'overview effect', which significantly changed his perception of global issues—from economics to ecology.

These findings emphasize the importance of the connection between cosmic phenomena and life on Earth. They open new horizons for understanding evolutionary processes and how external factors can influence life on the planet. Such research could lay the foundation for further scientific developments in the fields of ecology and astronomy.