Scientists believe that a special chemical reaction that creates oxygen can be seen in the upper layers of Mars’ atmosphere. Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have discovered a new way to create oxygen in the carbon dioxide-rich atmospheres of other planets. This challenges assumptions about how to search for extraterrestrial life on other planets. The new study shows a way to create oxygen in planetary atmospheres that was not always thought to be viable, writes Space. Before Earth’s oxygen (O2) levels spiked about 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria in the oceans began producing oxygen through photosynthesis, our planet’s atmosphere was dominated by carbon dioxide (CO2) with a small amount of O2. Scientists believe that this oxygen was not produced by living organisms. This research shows a new mechanism for the appearance of oxygen in the atmosphere not only of Earth but also of other worlds with CO2-filled atmospheres. Scientists say they have discovered a new way to create oxygen from carbon dioxide using a chemical reaction between helium ions (He+) and CO2. Most helium ions are formed when alpha particles in the solar wind interact with molecules in the upper atmosphere. When these ions react with carbon dioxide, it can create molecular oxygen, or O2. Scientists believe this reaction could be seen in the upper atmosphere of Mars, which is rich in carbon dioxide. Scientists were able to discover a new way to create molecular oxygen using experiments in which CO2 and He+ were crossed in a special setup under controlled conditions. Scientists were able to gain a complete understanding of the chemical reaction that leads to the formation of oxygen from the two above-mentioned components. Scientists have long studied atmospheric oxygen on other planets, which may indicate the presence of extraterrestrial life. After all, most of the oxygen on Earth is created by living organisms. Now, research shows that large amounts of oxygen in planetary atmospheres may not be created by living organisms. So if similar oxygen-creating mechanisms operate on other planets with carbon dioxide-rich atmospheres, oxygen could exist there even in the absence of extraterrestrial life. Scientists now plan to conduct observations of the atmospheres of other worlds outside the solar system to confirm their findings. The post New Oxygen-Creation Mechanism Redefines Alien Life Search appeared first on Anomalien.com.