And in fact, before plants appeared on Earth, scientists think there was much more carbon dioxide but no oxygen in the early atmosphere. The composition of the atmosphere has changed over time ...

It can also be a saving grace for those who are afraid of giant insects. In a new study, scientists found that as temperatures have risen over the past half century, global beetle populations may have ...

Chemical composition of ancient rocks Iron sulfide can only exist in rocks that were formed before there was oxygen in the atmosphere. Rocks containing iron oxide can only form if oxygen is present.

Bacteria used oxygen far earlier than expected, reshaping views on early life, evolution, and photosynthesis origins.

Despite its proclivity for forming compounds with other atoms, a copious amount of oxygen is constantly produced via photosynthesis. This enables it to accumulate in the atmosphere and dissolve in ...

The James Webb Space Telescope has just achieved a historic first by capturing direct images of carbon dioxide in the ...

Could black holes be unexpected contributors to the emergence of life in the universe? A recent study suggests that their ...

Scientists assumed most forms of life before the Great Oxidation Event didn't metabolize oxygen—but recent research suggests ...

Black holes may not be as life-destroying as we thought. A surprising study reveals that the powerful radiation from active ...

A surprising new study from Dartmouth and the University of Exeter researchers shows that when the supermassive black holes at the center of most large galaxies—including the Milky Way—consume ...