The contribution of water radiolysis to marine sedimentary life

Justine F. Sauvage; Ashton Flinders; Arthur J. Spivack; Robert Pockalny; Ann G. Dunlea; Chloe H. Anderson; David C. Smith; Richard W. Murray; Steven D’Hondt

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-21218-z

Nature Communications (Feb 2021)

The contribution of water radiolysis to marine sedimentary life

Justine F. Sauvage,
Ashton Flinders,
Arthur J. Spivack,
Robert Pockalny,
Ann G. Dunlea,
Chloe H. Anderson,
David C. Smith,
Richard W. Murray,
Steven D’Hondt

Affiliations

Justine F. Sauvage: Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Ashton Flinders: United States Geological Survey, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Arthur J. Spivack: Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Robert Pockalny: Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Ann G. Dunlea: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Chloe H. Anderson: MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen
David C. Smith: Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Richard W. Murray: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Steven D’Hondt: Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21218-z
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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The extent to which chemical products of water radiolysis could sustain subseafloor microbial life is unknown. Here the authors show that sediment catalyzes radiolytic production of H2 and oxidants, providing the primary energy source for life in ancient marine sediment.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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