A feedback between oxygen, ocean sulfate, microbial activity and phosphorus recycling may have helped sustain oxygenation after Earth’s Great Oxidation Event, around 2.3 billion years ago. The key insight is that the amount of phosphorus in ancient rocks is not the same as the amount organisms could use: some was bound inside minerals and effectively unavailable to life.
What the study proposes
The Great Oxidation Event marks the point when oxygen became a lasting component of Earth’s atmosphere. But a lasting presence did not mean oxygen levels stayed uniformly high. A study summarized by the University of California, Riverside, proposes that changing ocean chemistry and nutrient recycling helped shape oxygenation in the period that followed.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The proposed feedback begins with oxygen entering the oceans and contributing to an increase in sulfate. Microbes used sulfate as they broke down organic matter, releasing phosphorus back into seawater. That phosphorus could support more biological productivity. In turn, more organic carbon could be buried in seafloor sediments instead of being decomposed. Because decomposition consumes oxygen, greater carbon burial could favor oxygen accumulation.
This is an interpretation of the geological record, not a claim that one nutrient alone made Earth habitable or that oxygen remained abundant without interruption. The university’s account says oxygen levels may have fluctuated substantially, with changes in ocean chemistry and nutrient cycling over tens of millions of years. UC Riverside’s summary of the study describes the proposed mechanism.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Why available phosphorus matters
Phosphorus is important to living organisms, but total phosphorus in a rock does not reveal how much was accessible to ancient life. Phosphorus can be held in different mineral forms; some may be released into seawater and used by organisms, while other phosphorus remains locked in mineral structures.
The researchers analyzed ancient South African rocks using sequential dissolution: mineral components are dissolved in stages so phosphorus can be distinguished by its mineral host. The aim was to separate phosphorus that could potentially have been available to organisms from phosphorus effectively unavailable to them. According to UC Riverside, measuring total phosphorus alone could not answer that question.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Andrey Bekker, a geologist identified by UC Riverside, described the method this way: “We can now separate the phosphorus that was available to organisms from phosphorus that was essentially locked away.” That distinction offers a more useful picture of ancient nutrient availability than a total-phosphorus measurement alone.
What the evidence establishes—and what it does not
The evidence described in the university account comes from mineral-specific phosphorus analysis of ancient South African rocks. The ocean processes themselves—microbial sulfate use, phosphorus release, biological productivity and carbon burial—are the researchers’ interpretation of that rock record. The sequence is plausible as a feedback, but the available institutional summary does not establish that phosphorus was the sole control on oxygenation.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
The journal paper is identified as Lewis J. Alcott, Benjamin J. W. Mills, Andrey Bekker, Zidong Peng and Simon W. Poulton, “A nutrient control on oxygenation dynamics during Earth’s Great Oxidation Episode,” Nature Communications 17 (1), 2026, DOI 10.1038/s41467-026-76597-y. The detailed numerical results and limitations are not established by the accessible university summary, so the proposed mechanism should be understood at the level it reports rather than as a fully quantified account.
Why oxygenation may have fluctuated
The study’s interpretation complicates a simple story in which oxygen rose once and then remained steady. If nutrient availability and ocean chemistry changed, the conditions supporting oxygen production and carbon burial could also change. UC Riverside’s account points to substantial oxygen fluctuations after the Great Oxidation Event, with related shifts unfolding over tens of millions of years.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
That possibility also bears on the delay before complex organisms emerged. If oxygen was abundant during some extended intervals, oxygen scarcity alone may not explain why complex life appeared later. Other environmental or biological constraints may have mattered, but the proposed nutrient feedback does not settle that question.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Possible implications for oceans and the search for life
UC Riverside connects the findings to present-day ocean oxygen loss and to the search for life on worlds with oceans. These are avenues for thinking about how oxygen and nutrient cycles interact, not direct predictions from this ancient-rock study. It does not by itself show what will happen to modern ecosystems, nor does it provide evidence that life exists elsewhere.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
The broader lesson is that oxygen, nutrients and life can shape one another over geological time. Bekker put it this way in the university account: “Earth’s history shows that oxygen, nutrients, and life evolved together.”
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
