Dark oxygen discovered under the Pacific Ocean (Image source: AI-generated)

For decades, school textbooks have explained that oxygen on Earth is mainly produced through photosynthesis, a process that depends on sunlight. Plants, algae, and some bacteria use light to turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen. But a new study of the deep sea has made us wonder if oxygen can also be made without sunlight. Scientists exploring the Pacific Ocean seafloor have reported the presence of what they describe as “dark oxygen” in an environment where sunlight does not reach. The discovery was made during research on polymetallic nodules found thousands of metres below the ocean surface. According to the research team, the findings could reshape scientific discussions about oxygen cycles in extreme environments and even influence the search for life beyond Earth.

What is ‘dark oxygen’ discovered in the Pacific Ocean

The term “dark oxygen” is being used by researchers to describe oxygen detected in deep ocean regions where sunlight is completely absent. Traditionally, oxygen production has been closely linked to photosynthesis, which requires light energy. In the deep sea, especially at depths of around 4,000 metres, sunlight does not penetrate.According to the study published in the journal Nature Geoscience, researchers detected measurable levels of oxygen near polymetallic nodules on the Pacific Ocean floor. These nodules are mineral-rich deposits that have metals like nickel, manganese, and cobalt in them. The scientists observed that oxygen concentrations in certain sealed deep-sea experiments increased over time, even in the absence of light.

How was the oxygen detected on the Pacific seafloor

The research was carried out during deep-sea exploration missions in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean. Scientists deployed specialised instruments to measure oxygen levels directly above the seabed.According to the authors of the study in Nature Geoscience, they used benthic chambers to isolate sections of the seafloor and monitor chemical changes. In these controlled conditions, oxygen levels unexpectedly rose instead of falling. Microbes and chemical reactions usually use up the oxygen in deep sediments. The rise indicated that some process was making oxygen in total darkness.The team took the same measurements several times to make sure the results were correct and that the equipment wasn’t to blame. We also did lab simulations to see if polymetallic nodules could make oxygen through electrochemical reactions.

What are polymetallic nodules and why are they important

Polymetallic nodules are rock-like structures that form on the ocean floor over millions of years. They have metals that are useful for batteries and electronics. They are also being looked into for possible deep-sea mining because they are valuable.According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these nodules are commonly found in the abyssal plains of the Pacific Ocean. A recent study by scientists suggests that the nodules may work like batteries. The minerals in them might help electrochemical reactions that break down seawater molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, even when there is no sunlight.This proposed mechanism is still being looked into, but it could be one reason why the experiments showed an increase in oxygen levels.

Why does this discovery matter for science

Scientists may need to change how they think about global oxygen cycles if they find oxygen in dark, deep-sea environments. If oxygen can be made without photosynthesis, it could mean that other extreme environments could have similar processes.Nature Geoscience says that the research team thinks the results could also have an impact on astrobiology. Scientists looking for life on other planets or moons often look for oxygen as a possible sign of life. Researchers may need to rethink how they think about oxygen in planetary atmospheres if it can form through chemical reactions that don’t involve living things in the dark.The discovery also adds to the discussion about mining in the deep sea. If polymetallic nodules help make chemical oxygen, then messing with them could hurt fragile ecosystems in the deep ocean. Environmental scientists have previously cautioned regarding the insufficient understanding of deep-sea ecological systems.

Fire caused by a shrapnel falling on the Fujairah Oil Terminal in the UAE. (AP)

The ATP Challenger tournaments in Fujairah, UAE have been cancelled amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The ATP Tour vowed to cover the entire cost of flying the players out of the country after facing criticism for demanding 5,000 euros (Rs 5.36 lakh) for a chartered jet. For contrast, the prize money for the entire ATP Challenger 50 tournament – 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams – is $63,000 (54,000 euros; Rs 57.98 lakh) with the singles winner taking home less than $10,000 ($8,600; Rs 9.2 lakh).The events on the UAE’s east coast, located on the Gulf of Oman, were scheduled from March 2–8 (Fujairah 1) and March 9–15 (Fujairah 2) but will not take place after US and Israel’s war on Iran brought the entire Gulf region into danger.

Despite the first strikes occurring on Saturday (February 28), the tournament proceeded as planned on Monday (March 2). The most striking visuals came a day later when Belarusian Daniil Ostapenkov and Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka rushed for cover mid-way into their second round qualifying match. A woman, possibly a tournament official, announced, “Everybody inside the lounge, please! Go, go, go!” Alongside the players, ball kids and officials also scrambled for safety.After some deliberation, the ATP cancelled both tournaments. “Following ongoing security concerns in the region, the ATP Challenger Tour events scheduled in Fujairah this week and next week (Fujairah 2) have been cancelled,” the ATP said in a statement.“The safety and well-being of our players and tournament personnel is our highest priority. Players remain on site and are being fully supported, with accommodation and all immediate needs covered while onward travel arrangements are explored,” it added.As if the decision to proceed with a tournament under such conditions wasn’t controversial enough, the ATP Tour reached out to players with the idea of potentially organising a charter flight for the signed-up players at €5,000 per person.

Large fire and plume of smoke is visible after, according to the authorities, debris of an Iranian intercepted drone hit the Fujairah oil facility. (AP/PTI)

“The ATP is potentially organizing a charter flight on Thursday 5th March from Muscat. Departure at 3.00pm, going to Milan, stopping on the way in Egypt. The cost is 5,000 Euro per person,” said the email that TimesofIndia.com has seen.According to this plan, while the logistics were not entirely clear, the players would have been required to take a three-hour drive from Fujairah to Muscat, Oman which would necessitate a border crossing.Two hours later, to make matters worse, another email stated that the ATP was not directly organising such a flight. Instead, it would explore “available travel options with third-party providers.”The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) joined the chorus demanding the ATP work towards player safety. It also said it would reimburse the players €2,500 each to leave the UAE. “We are taking this step to ensure that no player is forced to choose between their safety and their financial stability,” it said in a statement.“We call on the ATP to join us and cover the remaining 2,500 euro per player and work collaboratively toward solutions that put players first.”After the remonstration by players and the PTPA, the ATP Tour did a U-turn and agreed to cover the costs of flying players out of the region and toward safety.‘Heard the sounds of jets’Ukraine’s Vladyslav Orlov said he heard jets during his second-round qualifying win over Ronit Karki on Tuesday.“When I was playing I heard the sounds of the jets flying here and there,“ Orlov said in a video posted on social media. ”And there is smoke going here next to the mountain, so not very safe here right now.”

Instargram Story by Ilya Ivashka who was competing at the ATP Challenger event in Fujairah, UAE. (Instagram)

Ilya Ivashka, who was due to play the qualifying match on Wednesday, shared a screenshot of the email on Instagram, with the caption: “no words needed @atptour” followed by the hand-clapping emojis.Russia’s Marat Sharipov wrote on Instagram: “Thank you @atpchallenger for arranging us a charter for ONLY 5000 euros! That’s slightly more than the prize money after taxes for winning the tournament, but I appreciate the gesture!”Japan’s Takuya Kamasaka posted an image of Fujairah Oil Terminal with the caption: “The intercepted drone fell on an oil facility, causing a fire. Today’s match has been cancelled. I want to go home safely…,” he wrote on Instagram.

Instagram Story by Japan’s Takuya Kamasaka.

Finn Bass, who was originally scheduled to play in the tournament, was shocked that the tournament began at all.“Was meant to be playing there this week, cannot believe they’ve gone ahead and not cancelled the event. Madness,” he wrote on X before the tournament was called off.The UAE later confirmed that shrapnel had landed at the Fujairah Oil Terminal, not far from the Tennis Country Club Fujairah. It also said that the armed forces had intercepted a drone attack but no casualties were reported.After the ATP 500 Dubai Tennis Championships played last week, players were also stuck due to closed airspace in the region. Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are two of the prominent names who were affected. Both have entered the Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, California, which starts on Wednesday (March 4). However, neither will play before Friday at the earliest.

Hyderabad: With an eye on emerging as a pan-India player in the agricultural machinery market, Escorts Kubota Ltd (EKL) is making a serious play for the high-growth South Indian market with its foray into paddy and wetland farming segment. The company, which is a joint venture between Faridabad-based Escorts Group and Japan’s Kubota and primarily caters to the North Indian market, rolled out its first paddy farming tractor series, comprising 5 variants across the 39 HP to 52 HP category range, in Hyderabad. With its South play, EKL is aspiring to grow faster than the tractor industry, with at least 8 to 10 products to be rolled out every year until 2030-31, including offerings such as harvesters and transplanters, among others, Nikhil Nanda, Chairman and Managing Director, EKL, told newspersons at the rollout of the Powertrac Shaurya series, which will cater to the mass market. “This is not just a product launch but a strategic launch of a product we did not have in our portfolio. The southern markets—Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu—grew more than the markets we are strong in. We started (South focus) with Powertrac, and in the next 4 months we plan to launch a 4-wheel-drive (4WD) tractor,” he said. “We have a very strong pipeline and by the next 2 years we will cover 85% of the range in terms of application products in the Indian market. After we get the products, we are confident to grow in excess of the industry and grow market share,” Nanda said. “In the next 5 years until FY31, every year, between the 3 brands—Powertrac, Farmtrac and Kubota—and exports, we plan to launch 8 to 10 products every year,” he added. While Powertrac is aimed at the mass market, Farmtrac is for the mid-market and Kubota for the premium segment.

After Pakistan were knocked out in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, veteran Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik took a sharp dig at former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain.Last year, Atherton and Hussain had suggested that India had an unfair edge when they won the Champions Trophy in Dubai.Also See: SA vs NZ Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal

Since India played all their matches at the same venue, after the Indian government did not allow the team to travel to Pakistan, they didn’t have to deal with travel or changing conditions. According to the English duo, getting used to one ground and staying in one place helped India plan better and eventually win the title.Fast forward to this T20 World Cup, and Karthik used that same logic to question Pakistan’s performance. Speaking on the Sky Cricket Podcast, he said he expected both Sri Lanka and Pakistan to reach the semifinals. He pointed out that Pakistan had similar comforts this time, playing consistently in Colombo, staying in one hotel, and getting familiar with the same pitches.That’s when he delivered the punch. Referring to Atherton and Hussain, Karthik said: “I expected Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Sri Lanka, because of the home conditions and because they are a side that needs a bigger cause. But that didn’t work out. And then I thought of Pakistan, purely because they consistently played in Colombo, stayed in one hotel, knew the same pitches — and both you ‘Fossils’ felt that was the main reason why India won the Champions Trophy. “By that same logic, Pakistan should have done something in this World Cup. Clearly, it works for one team but not for another, so there is a genuine lack of skill there. I’ll back Pakistan to say they will fight a lot more, but then almost losing to Sri Lanka was mad, and on top of that, you hear about that.”

In a move that signals the beginning of a new chapter for Pakistan cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh – one that notably leaves out former captain Babar Azam.

The announcement, made on Wednesday, comes on the heels of Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and marks one of the most dramatic squad overhauls in recent years. What has truly caught everyone’s attention is the inclusion of six uncapped players, highlighting the selectors’ clear intent to rebuild with fresh talent.

Shaheen Afridi will continue to lead the ODI side despite Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup at the Super Eight stage. The left-arm pacer retains the captaincy as the team looks to move forward with a revamped squad. Experienced players like Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, and Salman Ali Agha remain part of the team, providing a sense of continuity. However, the absence of Babar Azam – arguably Pakistan’s most successful active ODI batter – has stunned fans and experts, marking the first time in his career that he has been dropped from the ODI setup.

Youth takes centre stage in Pakistan’s ODI squad for Bangladesh tour

The selectors have clearly chosen to invest in youth, handing maiden call-ups to six uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain. Several of these players recently featured for Pakistan Shaheens against England Lions in Abu Dhabi, giving them valuable exposure against strong opposition.

Among the newcomers, Sahibzada Farhan stands out after a sensational T20 World Cup campaign. The explosive opener finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer, piling up 383 runs in six innings at an incredible average of 76.60 and a strike rate of 160.25. He also made history by becoming the first player in the tournament to score two centuries in a single edition. Another promising name is Maaz Sadaqat, who impressed in the 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup. The young all-rounder topped the run charts with 258 runs in five innings while maintaining a staggering strike rate of nearly 178, and he also contributed with seven wickets.

Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman misses out due to the hamstring injury he sustained during the T20 World Cup 2026, while players like Saim Ayub, Haseebullah, Mohammad Nawaz and Naseem Shah have also been left out. The pace attack will be spearheaded by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, with Mohammad Wasim Jr providing additional support. In the spin department, Abrar Ahmed and Faisal Akram will be expected to add variety.

Also READ: PCB set to penalise Pakistan players following underwhelming display at T20 World Cup 2026 – Reports

Pakistan will travel to Dhaka on March 8 ahead of the ODI series against Bangladesh, with a practice session scheduled for March 10. All three matches will take place at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on March 11, 13 and 15. The tour comes less than a year after Pakistan last visited Bangladesh, when the hosts won the T20I series in July 2025.

Pakistan’s 15-man ODI squad

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul ​Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, ⁠Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad ⁠Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Saad Masood, ‌Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shamyl Hussain

Also READ: Shahid Afridi blasts next potential captain of Pakistan after T20 World Cup 2026 exit amid leadership crisis debate

NEW DELHI: Babar Azam has been dropped from Pakistan’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh, as the selectors begin reshaping the team with an eye on next year’s 50-over World Cup. The decision follows Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign in India and Sri Lanka, where they failed to reach the semi-finals.

Babar endured a lean run in the T20 tournament, managing only 91 runs. Despite that dip in form, his ODI numbers remain impressive — 6,501 runs and 20 centuries in 140 matches — making his omission a significant call. Alongside him, opener Saim Ayub, all-rounders Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz, and fast bowler Naseem Shah have also been left out of the 15-member squad.In a clear sign of transition, Pakistan have drafted in six uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain. The three ODIs will be played in Dhaka on March 11, 13 and 15, giving the newcomers a chance to prove themselves on the international stage.Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury during the T20 World Cup.Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will captain the side, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed, as the team enters what appears to be a rebuilding phase.With the next ODI World Cup scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October next year, Pakistan seem focused on refreshing their squad and testing new combinations in the lead-up to the global event.