"Unraveling Earth's Carbon Cycle: Implications for Assessing Life on Other Planets"
A new study published in Nature Geoscience sheds light on the evolution of oxygen, carbon, and other vital elements on Earth, revealing how the build-up of carbon-rich rocks has accelerated oxygen production and its release into the atmosphere. This research could help assess the potential for other planets to support intelligent, oxygen-breathing life, as it indicates that older planets may have better prospects to accumulate enough carbon-rich deposits in their crust, facilitating rapid recycling of carbon and nutrients for life. The findings pave the way for future work to unravel the complex interrelationships between planetary temperature, oxygen, and nutrients, potentially aiding in the assessment of the liveability of other planets.