Feature

Molybdenum and evolution

By and 2011-09-01T00:00:00

The sun setting over the earth

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Recent discoveries indicate that our atmosphere was not always oxygen rich - molybdenum could have been the limiting factor in the evolution of life on earth

We tend to think of our current oxygen-rich atmosphere (21 kPa) as the norm, but for most of this planet's history, the atmospheric composition has been quite different. In fact, oxygen is a relative newcomer to our atmosphere. Until recently, it was thought that, as a result of photosynthesis, the level of oxygen gradually increased until it reached its present level. Now we realise that the situation was much more complex. We can look at the current state of knowledge. 

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