Oxygen production theory

The oxygen production theory explains how plants, algae, and certain bacteria produce oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. These organisms use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a form of sugar) and oxygen. Essentially, they act as natural Earth's lungs, generating the oxygen we breathe. This process began over 2.5 billion years ago with the emergence of photosynthetic bacteria, leading to a significant increase in atmospheric oxygen—a crucial development that allowed complex life forms to evolve and thrive.