Cyanobacteria dramatically changed the composition of life forms on Earth by leading to the near-extinction of oxygen-intolerant organisms.

Oxygen was once poison

Early oxygen from cyanobacteria was toxic to most life.

Life and Oxygen: When Poison Sparked Complexity

A striking aerial image showcasing green algal blooms on a water surface in Dali, China.

Microbes remade the air

Photosynthesis released molecular oxygen, reshaping Earth’s physical and chemical environment.

Life and Oxygen: When Poison Sparked Complexity

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