Article in PNAS: Humble moss created modern O2 levels

In a new modeling study led by Tim Lenton from University of Exeter, we found that the earliest land plants caused atmospheric O2 levels to increase above the “fire limit”, where stuff will ignite and burn.

This result fits nicely with available geochemical and paleontological evidence, but previous theoretical models predicted either an earlier or a later rise of atmospheric pO2.

More info here: Official press release, and news at the Natural History Museum of Denmark.

The article was published in PNAS. A copy is available here.

The story is also covered by The Guardian, Videnskab.dk, Jyllandsposten and Weekendavisen (links coming soon).