Core Viewpoint - The research published in Nature reveals a two-billion-year transitional oxygenation process of the Earth's surface, providing crucial environmental context for understanding the origin and evolution of life on Earth, as well as the formation of sedimentary minerals and hydrocarbons [2][3]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study indicates that the Earth's atmospheric oxygen levels reached modern levels only in the late stages of Earth's history, following a gradual oxygenation process that lasted approximately two billion years [5]. - The research team utilized widely available carbonate-bound sulfate with triple oxygen isotopes (Δ′O) to trace the evolution of atmospheric oxygen content, marking a significant advancement in understanding this transition [5]. - The findings confirm that atmospheric oxygen levels reached modern levels around 410 million years ago, illustrating a phased evolution from anoxic to oxic conditions [5]. Group 2: Implications for Oil and Gas Exploration - This research provides a foundational understanding of the anomalous carbon isotope records from the Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic eras and the complex evolution of eukaryotic life [6]. - Importantly, the study suggests the existence of a super-sized dissolved organic carbon reservoir in the ancient oceans, which may serve as a new organic carbon source for the formation of ancient oil and gas resources, offering new insights for deep and ultra-deep oil and gas exploration [6].