Making Oxygen from Carbon Dioxide (IMAGE) University of California - Davis Caption New work from UC Davis shows that carbon dioxide can be split by vacuum ultraviolet laser to create oxygen in one step. The discovery may change how we think about the evolution of atmospheres. Credit Zhou Lu, UC Davis Usage Restrictions May be used with acknowledgment of the source. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.