Amazon fires are not exactly burning 'Earth's lungs,' experts say

The Earth's lungs are on fire. They're burning up.

Some version of that has been said by politicians, journalists, celebrities and members of the public since the destructive blazes began to engulf Brazil's rainforest more than three weeks ago.

Almost all the oxygen in the air is produced by plants through photosynthesis, and since a large amount of photosynthesis happens in places like the Brazilian rainforest, that claim has gained traction.