Adam Frank - Why Oxygen Isn’t Needed To Make Things BurnOxygen isn't strictly necessary for combustion, but it is ideal. Any advanced (alien) civilization probably uses oxygen to burn things. Key TakeawaysWould combustion always be a potential energy source on any planet capable of incubating a technological civilization? That simple question has led to an examination of an essential chemical process.Combustion reactions transfer electrons from a fuel to an oxidizer. But there are a number of elements capable of being the oxidizer. So does our hypothetical planet really need oxygen itself?Oxygen is indeed the perfect element for carrying out combustion, and for a very good reason.