A photo from open sources
Life on planet Earth may have been born 4.1 billion years back, which is much earlier than scientists thought to this day. It is believed that this happened after a short period of time after the formation of the planet.
According to previous studies, life arose on Earth 3.83 billion years ago. But now it became known that this could happen. 270 million years earlier, 440 million years after planet formation.
“If life really began very quickly after Earth’s formation, then the theory of the existence of life on others planets have a right to exist, “scientists emphasize.
In the course of research, scientists analyzed about 10,000 zircons, which are the remnants of the originally formed molten rock found in Western Australia. Zircons are heavy, durable minerals that resemble cubic zirconias, synthetic stones used to simulate diamonds. For zircons are characteristic property of preserving materials in their pristine form. Often, scientists call zircon a “time capsule.” Tiny zircon crystal found during excavations on a mountain range Jack Hills is considered the oldest mountain ever known. fragment since the formation of the planet.
When conducting new analyzes, researchers studied about 656 zircons containing dark spots. Each of the studied stones may contain residues of graphite that was made of pure carbon – a key element for the existence of life on The earth. Isotopes of graphite – integral components of life on planet, therefore, if there is an element on the analyzed stones, You can find out when exactly life was born.
According to the researchers, the age of collected stones may reach 4.1 billion years, and this suggests that life on planet Earth originated much earlier than until recently was known to science.
What did the early Earth look like?
For a long time, scientists believed that in the early stages of its existence, the Earth was dry and deserted. But according to new research, everything looked much different.
Now, after conducting new analyzes, we can assume that life on Earth existed until the late “heavy bombardment” Earth meteorites. Researchers are confident in the reliability of the applications based on zircon analysis and the discovery of graphite remains in their structure.
In the near future, a team of researchers plans to hold analysis of 1000 other ancient carbon zircons.
Time Life Stones
