Earth May Have Supported Life 3.2 Billion Years Ago
- 9 years ago
Researchers at the University of Washington have found indications that life could have flourished on our planet as early as 3.2 billion years ago.
The early years of Earth are often described as being volatile and incapable of supporting life, but it turns out it may not have been as uninhabitable as scientists thought.
Researchers at the University of Washington have found indications that life could have flourished on our planet as early as 3.2 billion years ago.
It comes down to nitrogen, an essential ingredient in the building of thriving forms.
Commonly believed is that the ample presence and utilization of it in the creation of complex structures didn’t occur until 2 billion years ago, but that estimate may be quite shy of the actual happening.
An analysis of rocks from northwest Australia and South Africa showed evidence that the process of pulling and using environmental nitrogen occurred about a billion years prior.
Said the study’s co-author Roger Buick, “Our work
The early years of Earth are often described as being volatile and incapable of supporting life, but it turns out it may not have been as uninhabitable as scientists thought.
Researchers at the University of Washington have found indications that life could have flourished on our planet as early as 3.2 billion years ago.
It comes down to nitrogen, an essential ingredient in the building of thriving forms.
Commonly believed is that the ample presence and utilization of it in the creation of complex structures didn’t occur until 2 billion years ago, but that estimate may be quite shy of the actual happening.
An analysis of rocks from northwest Australia and South Africa showed evidence that the process of pulling and using environmental nitrogen occurred about a billion years prior.
Said the study’s co-author Roger Buick, “Our work