Life (almost) as old as the Earth – Republic

Traces of life dating back 4.1 billion years, scientists have discovered in zirconium crystals. It was established shortly after the formation of the planet.

The latest discovery specialists from the University of California shifts the beginning of life 300 million years ago. To the period when the Earth was really a very young planet.

– If the correct components, life formed very quickly – said prof. Mark Harrison, one of the discoverers, a member of the US National Academy of Sciences. – Life on Earth moved immediately. 20 years ago such information be treated as heresy. Even evidence of life 3.8 billion years ago was a shock.

The problem lies in the fact that our planet formed 4.54 billion years ago. If traces of life are visible in the minerals before 4.1 billion years, it means that organisms existed at the dawn of history.

This discovery gives hope for finding life on other planets. Because once did here, and in adverse conditions, why not would not go anywhere else?

Not only that, living organisms need to survive the period of the Great Bombing (3, 8-4,1 billion years ago), just after the formation of the planets, from which the majority of impact craters on the moon. Even if as a result of this disaster life was gone, it had relatively quickly born a second time – convince scientists.

His hypotheses floated on the basis of the discovery of fragments of graphite crystals of zircon from Australia. It examined approx. 10 thousand. samples were found more than 650 crystals containing darker spots. After examination it turned out that this graphite (carbon variant). Zirconium during the formation of “catches” the elements of the surrounding environment. It can be treated as a kind of time capsule.

The examined minerals are 4.1 billion years old. Most importantly, the researchers believe that graphite is derived from the metabolism of living organisms. According to Dr. Elizabeth Bell, who conducted chemical analyzes, the ratio of the presence of carbon isotopes 12 and 13 can indicate the existence of photosynthesis. – It makes us completely different to think about the young Earth – says Dr. Bell.

– These studies show that life in the universe may be common – said prof. Harrison. – It seems that on Earth appeared quite quickly, but it’s been many millions of years before simple forms have been replaced by complex capable of photosynthesis.