The oldest traces of life on Earth have been discovered

The remains of ancient microorganismsów was found in Canada near Hudson Bay. The fossils are at least 3.77 billion years old. There is a team behind the discoveryół scientistsóThe caving team from University College London.

Ancient traces of life

Remains of ancient life were found during the survey of próbek rocks. They were discovered to have thin fibersókna and tubes created by microorganisms that derive energy from iron oxidation reactions.

Hudson Bay, or rather its east coast, is a paradise for paleontologistsów. There are discovered deposits of mineralóIn mafic and uttramafic. Researchers believe that these are some of the oldest sedimentary rocks on the planet. Geologists estimate the age of the rocks to be between 3.7- 4.2 billion years old.

Rocks in Hudson Bay in the distant past were at the bottom of the sea and formed part of a network of iron-rich chimneysóin hydrothermal. They provided shelter for the first life forms.

Life originated near the chimneyóin hydrothermal?

– Our discovery indicates that life originated at the bottom of the mórz near hot chimneysów. This is another proofód confirming this thesis. This coincides with the discovery of mounds ofóin sedimentary deposits that are 3.7 billion years old, które were formed by the first microorganisms – said Matthew Dodd of University College London.

The structures found in the fossils have the same characteristics as those formed today by iron-oxidizing bacteria, które can be found at the bottom of the mórz nearby chimneyóin hydrothermal.

Earth is estimated to be about 4.5 billion years old. Discovery of scientistów from University College London suggests that the first life forms appeared on our planet almost immediately after its formation.

Previously, the oldest traces of life on Earth were thought to be microfossils found in Australia that were 3.46 billion years old.

The results of the scientists’ worków from University College London have been published in the pages of „Nature”.