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Giant ancient meteor may have sparked life on Earth, study finds

nbcnews.com — October 22, 2024, 05:00 PM UTC

Summary: A giant meteorite, discovered in 2014, is believed to have struck Earth about 3.26 billion years ago. This meteorite, four times the size of Mount Everest, caused a massive tsunami and may have contributed to the development of early life.

New research indicates that the impact boiled the oceans and released nutrients like iron and phosphorus, which supported microbial life. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the significant role of ancient meteorite impacts in shaping early life.

The research team collected samples from South Africa's Barberton Greenstone Belt over three field seasons. Their findings suggest that while the impact initially harmed some shallow-water organisms, it ultimately created conditions favorable for iron-dependent microorganisms to thrive.

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Scale & Impact5.5
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Credibility8.5
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Timeline:

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    ScoresSource
  4. [3.6]
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  13. [5.1]
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  14. [4.7]
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