Giant meteorite impact may have boosted early life on Earth, study finds

news.sky.com October 22, 2024, 04:00 AM UTC

Summary: A meteorite, four times the size of Mount Everest, struck Earth about 3.26 billion years ago, potentially aiding the development of early life. This impact, known as the S2 meteorite, is believed to have created conditions that allowed certain life forms to thrive.

Research indicates that the S2 impact triggered a tsunami that mixed ocean waters and brought nutrients like iron and phosphorus to the surface. This led to a rapid increase in bacterial populations, particularly those that metabolize iron.

The findings, published in a scientific journal, challenge the view that such impacts are solely destructive. Evidence of the S2 impact can still be found in South Africa's Barberton Greenstone belt.

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