3.3 billion-year-old rock contains earliest signs of life

Researchers have discovered chemical traces of life in rocks older than 3.33 billion years in Mpumalanga, South Africa, suggesting life began shortly after Earth’s formation. Utilizing AI, they identified biosignatures in ancient samples, revealing that primitive life forms engaged in photosynthesis as early as 2.5 billion years ago. This novel method may enhance the search for ancient and extraterrestrial life by detecting signs in degraded fossil records. The findings underscore the complexity and rapid emergence of life on our planet.

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