Scientists are discovering the first signs of life for 3.5 billion years

Scientists have discovered microbial remains in rocks 3.5 billion years old, featuring some of the oldest signs of life on the planet. Organic matter was found in stromatolites, the world's oldest fossils, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, scientists at the University of New South Wales said Thursday.

Although stromatolites were discovered in the 1980s, scientists have been unable to prove that they are microbial.

"For the first time, we are able to show the world that these stromatolites are irrefutable evidence of the first life on Earth," said lead researcher Raphael Baumgartner.

To examine the rocks, the scientists took samples of drill core that would not be altered. They examined the samples using high power electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and isotopic analysis. Baumgartner discovered that the stromatolites are in pyrite, which contains an "exceptionally preserved" organic matter.

The stromatolites, found in Dresser's formation, are not just clues to the formation of life, but also places where life could exist on Mars.

"Understanding where life could have emerged is really important to understanding our ancestry," Baumgartner said. "From there, it could help us understand where life could have happened – for example, where it was launched on other planets."

Scientists who lead the March 2020 missions of NASA and the European Space Agency are studying the rocks of the Pilbara this week.

"The ancient Australian rocks and our scientific expertise make such a significant contribution to our quest for extraterrestrial life and the discovery of the secrets of Mars," said Martin Van Kranendonk, professor at the University of New South Wales. .

The results have been published in Geology.