New Evidence: Earth's Complex Life May Be Older

Via Syndicated Feed

A team of scientists claims to have found new evidence supporting their theory that complex life on Earth may have originated 1.5 billion years earlier than previously believed. Conducting research in Gabon, the team discovered signs within ancient rocks indicating environmental conditions suitable for animal life 2.1 billion years ago. However, they state that these organisms were confined to an inland sea, did not spread globally, and eventually went extinct.
These ideas challenge conventional scientific thinking, with most experts dating the emergence of animal life to around 635 million years ago. The research contributes to an ongoing debate about whether the unexplained formations in Franceville, Gabon, are indeed fossils. The scientists examined the surrounding rock for evidence of nutrients like oxygen and phosphorus that could have supported life.
Professor Ernest Chi Fru from Cardiff University, who worked with an international team of scientists, explained that if his theory is correct, these life forms resembled slime molds—brainless single-cell organisms that reproduce with spores. However, Professor Graham Shields from University College London, who was not involved in the study, expressed skepticism. He acknowledged the possibility of higher nutrient levels 2.1 billion years ago but doubted this would lead to the diversification necessary for complex life, calling for more evidence.
Professor Chi Fru argued that his findings support theories about the processes that generate life on Earth. "We're presenting evidence of fossils and oxygen here, which stimulated the emergence of the first complex organisms," he said. "We observe similar processes to those in the Cambrian period, 635 million years ago, reinforcing our understanding of our origins," he added.
About a decade ago, the discovery of the Francevillian formation first suggested that complex life might have begun earlier than previously thought. Professor Chi Fru and his colleagues identified fossils within this formation that indicated evidence of life capable of movement. However, these findings were not universally accepted.
To gather more evidence for their theories, Professor Chi Fru and his team analyzed sediment cores from rock formations in Gabon. The chemical analysis of the rocks revealed that conditions conducive to life were created just before the formation appeared. They believe that high levels of oxygen and phosphorus resulted from the collision of two continental plates underwater, triggering volcanic activity. This collision isolated a section of water from the oceans, forming a nutrient-rich, shallow marine inland sea.
Professor Chi Fru explains that this protected environment facilitated photosynthesis, leading to significant oxygen levels in the water. “This would have provided sufficient energy to promote increases in body size and more complex behavior observed in primitive, simple animal-like life forms found in fossils from this period,” he said. However, the isolated environment eventually led to the extinction of these life forms due to a lack of new nutrients to sustain their food supply.
Elias Rugen, a PhD student at the Natural History Museum who was not involved in the research, concurred with some of the findings, noting that "oceanic carbon, nitrogen, iron, and phosphorus cycles were doing something unprecedented at this point in Earth’s history." He added, "There’s nothing to say that complex biological life couldn’t have emerged and thrived as far back as 2 billion years ago," though he emphasized the need for more evidence to support these theories. The findings are published in the scientific journal Precambrian Research.
With reporting by BBC
IndraStra Global Staff has not edited this story, which is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.

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