Life on Earth May Have Begun 1.5 Billion Years Earlier Than Known

Many scientists believe that animal life on our planet 635 million He estimated it started about a year ago. However, new studies have revealed that it may have started much earlier than previously thought.

A research team working in Gabon found that complex life on Earth 1.5 billion years earlier than thought that it may have started He announced that they found new evidence to support the theories about. The findings were published via Precambrian Research.

Slime-like creatures may have lived 2.1 billion years ago

The team is deep in the rocks 2.1 billion years ago He says that they have reached environmental conditions that allow animals to live. However, these organisms are limited to an inland sea, so They cannot spread globally they add. So after a while they disappeared.

Even if they disappear Gabon’un Franceville Kentinde The findings are an indication that animals may have lived much earlier than generally thought. To reach these predictions, experts tried to find substances that could support life, such as oxygen and phosphorus, in the rocks around the formations. Let us note that these formations, which are still debated whether they are fossils or not, were first discovered 10 years ago.

The team of international researchers, led by Professor Ernest Chi Fru from Cardiff University in Wales, found that if their theory is correct, these life forms are single-celled, brainless, spore-proliferating species. may resemble slime molds They stated.

Of course, within the scope of this study, some reservations There is also. For example, Professor Graham Shields, who was not involved in the research, stated that more evidence was needed: ““I’m not opposed to the idea that there were higher nutrients available 2.1 billion years ago, but I’m not convinced that this would have led to the diversity that would have led to complex life forms.”