Oldest fossils on Earth discovered in 3.7bn-year-old Greenland rocks
Fossils are 220 million years older than any previously found, dating life on Earth to an earlier point than thought and raising questions about life on Mars
Stromatolites at dawn, Shark Bay, Western Australia. Up until now these 3.5bn-year-old fossils were thought to be the oldest.
Stromatolites at dawn, Shark Bay, Western Australia. . Photograph: Mint Images/REX/Shutterstock
Nicola Davis
@NicolaKSDavis
Wednesday 31 August 2016 13.00 EDT
Last modified on Thursday 1 September 2016 06.26 EDT
Scientists have discovered the oldest physical evidence for life on the planet in the form of fossils in Greenland rocks that formed 3.7bn years ago.
The researchers believe the structures in the rocks are stromatolites - layered formations, produced by the activity of microbes, that can be found today in extremely saline lagoons in a few locations around the world.
The new fossils are 220 million years older than any previously discovered.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/aug/31/oldest-fossils-on-earth-discovered-in-37bn-year-old-greenland-rocks-stromatolites
