The Discovery Of Earth's Oldest Fossils Could Lead To The Discovery Of Life On Other Planets
The Discovery Of Earth's Oldest Fossils Could Lead To The Discovery Of Life On Other Planets
Scientists have found what are believed to be the oldest fossils on Earth, dating back to a time when Mars might have also had liquid water. Could these help us look for signs of life on Mars and other planets?
Scientists have found what are believed to be the oldest fossils on Earth, dating back to a time when Mars might have also had liquid water. Could these help us look for signs of life on Mars and other planets?
A team of researchers from University College London recently discovered what are thought to be the world's oldest fossils in Canada's Nuvvuagittuq Supracrustal Belt (NSB). The tiny bacteria preserved in quartz are suspected to be somewhere between 3.7 and 4.3 billion years old, having lived in the same time during which Mars was suspected to have had liquid water on its surface.
These would have lived in and around thermal vents deep underwater, which means that they could also indicate whether or not there might be similar life on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons known to have oceans of liquid water under a frozen surface currently, but the possibility of former life on Mars generates the most excitement. According to University College London Ph.D. student Matthew Dodd:
We expect to find evidence for past life on Mars 4 billion years ago, or if not, Earth may have been a special exception.
Matthew Dodd
CNET, March 1, 2017
Lead researcher Dr. Dominic Papineau also commented on the discovery, saying:
This discovery helps us piece together the history of our planet and the remarkable life on it, and will help to identify traces of life elsewhere in the universe.
Dr. Dominic Papineau
CNET, March 1, 2017
But now, what we'd like to know is..
Do you think this discovery indicates the possibility of life on other planets?
Do you think this discovery indicates the possibility of life on other planets?