Rapid emergence of life shown by discovery of 3,700-million-year-old microbial structures

@article{Nutman2016RapidEO,
  title={Rapid emergence of life shown by discovery of 3,700-million-year-old microbial structures},
  author={Allen P. Nutman and Vickie C. Bennett and Clark R.L. Friend and Martin J. Van Kranendonk and Allan r. Chivas},
  journal={Nature},
  year={2016},
  volume={537},
  pages={535-538}
}
Biological activity is a major factor in Earth’s chemical cycles, including facilitating CO2 sequestration and providing climate feedbacks. Thus a key question in Earth’s evolution is when did life arise and impact hydrosphere–atmosphere–lithosphere chemical cycles? Until now, evidence for the oldest life on Earth focused on debated stable isotopic signatures of 3,800–3,700 million year (Myr)-old metamorphosed sedimentary rocks and minerals from the Isua supracrustal belt (ISB), southwest… Expand
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