Traces of an ancient meteorite could rewrite Earth's history.

In Australia, scientists have discovered the oldest crater from a meteorite impact, changing our understanding of the origins of life on the planet. A team of researchers from Curtin University and the Geological Survey of Western Australia in the Pilbara region found traces of a meteorite strike that occurred 3.5 billion years ago. It was previously believed that the oldest crater was 2.2 billion years old, but this new discovery allows us to expand our understanding of the planet's early history.

Researchers found impact traces in the form of shatter cones—small structures that form under the influence of strong shock waves. The identified impact traces are located 40 km from the town of Marble Bar and indicate a collision speed of over 36,000 km/h. According to estimates, the crater could have been 100 km in diameter, but debris was scattered all over the Earth. This event likely influenced the formation of the Earth's crust and the emergence of life.

«We know that the early Solar System frequently experienced collisions, but the absence of ancient craters made it difficult to assess their impact on Earth. Now we have an important piece regarding this issue,» said Professor Tim Johnson.

Scientists also believe that such impacts created conditions favorable for the emergence of life. For instance, hot pools formed after the collision could have become ideal environments for the development of microorganisms. Moreover, the energy released during the impact may have affected the movement of the Earth's crust and facilitated land formation.

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