Researchers have discovered microbes living in a 2 billion-year-old rock. This finding, which represents the oldest example of microbial life ever found in Earth’s history, has the potential to rewrite the history of life.
In the rocky formations of South Africa, scientists uncovered microbes dating back 2 billion years. This discovery not only reveals the oldest microbes on Earth but also suggests that the microbes in this ancient rock could shed light on the history of Mars as well.
The research, conducted by a team from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Tokyo, was published in the journal Microbial Ecology. Dr. Yohey Suzuki, a researcher from the University of Tokyo, stated, “We did not know whether the 2 billion-year-old rocks were habitable.”
“Until now, the oldest geological layer where living microorganisms were found was a 100 million-year-old sediment beneath the ocean floor, so this is a very exciting discovery.”
“By studying the DNA and genomes of these types of microbes, we can gain a better understanding of the evolution of early life on Earth.”
Source: Okan Çalık/Sözcü