What did the researchers discover about the origins of life on Earth?

The researchers discovered the earliest chemical evidence of life on Earth, dating back over 3.3 billion years, using advanced AI to detect subtle molecular 'fingerprints' left behind by long-extinct organisms.

How did the discovery of photosynthesis impact the evolution of complex life?

The discovery of evidence of photosynthesis in 2.52-billion-year-old rocks, 800 million years earlier than previously documented, helped explain how Earth's atmosphere became oxygen-rich, a key milestone that allowed complex life, including humans, to evolve.

How could the researchers' findings guide the search for life on other planets?

The researchers believe their innovative approach, which can decipher degraded chemical data, could revolutionize the search for life on other planets like Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa, as it may be able to detect biotic signatures even if fossils are never found.

Home / Science / AI Decodes 3.3 Billion-Year-Old Molecular 'Ghosts' to Reveal Earliest Signs of Life

AI Decodes 3.3 Billion-Year-Old Molecular 'Ghosts' to Reveal Earliest Signs of Life

18 Nov

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Summary

Earliest chemical evidence of life on Earth pushed back 1.6 billion years
AI used to detect subtle molecular signatures left by ancient organisms
Discovery could guide search for life on other planets like Mars and Europa

AI Decodes 3.3 Billion-Year-Old Molecular 'Ghosts' to Reveal Earliest Signs of Life

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have uncovered the earliest chemical evidence of life on Earth, dating back over 3.3 billion years. The research team, led by experts at the Carnegie Institution for Science, used advanced AI to detect subtle molecular 'fingerprints' left behind by long-extinct organisms.

These findings push back the timeline of life's origins on Earth by a staggering 1.6 billion years, offering unprecedented insight into the earliest known lifeforms. The method also detected evidence of photosynthesis, a key milestone that allowed complex life to evolve, 800 million years earlier than previously documented.