- The space rock that struck Earth 66 million years ago caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, but a much larger meteorite, impacting 3.26 billion years ago, created even more widespread destruction.
- New research suggests this massive impact may have benefited early microbial life by delivering essential nutrients like phosphorus and iron.
- The meteorite, estimated to be 37-58 km in diameter, was 50-200 times more massive than the one that caused the dinosaur extinction.
- The impact likely occurred in the ocean, generating a global tsunami, heating the atmosphere, boiling upper ocean layers, and darkening skies worldwide.
- Researchers studied ancient rocks in South Africa’s Barberton Greenstone Belt, finding signs that microbial life thrived after conditions normalized within a few decades.
- Fossil mats of marine bacteria indicate a robust resurgence of life, supported by nutrients from the impact.
Dig Deeper: Read about the extinction of Dinosaurs.
