Oldest fossil ever found

In northern Canada are the oldest traces of life found on earth.

The fossil remains are about half as thick as a human hair and one-half millimeter long. They sat in quartz rocks in the Nuvvuagittuq area in the province of Quebec. These rocks are probably formed in so-called hydrothermal vents deep below the sea level. These are places where hot water from the earth's crust in sea spray, often by volcanoes nearby. Since teeming with life.

The discovery was made by an international group of scientists. They describe the research in the latest edition of the leading science journal Nature. The discovery could help to get a better picture of the early years of the earth.

The discovery also provides the strongest evidence that similar organisms presumably could develop on Mars. Billions of years ago the red planet's oceans and atmosphere, and Mars was bombarded by comets possibly brought the building blocks of life to Earth. According to the team of researchers should also be sought on Mars for organisms to this evidence there to find life.

The oldest known fossils until now were 3.46 billion years old and were found in Australia.