World
October 22, 2024 11:40
london - A megameteorite impact 3.26 billion years ago caused a worldwide tsunami and boiled oceans, yet led to the flourishing of life on Earth.
The meteorite struck about 3.26 billion years ago during the Archean Eon, when the Earth looked vastly different. The planet was mostly covered in water, with only small pieces of land protruding above the sea level. Life was simple, consisting of microorganisms made up of a few cells. Until the meteorite named S2 crashed into the Earth.
An archaeological team, led by Nadja Drabon, a Harvard University professor, conducted research in South Africa, where the meteorite was believed to have struck. They reconstructed the impact event, revealing that the S2 meteorite, 40 to 60 kilometers wide, created a crater about 500 kilometers wide. The impact threw an enormous amount of rocks into the air, forming a cloud around the Earth. "Imagine rain, but instead of water, it appears like molten rock droplets falling from the sky," said Professor Drabon.
Following the impact, a massive tsunami is thought to have swept across the globe. The ocean floor ripped apart, coastlines flooded, and the oceans boiled due to the released energy, causing water to evaporate by tens of meters and air temperatures to rise by a hundred degrees.
The rock and dust launched into the air almost completely darkened the sky. The lack of sunlight could have wiped out all life existing at that time.
However, contrary to expectations of an apocalyptic scenario, life thrived after the impact. According to Cosmos Magazine, Professor Drabon's team found that the impact brought nutrients like phosphorus and iron to the surface, nourishing the simple organisms. "Life proved to be not only resilient but it recovered and thrived," Drabon said, likening it to brushing your teeth in the morning. "It kills 99.9% of the bacteria, but they're all back by the evening," she explained.
The new findings suggest that impact events spread substances that can be considered as fertilizers for the planet. Substances like phosphorus are crucial for life. Drabon remarked that while such events may be disastrous for life, this study highlights that impacts could have actually provided immense benefits, especially in the early stages, and allowed life to flourish.