According to a new study published in PNAS, a meteorite impact 3.26 billion years ago, dubbed S2, not only changed Earth's surface but actually strengthened life during its early stages.
The study's lead author, Nadja Drabon, highlighted that the Barberton Greenstone Belt in South Africa contains some of the few remaining rocks from that era, showcasing the impact's significance.
The impact led to the formation of spherules through the evaporation of meteorites and earth materials, leaving behind a uniquely thick layer, over 15 centimeters, unlike the thinner layer from the dinosaur impact.
The explosive meteorite strike generated a massive tsunami and caused atmospheric changes by heating the upper ocean, demonstrating how such events can have profound, multi-faceted effects on the planet's early environment.
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