http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348653/description/Impact_craters_may_have_been_a_toasty_home_for_early_life
Erin Wayman
March 1, 2013
Summary:
Life on Earth evolved roughly 3.8 billion years ago. These first forms of life thrived in hydrothermal systems. Around the same time that the first signs of life appeared, there was a frequent barrage of meteorites landing on Earth. This impacts were the largest source of hydrothermal systems and thus, life flourished in impact craters. Most of these craters have been erased by Earth's geologic activity, but a few still remain. The larger these craters are, the longer it takes them to cool off. Thus, the larger craters tended to create a hydrothermal environment that lasted a long time. Currently, scientists and geologists study the well preserved craters that are located in Germany and Australia.
Connection:
In the microbes unit, we learned about thermophiles (heat loving bacteria) and other extremophiles which may have lived in these hydrothermal environments inside of these impact craters. These craters are a good starting point to try to discover where life evolved from.
What do these hypothermal environments tell us about early life on Earth?
ReplyDeleteHow would the earliest lifeforms have changed after the meteorites stopped landing on Earth? Obviously we aren't being bombarded by lots of meteorites today, so they must have stopped at some point.
ReplyDelete