Kol scientists find life beyond 3 billion yrs

, Sept 8:Scientists from Kolkata's Presidency College, along with Geologists from Trinity College, Dublin have found evidence of life 3 billion years ago, close to 60 million years earlier than previously thought.

In fact, it is said that these living organisms were responsible for adding oxygen to the atmosphere, which helped in the formation of more complex life.

Professors Joydip Mukhopadhyay and Gautam Ghosh have found evidence of chemical weathering of rocks that led to soil formation, wich occurred in the presence of O2.

Using the Uranium-Lead isotope decay system, used for determining age of rocks and organic materials, the scientists deduced that these events took place at least 3.02 billion years ago.

According to The Times of India, the ancient soil (or paleosol) came from the Singhbhum Craton of Odisha and was named the Keonjhar Paleosol, after the nearest local town.

OneIndia News