A meteorite caused the oceans to boil 3 billion years ago. This is what fertilized life, according to a new study

A colossal meteorite collided with the Earth more than 3 billion years ago. Not the one that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, but another that was 50 to 200 times larger. According to recent research, this cataclysmic event gave rise to the first forms of life on our planet.

A little context. 3.26 billion years ago, during the so-called Archaic Period, our planet was completely different. Only single-celled life forms existed, such as bacteria and archaea. The oceans, perhaps green with iron, are devoid of nutrients and are biological deserts.

During this period, the Earth was bombarded by giant meteorites. At least 16 of those that collided during the Archaic era were larger than 10 kilometers in diameter. Among them, the S2 meteorite stands out.

Colossal meteorite S2. A Harvard University team led by planetary scientist Nadia Drabon has spent the last few years studying the possible effects of the S2 meteorite, which was between 37 and 58 kilometers in diameter when it collided with planet Earth.

Researchers traveled to South Africa to analyze rocks in the Barberton-Makhonjwa Mountains, where they discovered small balls formed by the impact. These particles allowed scientists to reconstruct subsequent events. They were as cruel as they were helpful.

Enriching chaos. The meteorite hit caused a tsunami so strong that it engulfed the entire planet. In turn, the heat was so intense that it boiled the surface of the oceans, evaporating huge amounts of water and leaving large deposits of salt in its place.

The dust released into the atmosphere darkened the sky for years, perhaps decades, affecting photosynthetic microorganisms. Instead, the churning of the oceans released iron and phosphorus, promoting the growth of bacteria that feed on these important nutrients.

Prosperity after disaster. The researchers suggest that despite the immediate destructive impact of the meteorite, single-celled life quickly recovered and thrived thanks to the sudden abundance of nutrients.

S2 acted as a “fertilizer bomb,” enriching the marine environment and accelerating the evolution of what was then exclusively single-celled life. Chicxulub, the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, released sulfur and cooled the Earth when it was already teeming with complex life forms.

An important find. This discovery offers new evidence that cosmic impacts do more than just cause destruction. In the case of Earth, they also released essential nutrients to stimulate the early biodiversity that gave rise to life as we know it.

The team now plans to study other impact events to understand whether beneficial effects on life were common, which could redefine the role of meteorites in the evolution of life on Earth and our own biological origins. Possibly the main role.

Images | Fripik, Nadya Drabon and others.

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