|
How did life start on Earth? We don’t know, but based on what we do know about its chemistry, there are two things life would have needed: dry land and water. The oldest traces of life on our planet date back some 3.5 billion years, but our planet came into existence roughly 1 billion years before that.
So, what was early Earth like? When did we get the first patches of dry land and water that would have served as a nursery for the building blocks of life? We don’t have a time machine (yet). But to answer this tantalising question, scientists can look to super-old rocks and the grains of crystals embedded within.
There’s one place in particular that has yielded the bulk of the oldest crystals on our planet, and it’s right here in Australia – the Jack Hills in Western Australia’s midwest.
Hugo Olierook and Hamed Gamaleldien from Curtin University have analysed more than a thousand crystals of a mineral called zircon. It’s remarkably resistant to change, even over billions of years. If you have the right instruments and know where to look, such a zircon can reveal fresh water was there when the crystal first formed.
The results of their newly published study now place the emergence of fresh water on Earth a whopping 500 million years earlier than previously thought. We can’t be certain that life began quite so early, too. But it’s the first evidence that the right conditions – dry land and water – were already present extremely early in our planet’s history.
If you value our reporting and analysis of the latest breaking science news, then do consider making a tax deductible donation to our end-of-financial-year fundraising drive.
|
|
Signe Dean
Science + Technology Editor
|
|
Hugo Olierook, Curtin University; Hamed Gamaleldien, Curtin University
The very early Earth may not have been as inhospitable as scientists thought, with life perhaps starting more than 4 billion years ago.
|
John Buchanan, University of Sydney
Dental assistants, community services workers, pharmacists and psychologists are in line for biggger increases down the track.
|
Dr Imran Ali, CQUniversity Australia
Severe weather and disease in Brazil’s main growing regions have led to a major global shortage. Australia does grow a lot of its own oranges, but still relies heavily on imported juice.
|
Erin Harrington, University of Canterbury; Jadey O'Regan, University of Sydney; Marina Deller, Flinders University; Phoebe Hart, Queensland University of Technology; Stuart Richards, University of South Australia
Our experts comment on their top streaming picks this month.
|
Phoebe McInerney, Flinders University; Jacob C. Blokland, Flinders University; Trevor H. Worthy, Flinders University
A recent find of an ancient giant bird’s skull has revealed much about its life among the vanished lakes and wetlands of inland South Australia.
|
Luis Gómez Romero, University of Wollongong
What can Mexico expect from the former mayor of the capital after an historic election?
|
Joëlle Gergis, The University of Melbourne
If currently implemented policies are continued with no increase in ambition, there is a 90% chance that the Earth will warm between 2.3°C and 4.5°C, with a best estimate of 3.5°C.
|
Rachael Sharman, University of the Sunshine Coast
People sometimes question the difference between a family meeting and, say, dinner.
|
Sharon Smart, Curtin University; David Todd, Australian National University; Monica J. Hogan, Australian National University
Tongue-tie division isn’t always appropriate but can make a big difference to the babies who need it when non-surgical measures don’t fix feeding problems.
|
Kate Falconer, The University of Queensland
For the first time, a person has been cryopreserved in Australia, in the hope of being reanimated in the future. The process opens up a possible legal minefield, however.
|
Catherine Yule, University of the Sunshine Coast
Uniquely, an Australian subtropical peatland ecosystem exists that is not only resilient to the frequent bushfires, but actually needs fire to survive.
|
Matthew Currell, Griffith University; Adrian Werner, Flinders University
Conflict between coal giant Adani, the Queensland government and traditional owners over harm to groundwater ecosystems stems from a flawed interpretation of the ‘adaptive management’ approach.
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The former treasurer’s quick decision comes after a public backlash against the possibility he could push aside an already preselected woman.
-
Hal Pawson, UNSW Sydney
Governments’ policy inaction and complacency bear much of the blame for the lack of affordable housing. But a new report detects signs of hope in Queensland.
|
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Katherine Livingstone, Deakin University
Eating a vegan or vegetarian diet is about more than just food.
|
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Miri (Margaret) Raven, UNSW Sydney; Alana Gall, Southern Cross University; Bibi Barba, Indigenous Knowledge; Daniel Robinson, UNSW Sydney
Can you patent something Indigenous peoples already know about? Too often, the answer is yes - but moves are afoot to stop it.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
Cahyani Widi Larasakti, The University of Melbourne
The relationship between neighbours Australia and Indonesia has gone through major swings. Could the green transition offer a win-win?
|
|
Books + Ideas
|
-
Natasha Yates, Bond University
Johann Hari’s book opens a deeper conversation about the pros and cons of injectable weight-loss drugs – including whether we really want to trade the pleasure we get from food for losing weight.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
James Cook University
Cairns QLD, Australia
•
Contract
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
Featured Events, Courses & Podcasts
|
View all
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
