News in Brief Earth

4.1-billion-year-old crystal may hold earliest signs of life

zircon crystal

Life on Earth appeared before 4.1 billion years ago, new research suggests. This ancient zircon crystal contains a small carbon impurity (indicated by arrow) associated with organisms.

E.A. Bell et al/PNAS 2015

By Thomas Sumner

- More than 2 years ago

New evidence suggests that life on Earth arose before 4.1 billion years ago, 300 million years earlier than previous estimates.