Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
Marlowe Hood, AFP
May 20, 2009 -- Life on Earth may have sparked into existence as early as 4.4 billion years ago, hundreds of millions of years sooner than previously thought possible, according to a study to be published Thursday.
Until now scientists assumed that no life forms could have survived the so-called Late Heavy Bombardment, a 100-million-year fusillade during which our young planet was pummeled by meteorites that blasted craters the size of Thailand and France.
All told, some 200 million billion tons of space rock rained down on the planet, according to the new study.
Heat generated by this relentless pounding was intense enough to melt much of Earth's surface, rendering it uninhabitable even for primitive life forms that thrived at high temperatures.
That, at least, has been the conventional wisdom, bolstered by the fact that the earliest traces of life discovered so far appeared shortly after the extraterrestrial onslaught tapered off 3.9 billion years ago.
Fossils reveal microscopic life forms 3.5 billion years old, and geochemical clues point to more primitive organisms -- thought by some to be the common ancestor to all things living -- 300,000 million years before that.
(Balance of article at link above.)
Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
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Gawdzilla Sama
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Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
Ein Ubootsoldat wrote:“Ich melde mich ab. Grüssen Sie bitte meine Kameraden.”
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klr
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Re: Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
Great find 'Zilla. 
I don't see it on certain other web sites yet.
I don't see it on certain other web sites yet.
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
Re: Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
Ah I'm sick of all this shit.
Scientists change their mind every other fuckin' day.
The Bible and Christianity has been the same for centuries(
) the word of God is eternal. Long live the creator.
Hoot hoot hoot hoot.
Scientists change their mind every other fuckin' day.
The Bible and Christianity has been the same for centuries(
) the word of God is eternal. Long live the creator.Hoot hoot hoot hoot.
Libertarianism: The belief that out of all the terrible things governments can do, helping people is the absolute worst.
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klr
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Re: Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
Easy now. You're not talking to your fundie friend.Animavore wrote:Ah I'm sick of all this shit.
Scientists change their mind every other fuckin' day.
The Bible and Christianity has been the same for centuries(
Hoot hoot hoot hoot.
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
Re: Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
He's on the other side of the table.
If only he knew
If only he knew
Libertarianism: The belief that out of all the terrible things governments can do, helping people is the absolute worst.
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klr
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Re: Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
Blaspheme away then!Animavore wrote:He's on the other side of the table.
If only he knew
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
Re: Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
The two of us on our laptops in a dimly lit room like a couple of non-speaking Smith & Joneses.
Libertarianism: The belief that out of all the terrible things governments can do, helping people is the absolute worst.
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klr
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Re: Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
I'm trying to imagine it, and I don't like it.Animavore wrote:The two of us on our laptops in a dimly lit room like a couple of non-speaking Smith & Joneses.
I don't think I could be stuck in the same room as a fundie for more than a few minutes without trying to bait them. :twisted:
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner
The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson
Re: Life on Earth May Have Begun Much Earlier
It tires real quickly.klr wrote:I'm trying to imagine it, and I don't like it.Animavore wrote:The two of us on our laptops in a dimly lit room like a couple of non-speaking Smith & Joneses.
I don't think I could be stuck in the same room as a fundie for more than a few minutes without trying to bait them. :twisted:
I just avoid the topic now.
Libertarianism: The belief that out of all the terrible things governments can do, helping people is the absolute worst.
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