Can microfossils in a meteor survive atmospheric entry?

Details Can microfossils in a meteor survive atmospheric entry? Can microfossils in a meteor survive atmospheric entry?

Sep 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008epsc.conf..892f&link_type=abstract

European Planetary Science Congress 2008, Proceedings of the conference held 21-25 September, 2008 in Münster, Germany. Online a

Other

Scientific paper

Studies related to the origin of life on Earth (or elsewhere, such as Mars or Venus) are hampered by the fact that suitable rocks dating from the first billion years are lacking on Earth. The oldest traces of life occur in cherts (silicified volcanic silts and sands) that were deposited in coastal environments 3.5 billion years ago [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. These microfossils correspond to relatively evolved organisms, implying that life had to have appeared much earlier [6]. However, older traces of life cannot be observed on Earth since older materials are too heavily metamorphosed or have been destroyed by plate tectonics. On the other hand, plate tectonic activity does not appear to have occurred on other terrestrial planets, such as Mars. If life occurred on Mars, fossilised traces could be found embedded in rocks from the Noachian period (4.5 to 3.5 billion years ago), i.e. the period that is missing on Earth.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Can microfossils in a meteor survive atmospheric entry? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Can microfossils in a meteor survive atmospheric entry?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Can microfossils in a meteor survive atmospheric entry? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1795245