Ancient life on Earth may have flourished following the impact of a massive meteorite billions of years ago, new research suggests. The study indicates that the conditions caused by the collision of the S2 meteorite 3.26 billion years ago could have led to the thriving of certain life forms. This meteorite, estimated to be four times the size of Mount Everest, created significant changes on the planet.
While meteorite impacts are typically viewed as catastrophic events that can have negative effects on life, experts propose that in this case, the impact of the S2 meteorite may have actually provided benefits to early life on Earth. Professor Nadja Drabon, an early-Earth geologist from Harvard University, explained that these impacts could have facilitated the flourishing of life, especially in the early stages of development.
The S2 meteorite, with a diameter of 37–58 kilometres, is believed to have been much larger than the asteroid responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs. The impact likely generated a tsunami that disrupted the ocean, mixed debris from the land into coastal regions, and heated the atmosphere. Despite these dramatic effects, bacterial life is thought to have quickly recovered following the impact, leading to spikes in populations of single-celled organisms thriving on elements like phosphorus and iron.
The research suggests that the tsunami stirred up iron from the deep ocean into shallow waters and brought phosphorus to the planet, fostering favourable conditions for life. Iron-metabolising bacteria are believed to have thrived in the aftermath of the impact, offering insights into the early stages of life on Earth. Evidence of this impact can still be observed in the Barberton Greenstone belt in South Africa.
Dr. Drabon illustrated the scenario by describing a giant tsunami sweeping through shallow waters, causing significant changes to the environment. The study’s findings have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, shedding light on the potential positive impacts of meteorite collisions on the development of life on Earth.