Ancient meteorite boosted early life with key nutrients, study finds

A massive meteorite that crashed into Earth 3.26 billion years ago may have been a catalyst for early life, acting as a “giant fertilizer bomb” by delivering vital nutrients like phosphorus and iron. This colossal impact, occurring during the Paleoarchean Era, dwarfed the famous asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, with the meteorite estimated to be up to 200 times larger.

Researchers studying ancient rocks from South Africa’s Barberton Greenstone Belt discovered evidence suggesting that this catastrophic event, while devastating, may have provided the perfect conditions for simple life forms to thrive. Geochemical signatures from preserved organic material and fossils of marine bacterial mats indicate that life rebounded rapidly, flourishing soon after the environment stabilized.

“Life not only recovered quickly but thrived in the aftermath,” said Nadja Drabon, a Harvard University geologist and lead author of the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study highlights how the impact would have introduced critical nutrients to Earth’s early ocean, fostering conditions favorable for bacteria and archaea, the dominant life forms of that era.

The meteorite, believed to be a carbonaceous chondrite rich in carbon and phosphorus, measured between 23-36 miles in diameter. Its impact released immense energy, vaporizing rock and creating a global cloud of dust and rock vapor that would have darkened the skies and caused the ocean’s upper layers to boil. A subsequent tsunami likely churned the seabed, mixing nutrient-rich deep waters with shallower areas—an ideal environment for early microbial life.

Though the impact brought widespread destruction, its aftermath provided essential resources for microorganisms. “We often associate meteorite impacts with mass extinctions, but in this case, the simple, versatile microbes of the time were able to adapt and thrive,” said Drabon.

This discovery sheds light on the early evolution of life on Earth, offering a glimpse into how catastrophic events might have played a role in nurturing rather than hindering biological development.

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