Ancient Meteorite Was a 'Fertilizer Bomb' for Life on Earth — VOA Learning English
Topics: наука й природа
Beginning
The space rock that hit Earth 66 million years ago and caused the deaths of many life forms – including dinosaurs - was not the largest object to ever strike our planet.
One meteorite up to 200 times bigger hit the planet 3.26 billion years ago, causing worldwide destruction. But, as new research shows, that event may have been helpful for the early development of life.
The meteorite may have served as "a giant fertilizer bomb." In other words, it may have supplied the key nutrients phosphorus and iron for the bacteria and other organisms that existed at the time.
Researchers studied the effects of this meteorite strike using evidence from ancient rocks in an area in northeastern South Africa.…
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