Ancient Meteorite Impact Boosted Early Life on Earth

A massive meteorite strike over 3 billion years ago may have provided crucial nutrients that helped early microbial life thrive.

The S2 meteorite, significantly larger than the one that ended the dinosaurs, struck Earth during the Archean Eon, causing widespread devastation.
Despite the initial destruction, the impact released essential nutrients like iron and phosphorus, creating favorable conditions for microbial life.
Researchers studied ancient rock samples in South Africa, revealing chemical signatures that tell the story of the impact and its aftermath.
The study challenges the view of meteorite impacts as purely destructive, suggesting they also played a role in life's evolution on early Earth.
Evidence from the Barberton Greenstone Belt indicates that similar meteorite impacts may have been common, influencing Earth's early environment.