The Rock That Fooled Scientists: No Signs of Early Life

Scitech Daily ^ | August 24, 2024 | University of Ottawa

[SunkenCiv]

Scientists have revealed that graphite in the ancient Saglek-Hebron iron formations of Nunatsiavut, once thought to indicate the earliest life on Earth, likely has abiotic origins.

Early Life on Earth

The isotopic composition of carbon in iron formations from the Saglek-Hebron Complex in Nunatsiavut (northern Labrador) has been seen as evidence of the earliest traces of life on Earth. But a new study by the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and University College London suggests otherwise.

The study shows that the petrographic, geochemical, and spectroscopic features in the graphite (the crystalline form of carbon) found in the Saglek-Hebron chemical sedimentary rocks are in fact "abiotic," that is, nonliving physical or chemical aspects of an environment or devoid of life.

The Abiotic Nature of Graphite

This enhances our understanding of how early biomass transformed on Earth, emphasizing the interaction between non-biological processes and ancient life remnants. Studying graphitic materials is key to decoding carbon cycling on the early Earth.

This study is crucial to the search for ancient life on Earth and potentially on neighboring planets.

[oldtech]

If scientists want to know how life on Earth came about, they have only to read the Bible. Of course, they might want to not only read it, but believe it also. Short of doing this, I don’t see how they will ever come to know how life came to be on Earth.

[bert]

You of course would be unequivocally wrong

[BipolarBob]

I have been doing research on this very thing for decades and could have saved them the trouble. I consider myself somewhat of an expert as I’ve spent enormous amounts of time trying to communicate with my “pet rock” I got as a kid. I’ve tried coaxing it to do tricks. Nope. No movement. No response to anything. It just doesn’t do anything. So, they should’ve asked me.

[fso301]

Scientists have revealed that graphite in the ancient Saglek-Hebron iron formations of Nunatsiavut, once thought to indicate the earliest life on Earth, likely has abiotic origins.

Yet, unlike the initial report which was trumpeted by the media as evidence of first/prebiotic/spontaneous life formation, this paper will be ignored by the media.

That's how it always is.

[GaltAdonis]

The Virtual Rock collection of chemical and organic sedimentary rocks.

wow. .

https://earthathome.org/vc/rocks/chemical-organic-sedimentary/

[Getready]

We may be, or should I say.....maybe I am a Boltzmann’s Brain.

[waredbird]

You missed the satire but give me an example.