Scientists in Australia discover world’s oldest meteorite crater
The discovery challenges our understanding of Earth’s early history and could shed light on the origins of life.
Scientists have discovered Earth’s oldest meteorite crater in Australia, dating back 3.5 billion years. Photo: Instagram/o23ecotechAustralian scientists have recently discovered the oldest known meteorite impact crater in the world, which could change our understanding of the origins of life and Earth, according to a study published earlier this month.
The crater is located in a remote area of northwestern Australia and “significantly challenged previous assumptions about our planet’s ancient history,” researchers from Curtin University said.
The research team found evidence of a major meteorite impact that occurred 3.5 billion years ago.
Before this discovery, the oldest known impact crater was 2.2 billion years old, making this new crater the oldest ever found on Earth, explained study co-lead professor Tim Johnson.
The meteorite is believed to have struck at speeds of over 36,000km (22,000 miles) per hour.