Stephanie Pappas is a contributing writer for Live Science, covering topics ranging from geoscience to archaeology to the human brain and behavior.
A near collapse of Earth's magnetic field may have paved the way for life to evolve past the microscopic stage.
The findings could have implications for how life might arise on other planets, Tarduno added, and highlights the way that the geology of the deep Earth influences the atmosphere and surface. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The new study, published May 2 in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, suggests that this weakening reached its most serious 591 million years ago, when it was 30 times weaker than it is today, the researchers found. They determined this by studying tiny crystals in rocks formed just below Earth's surface.
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