Jack Hills Zircons: World’s Oldest Crystals Are Over 4.4 Billion Years Old And Could Help Explain How Life On Earth Emerged

Summary: Scientists have studied the oldest crystals on Earth, found in Australia. These tiny crystals, called zircons, are up to 4.4 billion years old. Using computers, researchers discovered that these crystals were made from even older rocks that had been melted down.

The big surprise? Some of those older rocks were formed by water and rain. This proves that over 4 billion years ago, Earth wasn't just a giant ball of lava or an endless ocean. It actually had land, rain, and fresh water. This amazing discovery supports Charles Darwin's famous idea that life on Earth might have started in a "warm little pond."

For more details, see rssapp-iflscience-com at iflscience.com/the-worlds-oldest-crystals-are-over-42-billion-years-old-and-contain-traces-of-something-even-older-83582 (opens in new tab)