Complex life began around 1.5B years earlier than previously thought

A new study led by Cardiff University suggests that complex life on Earth began approximately 1.5 billion years earlier than previously believed, with evidence pointing to an ecosystem in the Franceville Basin near Gabon, dating back 2.1 billion years. Traditionally, it was thought that animals first emerged around 635 million years ago. The research, published in Precambrian Research, highlights unique underwater volcanic activity that created a nutrient-rich environment conducive to early biological evolution. The lead author, Dr. Ernest Chi Fru, emphasized the importance of phosphorus in this evolutionary process, linking it to the transition from simple single-celled organisms to more complex life forms. The study also addresses the controversial large-sized fossils from this period, suggesting that environmental changes and nutrient enrichment may have facilitated their evolution. The researchers propose a two-step evolution of complex life, with the first phase occurring 2.1 billion years ago and a second phase following a rise in atmospheric oxygen levels 1.5 billion years later. Although the initial emergence of complex life did not lead to widespread biodiversity, it laid the groundwork for the diverse animal life seen today. The team aims to further investigate the environmental conditions that contributed to the appearance of these early life forms.