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1.7-billion-year-old fossils reveal a crucial clue to the rise of complex life

Tiny Fossils Reveal Complex Life’s Origins
Left: Drill cores of sedimentary rock that contain microscopic fossils. Credit: Maxwell Lechte Right: Fossils of single-celled eukaryotic organisms with complex surface features such as extensions and plates. Credit: Leigh Anne Riedman
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Automatically curated summary from ScienceDaily — Archaeology.

According to a report by ScienceDaily, scientists studying ancient Australian rocks discovered over 12,000 fossils of early eukaryotes, dated to 1.7 billion years ago. These complex cells inhabited diverse environments, including coastal mudflats and open seas, but were exclusively found in areas where oxygen was present. In contrast, oxygen-free environments were populated only by simpler microbes. Researchers note that these findings strengthen the theory that oxygen was essential for the emergence and distribution of complex life on Earth.

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This report is based on a brief feed excerpt and does not include the full study, specific dating methodologies, or peer-reviewed publication details.

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