Difficulty: Challenger (Level 3)
Australian 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.
The crater is located in a remote area of northwestern Australia and “significantly challenged previous assumptions about our planet’s ancient history,” as per Curtin University researchers.
The research team examined the rock layers in the North Pole Dome and 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 the area at speeds over 36,000km (22,000 miles) per hour, creating a crater larger than 100km wide and potentially sending debris flying around the globe, as stated in the study.
Answer: 3.5 billion years old
