Asteroid and comet impacts can cause widespread ecological havoc, killing off plants and animals on regional or even global scales. But new research from Brown University shows that impacts can also preserve the signatures of ancient life at the time of an impact. A research team led by Brown geologist Pete Schultz has found fragments of leaves and preserved organic compounds lodged inside glass created by a several ancient impacts in Argentina. The material could provide a snapshot of environmental conditions at the time of those impacts. The find also suggests that impact glasses could be a good place to look for signs of ancient life on Mars. Read More: myscienceacademy.org/2014/04/19/signs-of-ancient-life-in-earthly-impact-debris-has-implications-for-mars/
Posted on: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 16:12:31 +0000
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