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What is the oldest fossil ever discovered?

Paula Kropach

Oh boy, let me tell you about the oldest fossil ever discovered! We're talking about a creature that roamed the earth over 3.5 billion years ago - before even the dinosaurs!

This ancient being is called stromatolites. And no, it's not a type of pasta dish, although it does have a pretty cool name. Stromatolites are some of the most ancient fossils ever discovered and they're made up of layers of cyanobacteria, a type of photosynthetic bacteria that are still around today.

These stromatolites were formed in shallow bodies of water, like lakes and oceans, where the cyanobacteria would attach themselves to rocks or sediment on the bottom. Over time, the layers of bacteria would build up and eventually harden into a rock-like structure.

Now, you might be thinking, "Okay, that's cool and all, but why are stromatolites so important?" Well, they provide us with some pretty valuable insights into the history of life on Earth. For one, they give us a glimpse into what early life forms looked like and how they evolved over time. Additionally, stromatolites played a crucial role in shaping our planet's atmosphere.

You see, when cyanobacteria photosynthesize, they release oxygen as a byproduct. Over billions of years, the build-up of oxygen in the atmosphere eventually led to the creation of the ozone layer, which protects us from harmful UV rays. So basically, without these tiny little photosynthetic organisms, we wouldn't be here today!

It's pretty mind-blowing to think about the fact that stromatolites have been around for over 3.5 billion years. To put that into perspective, the first humans didn't show up until a mere 200,000 years ago! And while stromatolites might not be as flashy as T-Rex bones or giant mammoth tusks, they're just as (if not more) fascinating and important in the grand scheme of things.

So, there you have it - the oldest fossil ever discovered. Who knew that a bunch of bacteria could be so cool?