Earth's oldest evidence of life is written in stone—but it's at risk of disappearing
Today, our planet is teeming with life, but it has not always looked the same. Long before forests reached skyward, animals walked on land and dinosaurs rose and fell, our planet was shaped by a much smaller, more unassuming form of life. And we can still find traces of it today.
Earth's oldest biological record is written in stone, yet this archive is at risk of disappearing. Microbialites, ancient mounded structures formed by microbial communities, offer valuable clues about life on our planet. Found in Western Australia, these fossils and living examples preserve evidence of early life and ecological disruption.
Found in Western Australia, these fossils and living examples preserve evidence of early life and ecological disruption. However, both fossil and living microbialites face threats from collecting, visitation, water-quality changes, and climate change. Protection is crucial to preserve this archive while many questions about microbialite formation remain unresolved.
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