Tiny variations in silver are giving scientists a new look at Earth's timetable.
Image Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
Silver Tells a Story of Early Earth: Water Here Since Planet's Very Early Days
A new study shows that water might have been on Earth very early in its history. Before this new information, scientists thought water came to Earth from comets.
Scientists have learned this by studying isotopes found in meteorites and rocks. They looked into how long ago it was that rocks on Earth contained elements such as hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and silver.
Richard Carlson, one of the authors of the study, said that they found rocks from the Earth's mantle had the same silver isotopes as early meteorites.
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