The earliest traces of life on Earth date back billions of years.
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 75/100
Geological and fossil evidence indicates that the earliest traces of life on Earth emerged over three billion years ago during the Archean eon.
Evidence for · 3
Assessing the Earliest Evidence for Life in the Geologic and Genomic Records.
2026 · cited by 0
Paper [1] discusses microfossils and isotopic traces indicating terrestrial life dating back approximately 3.5 billion years within the planet's first billion years.
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More for · 2
Biological use of molybdenum and tungsten stems back to 3.4 billion years ago.
2026 · cited by 0
Paper [2] provides molecular dating evidence for biological metal utilization dating back 3.7 to 3.1 billion years ago during the Eo- to Mesoarchean.
Methanogens Through Geological Time and Space: Impact on Planetary Evolution and Significance for Life Beyond Earth
2025 · cited by 0
Paper [7] notes that lithified microbial mats represent some of the earliest evidence of life in the fossil record dating back more than 3.5 billion years.