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The earliest fossils found are of stromatolites from around 3.5 billion years ago. Stromatolites are formed of bacteria that convert carbon dioxide, water and sunlight into calcium carbonate and oxygen.

Evidence from trapped bubbles of atmosphere in volcanic rocks shows that the atmosphere 3.5billion years ago was more like Venus today; largely carbon dioxide. Stromatolites thrived in this atmosphere. Ironically, their success caused a major crisis for early life as they removed most of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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14y ago

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