PolicyWednesday, February 18, 2026ScienceDaily
Ancient microbes may have used oxygen 500 million years before it filled Earth’s atmosphere
MIT researchers have discovered that ancient microbes may have utilized oxygen as early as 500 million years before it became abundant in Earth's atmosphere, suggesting that life adapted to oxygen-rich environments earlier than previously believed. This finding could have implications for understanding the evolution of life and the conditions necessary for developing complex ecosystems.
