--- title: "Scientists Cracked Open a 2-Billion-Year-Old Stone and Discovered Something Entirely Unexpected" description: "Microbes Rock A very old rock — or rather, what's inside of it —might just rewrite what we know about evolution of life on Earth. A new study published in the journal Microbial Ecology reveals that living microbes were discovered sealed inside of a 2-billion-year old stone, unearthed in Northeastern South Africa — a discovery […]" date: "2024-10-07" modified: "2024-10-07" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-2-billion-year-old-stone" categories: - "Biology" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "ancient life" - "geology" - "microbiology" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Cracked Open a 2-Billion-Year-Old Stone and Discovered Something Entirely Unexpected ![An ancient rock — or rather, the living microbes inside of it — could offer an unprecedented glimpse into early life on Earth.]() *\Image: University of Tokyo\* ## Microbes Rock A very old rock — or rather, what's inside of it —might force scientists to rewrite what we know about the evolution of life on Earth. As detailed in a [new study]() published in the journal *Microbial Ecology*, scientists discovered living microbes sealed inside a 2-billion-year-old stone. It's "the oldest example of living microbes being found within ancient rock so far discovered," according to a [press release](). "We didn't know if 2-billion-year-old rocks were habitable," said lead study author Yohey Suzuki, an associate professor in the Graduate School of Science at the University of Tokyo, in a statement. "Until now, the oldest geological layer in which living microorganisms had been found was a 100-million-year-old deposit beneath the ocean floor, so this is a very exciting discovery." In a sense, the rock is something of a time machine. Our [current scientific understanding]() is that the earliest life on Earth emerged about 3.5 billion years ago. Humans, [in comparison](), have only been around for a few hundred thousand years or so. As the researchers write in their study, the microbes, which were confirmed to be indigenous to the stone, appear to have evolved *incredibly* slowly over time. That means further study into the newly unearthed organism**s'** genetic makeup could reveal unprecedented insights. "By studying the DNA and genomes of microbes like these," said Suzuki, "we may be able to understand the evolution of very early life on Earth." ## Inward, then Outward The ancient stone was discovered in South Africa's Bushvelt Igneous Complex by way of ultradeep drilling. The international coalition of scientists believes that further study of the rock's microbial community could have repercussions for ongoing research into life on *other* planets as well. A [key objective]() of NASA's Perseverance mission is to retrieve physical samples from Mars. As the study authors note, those specimens will likely be of similar age to the Earthly stone that was just cracked open, making this discovery akin to a test run for interplanetary microbial science. "Finding microbial life in samples from Earth from 2 billion years ago and being able to accurately confirm their authenticity makes me excited for what we might be able to now find in samples from Mars," said Suzuki in a statement. **More on surprising things inside of rocks:** [*Microplastics Found in Sediment Layers Untouched by Modern Humans*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()