Earth's Half-Strength Magnetic Field Over 3.7 Billion Years Old, Found in Greenland

Apr 26, 2024, 03:05 PM

Recent geological studies have confirmed that Earth's magnetic field, which was already at half-strength, is at least 3.7 billion years old, with new findings from ancient rocks in Greenland. Researchers at the University of Oxford and MIT have identified these rocks as bearing the oldest known remnants of the magnetic field, suggesting its existence was concurrent with the emergence of life. MIT's Benjamin Weiss highlighted the significance of this timeline, noting the potential extension of the magnetic field's age by 200 million years, which aligns with critical periods in the development of early life.