Study Reveals Bacteria Used Oxygen Nearly 900 Million Years Before Earth's Great Oxidation Event

2.3 billion years ago, there was suddenly a lot of oxygen in the atmosphere. Many life forms became extinct, but some bacteria adapted.

When anaerobes encounter oxygen: mechanisms of oxygen toxicity, tolerance and defence

The defining trait of obligate anaerobes is that oxygen blocks their growth, yet the underlying mechanisms are unclear. A popular hypothesis was that these microorganisms failed to evolve defences to protect themselves from reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, and that this failure is what prevents their expansion to oxic habitats. However, studies reveal that anaerobes actually wield most of the same defences …

1 trillion species, 3 billion years: AI finds ancient bacteria used oxygen long before Earth had it

The planet Earth thawed approximately 4.5 billion years ago. The Moon was created when a Mars-sized object crashed. If there was life at that time, it likely was eradicated.

Machine learning helps construct an evolutionary timeline of bacteria

Scientists have helped to construct a detailed timeline for bacterial evolution, suggesting some bacteria used oxygen long before evolving the ability to produce it through photosynthesis.

Ancient Bacteria Were Breathing Long Before Oxygen Became Abundant

Scientists assumed most forms of life before the Great Oxidation Event didn't metabolize oxygen—but recent research suggests otherwise.

1 trillion species, 3 billion years: how we used AI to trace the evolution of bacteria on Earth

Until now, it’s been very hard for scientists to establish a detailed timeline of the early evolution of bacteria.