The oldest known fossil on Earth is a 3.5-billion-year-old stromatolite, a rock-like structure formed by the accumulation of cyanobacterial layers. It was discovered in the Pilbara Craton in Western Australia, one of Earth's oldest and most stable regions. Stromatolites are considered evidence of early life and provide valuable insights into the origins and evolution of life on our planet. Their layered structure is attributed to the growth and decay of cyanobacteria, which photosynthesized and produced oxygen, profoundly shaping Earth's atmosphere and setting the stage for the development of complex life forms. Studying these ancient fossils enhances our understanding of the history of life on Earth and the conditions that enabled it to flourish.
