<p>In a fresh analysis of the ancient rare crystals - which were embedded in the rock present in the Australian outback - the scientists said that Earth had fresh water and dry land some four billion years ago.</p>

<p>This theory contradicts the earlier premise that the ocean had&nbsp;completely covered the planet. The chemicals present in the crystals showed that the hot and molten rocks from which they had originated had come in contact with freshwater during the formation of the crystals, as per the study published in the journal Nature Geoscience.</p>

<p>“By examining the age and oxygen isotopes in tiny crystals of the mineral zircon, we found unusually light isotopic signatures as far back as four billion years ago,” stated lead study author Hamed Gamaleldien, in a press release.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Such light oxygen isotopes are typically the result of hot, fresh water altering rocks several kilometres below Earth’s surface," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-sun-captured-firing-off-intense-solar-flare-then-gulping-it-back-728981"><strong>&nbsp;</strong>Sun captured firing off intense solar flare, then gulping it back</a></p>

<p>Gamaleldien&nbsp;said that they have found evidence of fresh water's presence on the dry land where water collected and slowly swept into the continental crust.</p>

<p>“We have two important things here. We have discovered the earliest evidence of fresh water and representative evidence for dry land above the sea,” the author said.</p>

<p>The research showed that the water cycle of Earth — when water travels between land, oceans and atmosphere through the process of evaporation and precipitation —&nbsp;was operational at that time.</p>

<h2><strong>Recipe for origins of life existed less than 600 million years after the formation of Earth</strong></h2>

<p>The authors said that the current finding reflected the presence of the origins of life on Earth nearly 600 million years after the planet's formation. This was long before the existence of the dinosaurs or the earliest known microbial life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gamaleldien said that the earliest evidence of life is fresh water which contains stromatolites and fossilised microbes&nbsp;which form mounds in hot springs almost 3.5 billion years ago.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Scientists decode 'phonetic alphabet' of Sperm Whales</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/scientists-decode-phonetic-alphabet-of-sperm-whales-719281/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>In a statement, a senior research fellow&nbsp;at Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Science and study co-author Hugo Olierook said, “This discovery not only sheds light on Earth’s early history but also suggests … landmasses and freshwater set the stage for life to flourish within a relatively short time frame — less than 600 million years after the planet formed."</p>

<p>“The findings mark a significant step forward in our understanding of Earth’s early history and open doors for further exploration into the origins of life,” he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a fresh analysis of the ancient rare crystals - which were embedded in the rock present in the Australian outback - the scientists said that Earth had fresh water and dry land some four billion years ago.

In a fresh analysis of the ancient rare crystals - which were embedded in the rock present in the Australian outback - the scientists said that Earth had fresh water and dry land some four billion years ago. This theory contradicts the earlier premise that the ocean had completely covered the planet. The chemicals present in the crystals showed that the hot and molten rocks from which they had originated had come in contact with freshwater during the formation of the crystals, as per the study published in the journal Nature Geoscience. “By examining the age and oxygen isotopes in tiny crystals of the mineral zircon, we found unusually light isotopic signatures as far back as four billion years ago,” stated lead study author Hamed Gamaleldien, in a press release. “Such light oxygen isotopes are typically the result of hot, fresh water altering rocks several kilometres below Earth’s surface," he added. Also Read: Sun captured firing off intense solar flare, then gulping it back Gamaleldien said that they have found evidence of fresh water's presence on the dry land where water collected and slowly swept into the continental crust. “We have two important things here. We have discovered the earliest evidence of fresh water and representative evidence for dry land above the sea,” the author said. The research showed that the water cycle of Earth — when water travels between land, oceans and atmosphere through the process of evaporation and precipitation — was operational at that time. Recipe for origins of life existed less than 600 million years after the formation of Earth The authors said that the current finding reflected the presence of the origins of life on Earth nearly 600 million years after the planet's formation. This was long before the existence of the dinosaurs or the earliest known microbial life. Gamaleldien said that the earliest evidence of life is fresh water which contains stromatolites and fossilised microbes which form mounds in hot springs almost 3.5 billion years ago. Watch: Scientists decode 'phonetic alphabet' of Sperm Whales In a statement, a senior research fellow at Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Science and study co-author Hugo Olierook said, “This discovery not only sheds light on Earth’s early history but also suggests … landmasses and freshwater set the stage for life to flourish within a relatively short time frame — less than 600 million years after the planet formed." “The findings mark a significant step forward in our understanding of Earth’s early history and open doors for further exploration into the origins of life,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Rare crystals reveal when Earth first had fresh water, hinting at origin of life

<p>Viruses can remain alive in fresh water for around three days by hitchhiking on plastics, said researchers. The viruses, which cause diarrhoea or stomach upsets, were found to be able to survive in water by attaching with microplastics, the experts said. The viruses like rotavirus remain infectious and pose a health risk. Researchers from University of Stirling made the observations. “We found that viruses can attach to microplastics and that allows them to survive in the water for three days, possibly longer,” said Prof Richard Quilliam, lead researcher of the project, Stirling University, said. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The standard laboratory methods were used to know whether the viruses found on microplastics in water are infectious. “We weren’t sure how well viruses could survive by ‘hitchhiking’ on plastics in the environment, but they do survive and they do remain infectious,” Quilliam said. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/13-mm-long-robot-fish-designed-by-scientists-to-eat-microplastics-in-oceans-490807" hreflang="en">13-mm-long robot-fish designed by scientists to ‘eat’ microplastics in oceans</a></strong></p>

<p>The research, which has been published in the journal ‘Environmental Pollution’, is a part of a £1.85m project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. The study said that microplastics-enabled pathogens transfer in the environment. &nbsp;</p>

<p>“Being infectious in the environment for three days, that’s long enough to get from the wastewater treatment works to the public beach,” Quilliam said. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;These countries in Europe have cleanest bathing waters</strong></p>

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<p>“Even if a wastewater treatment plant is doing everything it can to clean sewage waste, the water discharged still has microplastics in it, which are then transported down the river, into the estuary and wind up on the beach,” Quilliam added. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Sometimes they wash up on the beach as lentil-sized, brightly coloured pellets called nurdles that children might pick up and put in their mouths. It doesn’t take many virus particles to make you sick,” Quilliam said. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Viruses can also bind to natural surfaces in the environment, but plastic pollution lasts a lot longer than those materials,” said Quilliam.</p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Viruses can remain alive in fresh water for around three days by hitchhiking on plastics, said researchers. The viruses, which cause diarrhoea or stomach upsets, were found to be able to survive in water by attaching with microplastics, the experts said.

Viruses can remain alive in fresh water for around three days by hitchhiking on plastics, said researchers. The viruses, which cause diarrhoea or stomach upsets, were found to be able to survive in water by attaching with microplastics, the experts said. The viruses like rotavirus remain infectious and pose a health risk. Researchers from University of Stirling made the observations. “We found that viruses can attach to microplastics and that allows them to survive in the water for three days, possibly longer,” said Prof Richard Quilliam, lead researcher of the project, Stirling University, said. The standard laboratory methods were used to know whether the viruses found on microplastics in water are infectious. “We weren’t sure how well viruses could survive by ‘hitchhiking’ on plastics in the environment, but they do survive and they do remain infectious,” Quilliam said. Also Read: 13-mm-long robot-fish designed by scientists to ‘eat’ microplastics in oceans The research, which has been published in the journal ‘Environmental Pollution’, is a part of a £1.85m project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. The study said that microplastics-enabled pathogens transfer in the environment. “Being infectious in the environment for three days, that’s long enough to get from the wastewater treatment works to the public beach,” Quilliam said. Watch: These countries in Europe have cleanest bathing waters × “Even if a wastewater treatment plant is doing everything it can to clean sewage waste, the water discharged still has microplastics in it, which are then transported down the river, into the estuary and wind up on the beach,” Quilliam added. “Sometimes they wash up on the beach as lentil-sized, brightly coloured pellets called nurdles that children might pick up and put in their mouths. It doesn’t take many virus particles to make you sick,” Quilliam said. “Viruses can also bind to natural surfaces in the environment, but plastic pollution lasts a lot longer than those materials,” said Quilliam. WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Viruses can stay alive in fresh water for three days by attaching to microplastics, says study

With rising temperatures, shifting rainfalls and extreme weather conditions availability of fresh water is becoming a worrisome situation in South Asia, especially in Pakistan with Karachi being the sixth highly water insecure metro in the world.

WION Dispatch: Pakistan fails to keep up with rising demand of fresh water

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