- The early Earth's atmosphere was rich in carbon dioxide, according to a study.
- The study looked at very old samples of these small meteorites to show that the grains could have reacted with carbon dioxide on their journey to the Earth.
- Previous work suggested the meteorites ran into oxygen, contradicting theories and evidence that the Earth's early atmosphere was virtually devoid of oxygen.
- Knowing the conditions on the early Earth is important not just for understanding the history of our planet, and the conditions when life emerged, it can also help inform the search for life on other planets.