Meteorite that struck Scotland 990 million years ago may have brought life to land
New geological findings from Scotland have upended previous assumptions about the planet's ancient past, and hint that a colossal meteorite impact may have played a surprising role in life's first move onto land.
Scientists now believe a huge space rock slammed into what is now northwestern Scotland 990 million years ago, revising earlier estimates that placed the event at 1.2 billion years ago. The findings, published in the journal Geology, offer fresh insights into how meteorites may have helped shape Earth's early ecosystems.
The ancient impact created the Stac Fada Member, a distinctive layer of rock that has long intrigued researchers. Thanks to advanced analysis of microscopic zircon crystals within the rocks, experts were able to narrow down the timing of the impact with remarkable precision.
'These microscopic crystals recorded the exact moment of impact, with some even transforming into an incredibly rare mineral called reidite, which only forms under extreme pressures,' said lead author Chris Kirkland from Curtin University in Western Australia.
'This provided undeniable proof that a meteorite strike caused the Stac Fada deposit.'
Kirkland explained that meteor strikes partially reset the atomic clocks inside zircon crystals.
'These 'broken timepieces' are often unable to be dated, but we developed a model to reconstruct when the disturbance occurred, confirming the impact at 990 million years ago,' he said.
Although the location of the impact crater remains undiscovered, the study has offered promising new clues that could eventually pinpoint its site.
These details may ultimately lead to the discovery of the crater, giving scientists an even clearer understanding of the meteorite's role in shaping the Earth's geological landscape.
Beyond reworking the geological timeline, the discovery also opens the door to intriguing questions about the evolution of early life.
While plants are believed to have first colonised land around 470 million years ago, followed by arthropods such as insects and spiders about 425 million years ago, the first vertebrates, ancestors of humans, appeared on land roughly 400 million years ago.
But long before any of these organisms emerged, single-celled eukaryotes, the ancestors of plants, animals and fungi, had already begun venturing out of Earth's oceans.
This transition marks one of the earliest steps in the story of life on land, but it happened long before the more complex organisms such as plants and arthropods made their way onto solid ground.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Kirkland's team found evidence of freshwater eukaryotes in the region dating back to the same time as the newly dated impact, suggesting a potential link between the two events.
This discovery adds a compelling layer to the ongoing narrative of how life evolved and adapted to the changing conditions of our planet.
'The revised dating suggests these life forms in Scotland appeared at a similar time to a meteorite impact,' Kirkland said. 'This raises fascinating questions about whether large impacts may have influenced environmental conditions in ways that affected early ecosystems.
'Understanding when meteorite impacts occurred helps us explore their potential influence on Earth's environment and the expansion of life beyond the oceans.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Scotland's dramatic volcanic landscape 'once rivalled the fiery activity of modern-day Hawaii'
Some of Scotland's most iconic islands were born from a network of erupting fissures, just like those found in Hawaii and Iceland Scotland's dramatic, rugged landscape is famed the world over. Several movies have utilised places like the Highlands and islands as a filming location precisely for this reason, including Braveheart, Harry Potter, Prometheus, and Skyfall. But now, a discovery "likened to finding a needle in a haystack" has confirmed that Scotland's dramatic volcanic landscape "once rivalled the fiery activity of modern-day Hawaii". Geologists from the University of Aberdeen have confirmed that cracks in the Earth, called volcanic fissures, helped create many of the Inner Hebrides. Scientists have long understood that islands such as Skye, Mull, Eigg, Canna, and Staffa, as well as parts of the mainland were formed from lava flows. However, the way the lava came to the surface has been debated by scientists for over 100 years. In contrast to the calm, picturesque scenery of today, 60million years ago, the west coast of Scotland was erupting with lava fountains and other volcanic events. The new discovery by geoscientists from the University of Aberdeen provides the strongest evidence yet that some of Scotland's most iconic islands were born not from a single large volcano, but from a network of erupting fissures, just like those found in Hawaii and Iceland. The research, published in The Journal of the Geological Society, appears to settle the century-old debate over how the lava fields of the Inner Hebrides islands were formed. The team has, for the first time, uncovered physical proof of an ancient volcanic fissure that fed lava into the surrounding landscape. The site, a 5km-long stretch near Calgary Bay on the Isle of Mull, reveals preserved deposits from one of these fissures, where magma once erupted in spectacular displays. Project leader Dr Jessica Pugsley, from the University of Aberdeen, said: "For over 100 years, scientists have debated whether the lava flows on Skye and Mull came from a single volcano or from many fissures like those we see in Iceland and Hawaii today," . "Finding a preserved fissure is a bit like discovering a dinosaur fossil with skin - it tells us far more than lava alone can. Typically, a very small fraction of a lava field contains these fissures, so it's an extraordinarily significant find." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The volcanic activity occurred as the Atlantic Ocean began to form, ripping apart ancient land and allowing magma to surge up through the crust. This zone of volcanic remnants is called the British Paleogene Volcanic Province and reaches from the west of Scotland over to parts of Northern Ireland, including the famous Giants Causeway. The preserved fissure found by the Aberdeen team through fieldwork aided by 3D drone modelling technology, shows exactly where lava once fountained out of the Earth, before being buried by later eruptions and finally revealed by millions of years of erosion. "To be able to stand and walk on a feature that played such a key role in shaping Scotland's geography - and to realise it erupted like Iceland and Hawaii's volcanoes do today - is pretty incredible," said Dr Pugsley.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Daily Record
Solar eclipse 2025 truth as astronomers set record straight on 'ring of fire' spectacle
The celestial event will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many but the date has varied among internet users For the star gazers and sky watchers among us, the prospect of casting your eyes on a solar eclipse is an incredibly exciting one. Solar eclipses are rare, particularly in the UK, with the last total solar eclipse having taken place in 1999. Recently, a viral WhatsApp message claimed the UK is set to be plunged into darkness in 2025, with a solar eclipse taking place on August 2. The spectacle is set to "stun" viewers - but experts say it won't be when you think. Despite the buzz on social media, it turns out the viral claims of an annular eclipse are completely unfounded. Astronomers have debunked rumours of a solar eclipse occurring on August 2, 2025. The speculation is understandable, because there is anticipation for the total eclipse slated for August 2, 2027. However, The Economic Times reports that no such event will take place in 2025 on the same date. Official records from NASA and national observatories confirm there will be no solar eclipse on August 2, 2025. Instead, two eclipses are expected this year, neither of which coincide with the rumoured date. And sadly, UK eclipse enthusiasts have already had their opportunity. The first was an annular eclipse on February 28, 2025 visible only from parts of the South Pacific Ocean. The second is a partial eclipse on August 23, 2025 visible in regions of Canada, Greenland, and the Arctic. This means any hopes for a dramatic darkening of the skies on August 2, 2025, are entirely baseless. What we know about the solar eclipse 2027 So, what's behind the mix-up? Well, 2027's solar eclipse is not your average spectacle. Lasting up to six minutes and 23 seconds, it will be the longest total eclipse visible from land between the years 1991 and 2114. While most total eclipses last less than three minutes, this one will provide an extended view of the Sun's outer atmosphere - the corona - promising a breathtaking display for everyone along its path. The uniqueness of this celestial event is all down to impeccable cosmic timing. Adding a touch of drama, the eclipse's path skims near the equator, slowing the Moon's shadow as it traverses the Earth and resulting in an unusually prolonged period of darkness. The eclipse's path will stretch across Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia, with many nations predicted to host festivals and viewing parties. The event may also spark a surge in eclipse tourism. However, for now, astronomy enthusiasts will have to hold their breath until 2027 for that unforgettable spectacle. As for 2025? There's no need to dust off your eclipse glasses - at least not on August 2. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. To console yourself, a total lunar eclipse will be visible over the UK in just a few short weeks, on September 7, but it won't be visible for long. The Moon will turn a deep, dark red during this event that's certainly not one to miss. With this in mind, we've rounded up everything you need to know about the coming eclipse, including when and how to spot this cosmic phenomenon. Find out more here.
Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Daily Record
Machine that helped Neil Armstrong step on moon donated to Scottish museum
The Facit Model LX calculator, made in Sweden, belonged to Glasgow-born astronomer Professor Archie Roy A machine that helped Neil Armstrong make his "one small step" on the moon has been donated to a Scottish museum. The calculator was used by a Scottish scientist to help plot the path of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. The crucial gadget has been donated to National Museums Scotland ahead of the mission's 55th anniversary this month. The Facit Model LX calculator was built in Sweden between 1938 and 1954, and belonged to the late Professor Archie Roy, a renowned Glasgow-born astronomer and physicist. The machine played a key role in the calculations behind the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, which saw Neil Armstrong become the first person to set foot on the moon, something he described as a "giant leap for mankind". Professor Roy was invited by NASA to act as a consultant on trajectory calculations, using the Facit to carry out work that helped guide the spacecraft to the lunar surface on July 20, 1969. The same calculator, which Roy first used during his PhD studies at Glasgow University in the 1950s, remained a key tool throughout his career until it was eventually replaced by electronic computers in the later 1960s. Professor Roy was educated at Hillhead High School before studying at Glasgow University, where he later became a lecturer and continued to teach for many years. His distinguished academic career spanned several disciplines, with research interests ranging from astrodynamics and celestial mechanics to archaeoastronomy and neural networks. He held numerous prestigious honours, including Fellowships with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Royal Astronomical Society, and the British Interplanetary Society. Professor Roy also had a keen interest in psychical research, serving as a Member and past President of the Society for Psychical Research, and as Founding President of The Scottish Society for Psychical Research. The historic Facit machine has now been added to the science and technology collections at National Museums Scotland, where it will sit alongside other key artefacts related to space exploration and astronomy. These include a prototype camera developed for use on the moon, and an analogue calculator once used to solve Kepler's equation. Dr Tacye Philipson, senior curator of science at National Museums Scotland, said the calculator is 'a wonderful addition' to the national collection. 'It is a visibly well-used piece of kit, reflecting Professor Archie Roy's long and productive career,' she said. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'Moreover, when we think of the array of computational power at our fingertips today with our phones and laptops, it is evocative to look at this completely analogue machine and think that it was instrumental in one of the most extraordinary technological achievements in human history, one unsurpassed and even unrepeated in over 50 years.' She added: 'Professor Roy's calculator gives us a tangible link to Scotland's part in that achievement.' Following his retirement in 1989, the machine was kept by Roy's close friend, the former Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Professor John Brown, who recognised its historical value. It was recently donated to National Museums Scotland by Roy's widow, Margaret Roy.
