oldest evidence of Earth’s magnetic field discovered in Greenland

According to scientists, millions of years ago the strength of the ancient magnetic field on Earth was at least 15 microtesla. Dr. Claire Nicholls, Associate Professor at Oxford University, said that the Earth’s magnetic field protects us from harmful radiation. It is because of this that there is stability in our ocean and atmosphere. For this reason the magnetic field is a very important aspect.

The research team was led by MIT Professor Benjamin Weiss along with Dr. Claire Nichols. The research team started its expedition on the Isua Supracrustal Belt of Greenland. This place is known for ancient rock formations. Scientists wanted to understand the magnetic signatures preserved in these rocks for billions of years by analyzing the iron structures in these rocks.

Rock samples were taken for lab testing. Scientists confirmed that even after going through many conditions, the rocks have retained an ancient magnetic field. From this it can be inferred that Earth’s early magnetic field was associated with a different power than the source that fuels today’s magnetic field. This also challenges the existing theory of the origin of the magnetic field.

Scientists want to know how the Earth was able to maintain such a powerful magnetic field in its early stages. This discovery could reveal new secrets about Earth’s history. This discovery can also be useful in the search for life outside the Earth.