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Our earth is hiding many such secrets within itself, which whenever scientists bring them out, the whole world is stunned. Just think, is it possible that the water which is completely different from the one we see today and which is millions of years older than the existence of dinosaurs, is still safe on this earth?
Recently, scientists have made one such amazing discovery which is being considered as exciting as the discovery of ‘alien life’ in the world of science. Researchers have found some tiny drops of water inside a 400 million year old fossil plant, whose chemical structure is completely different from today’s water. People are calling it water from ‘another planet’ present on Earth. Let us understand in very simple language how this unique water was found and why it is so special.
How did we get this crores of years old ‘immortal’ water?
This discovery was made in Scotland Rhynie Chert It happened during excavation in a famous area named. Here the researchers Asteroxylon Fossils of a prehistoric and now completely extinct plant named.
When it was present on Earth millions of years ago, this plant was buried under hot ash and silica due to a massive volcanic eruption. Over time, this silica formed a strong glass-like layer around the plant, which did not allow the moisture and water present inside the plant to come in contact with the outside air or the changing environment. Recently, when scientists examined this petrified plant with the help of modern laser scanning and high-tech microscope, tiny droplets of water inside its ancient cells were seen shining like diamonds.
Why is it being called ‘alien water’?
Although this water may look like ordinary drops, its internal science is completely different. The ratio of isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen found in this water does not match at all with our oceans or drinking water today.
Connection to Mars and Comets
The surprising thing is that the chemical composition of this water is largely similar to what scientists have seen in the ice samples found on Mars or comets floating in space. This water is witness to the period when there was very little oxygen and carbon dioxide reigned in our Earth’s atmosphere. This water is like a ‘time capsule’, which can give us accurate information about the Earth’s atmosphere millions of years ago.
Normal water vs 400 million year old ancient water
You can easily understand the difference between this unique water and today’s normal water from the table given below:
Can we drink this water?
Scientists have warned on this in very clear words – This water is not fit for us to drink at all. Even though these droplets may appear clean and pure, they may contain ancient prehistoric bacteria, viruses or complex chemicals for which our modern human body and immune system are not prepared. Drinking this can prove to be very fatal for health. This is just for research in laboratories, not for quenching thirst.
Meaning of this discovery for science and humans
For archaeologists and scientists, this discovery is like finding the oldest ‘water bottle’ in history. Through this water, scientists are trying to understand how the initial links of life on Earth were connected and how plants and greenery first appeared on Earth after simple sea creatures.
Apart from this, this discovery has also brought a new hope for Astrobiology. If water can remain safe under layers of stone on our Earth for 400 million years, then the possibility increases that some important clues of ancient water and life may be hidden under similar sealed layers on Mars or other dry-looking planets of the solar system.
