March 11, 2010
New studies of Earth’s magnetic field put its birth at 3.45 billion years ago, according to researchers from the University of Rochester in New York and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.
The magnetic field is a shield protecting the Earth from harmful radiation. Researchers studied the magnetic strength of rocks in South Africa containing quartz and iron to date the field. The study may be used in the future to search for other life-bearing planets by looking for similar magnetic fields.
“It’s just another parameter we need to think about,” said John Tarduno of the University of Rochester.
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