Story perspectives

AI Uncovers 3.3 Billion-Year-Old Signs of Photosynthesis

11/18/2025

Summary

Story summary

A study led by Carnegie Institution for Science found chemical evidence of life in rocks over 3.3 billion years old, implying photosynthesis began nearly 1 billion years earlier.
Researchers combined chemical analysis with artificial intelligence (AI) to detect biological signatures, achieving over 90% accuracy.
The AI identified photosynthesis signs in rocks dating back at least 2.5 billion years, and findings were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

1 of 1

Story summary

A study led by Carnegie Institution for Science found chemical evidence of life in rocks over 3.3 billion years old, implying photosynthesis began nearly 1 billion years earlier.
Researchers combined chemical analysis with artificial intelligence (AI) to detect biological signatures, achieving over 90% accuracy.
The AI identified photosynthesis signs in rocks dating back at least 2.5 billion years, and findings were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.