Oxygenic photosynthesis is arguably the most important biological innovation in Earth's
history, facilitating the transition to a habitable planet for complex life. Dating the emergence …

To better understand the sustaining mechanism of the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), strata
and igneous suites especially large igneous provinces (LIPs) during the GOE's late stage …

The availability of molecular oxygen shapes the size and structure of Earth's biosphere.
Geological and geochemical records imply that, for most of the Precambrian (the entirety of …

Constraining the timing of eukaryogenesis and the divergence of eukaryotic clades is a
major challenge in evolutionary biology. Here, we present trace metal concentration and …

Submarine hydrothermal venting leads to the formation of black smoker chimneys with
complex internal zoning. These emerge through mineral precipitation under changing fluid …

Abstract The mid-Proterozoic (1.8–0.8 billion years ago, Ga) is generally considered to have
been an interval of relative stasis in terms of environmental and biological evolution. Indeed …

Evolution of a complete nitrogen cycle relies on the onset of ammonia oxidation, which
aerobically converts ammonia to nitrogen oxides. However, accurate estimation of the …

Bulk-rock sulfur isotope data from pyrite in the~ 2.1 billion-year sedimentary rocks of the
Francevillian Basin, Gabon, have underpinned ideas about initial oxygenation of Earth's …

The late Paleoproterozoic was a key period in the evolution of Earth's surface environments
and life. It is generally accepted that during the 2.43–2.06 Ga Great Oxidation Episode, the …

Cyanobacteria and chloroplasts of algae and plants harbor specialized thylakoid
membranes that convert sunlight into chemical energy. These membranes house …