Science News Roundup: Did asteroid that hit Australia help thaw ancient 'snowball Earth'?

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Did asteroid that hit Australia help thaw ancient 'snowball Earth'?

Scientists have identified Earth's oldest-known impact crater, and in doing so may have solved a mystery about how our planet emerged from one of its most dire periods. Researchers have determined that the 45-mile-wide (70-km-wide) Yarrabubba crater in Australia formed when an asteroid struck Earth just over 2.2 billion years ago. The collision occurred at a time when the planet was believed to have been encased in ice and the impact may have driven climate warming that led to a global thaw.

(With inputs from agencies.)