A new study suggests that glacial activity during the Neoproterozoic Era, also known as "Snowball Earth," played a crucial role in the evolution of complex life. Glaciers scoured land minerals and deposited them into the ocean, altering marine chemistry and providing nutrients.
Researchers analyzed sediments in Scotland and Northern Ireland, finding distinct mineral compositions from the Snowball Earth period compared to later periods. This supports the idea of active glaciation during that era. Scientists caution that while the study bolsters the connection between glacial erosion and the evolution of complex life, further research is needed.