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Geologists from MIT and Oxford University have discovered 3.7 billion-year-old rocks in Greenland that contain evidence of Earth's early magnetic field. This finding, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, potentially extends the known age of Earth's magnetic field by 200 million years. The magnetic field strength preserved in these rocks is estimated to be at least 15 microtesla, which is about half the strength of Earth's magnetic field today. The rocks, known as banded iron formations, were sampled from the Isua Supracrustal Belt in Greenland. The researchers used a technique called demagnetization to determine the strength of the ancient magnetic field recorded in the rocks. The presence of a magnetic field this early in Earth's history suggests that it may have played a crucial role in the emergence of life by protecting the planet from harmful radiation and helping to retain a life-sustaining atmosphere. This discovery also raises questions about the source of Earth's magnetic field at such an early stage, as the planet's inner core, which powers the magnetic field today, is thought to have formed later. P. Geo. Ricardo A Valls, M. Sc. and Geo Gadfly Valls Geoconsultant ORCID ID- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5421-0914 Scopus Author ID: 7003369619/35335510700 ResearcherID: S-6604-2018 If you like this content, please "buy me a coffee" https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goldendroplets