Ancient Continents in the Milky Way Predate Earth by 5 Billion Years

The oldest continents in the Milky Way may have formed 5 billion years before Earth's, suggesting the possibility of more advanced alien life on other planets. Astrobiologists believe that certain features, such as oxygen, radiation shielding, and liquid water, are necessary for supporting life. While large land masses are not essential for life to emerge, they are important for its long-term existence. By studying nearby stars and their radioactive elements, researchers estimate that some exoplanets may have had continents and potentially advanced life forms billions of years before Earth. This finding has implications for the search for habitable planets and the potential discovery of extraterrestrial life.