Earth's Ancient Ice Age: A Frozen Planet 600 Million Years Ago
New evidence from the Tava sandstones in Colorado supports the theory that Earth was entirely covered in ice during the "Snowball Earth" period, between 720 and 635 million years ago. This study provides the first physical evidence that glaciers reached the equator, suggesting a global ice coverage. The research, using laser ablation mass spectrometry, dated the rocks to 690-660 million years ago, aligning with the Snowball Earth phase. Understanding this period is crucial for insights into Earth's climate evolution and the emergence of multicellular life.