University of Rochester's research team and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa found out that the magnetic field that exists on the earth is far older than it was thought to be till now. The magnetic field is that area of influence which is a major reason of life being possible on earth as magnetic field is required by living beings to protect themselves from getting burnt because of the temperature and the reactions in sun, and hence has, till now, helped the water sources exist.

In this study, Geophysicist John Tarduno and his team examined rocks from the Kaapvaal Craton, a place near the southern tip of South Africa. This study was published in the March 5 edition of Science and it claims and provides evidence for the fact that the earth's magnetic field was formed as early as 3.45 billion years ago.

Tarduno said, "The Greenstone Belt in South Africa had rocks that were just right: crystals of quartz less than two millimeters long with nanometer-sized bits of iron-containing magnetite embedded in them. When we think about the origin of life, there are two threads to follow. One obviously is water. But you also have to have a magnetic field, because that protects the atmosphere from erosion and the complete removal of water. Mars may be dry today because it lost its magnetic field early on".