Evidence found in ancient rocks from Franceville, Gabon suggests that complex life forms, possibly similar to slime molds, slimy fungi, or jellyfish, may have existed on Earth as early as 2.1 billion years ago. This is much earlier than the previously accepted timeline of 635 million years ago.

a research team led by Professor Ernest Chi Fru from Cardiff University found fossils and chemical signatures indicating organisms capable of voluntary movement, in an environment rich in oxygen and phosphorus.

This environment was potentially generated by underwater volcanic activity, continental collisions, and cyanobacterial photosynthesis, which could have supported complex behavior.

Critics remain skeptical and argue that more evidence is needed to support these claims about the origins of complex life on Earth.

Sources: BBC, Sky News, Times of India, Indian Express, Correio Braziliense, Noticias Villaguay, Liberty Times (LTN), Obiectiv Tulcea, South Wales Argus, Notiulti, aily Galaxy, Bluewin.

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said in a statement that archaeologists found the collection of colorful, sealed sarcophagi buried more than 2,500 years ago at the Saqqara necropolis.

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Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said more than 80 coffins were found.

Archaeologists also found colorful, gilded wooden statues, the ministry said. Details of the new discovery would be announced at a news conference at the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser, it said.

Egypt has sought to publicize its archaeological finds in an effort to revive its key tourism sector, which was badly hit by the turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising. The sector was also dealt a further blow this year by the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly and Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khalid el-Anany toured the area and inspected the new discovery, which came just over two weeks after the ministry revealed 59 sealed sarcophagi, with mummies inside most of them, in the same area of Saqqara.

The Saqqara site is part of the necropolis at Egypt's ancient capital of Memphis that includes the famed Giza Pyramids, as well as smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur and Abu Ruwaysh. The ruins of Memphis were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1970s.

The plateau hosts at least 11 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid, along with hundreds of tombs of ancient officials and other sites that range from the 1st Dynasty (2920-2770 BCE) to the Coptic period (395-642 CE).

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Four water-dropping planes and two helicopters helped dozens of firefighters contain the blaze Sunday after it reached the fringes of one of Greece's most important archaeological sites, 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest of Athens.

"The damage caused by yesterday's fire was the least possible," Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said.

"Smoke blackened some walls," Mendoni added. "The problem is [only] aesthetic."

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