The oldest water in the world in a bottle... would you dare to taste it?

2024-01-15 2024-01-15T08:05:54Z

Weather of Arabia - At a depth of 2.4 kilometers below the surface of the Earth, a bottle of water dating back more than a billion years was found. This ancient water is considered one of the most prominent symbols of the history of the Earth. The discovery of such a unique sample is a masterpiece of science and a source of amazement, as it reveals the story of evolution. Life and environmental changes that our planet has witnessed throughout the ages.

In this article, we will explore the journey of the bottle of water that was collected from the ground, and how this historical water sample represents a unique opportunity to understand the conditions that preceded the emergence of life. Let us dive into the depths of time, and learn about the story of this unique bottle that carries within it secrets worth discovering.

The story of an ancient water bottle dating back more than a billion years in Ottawa

A water bottle dating back more than a billion years has been stored in Ottawa, where the Science and Innovation Museums of Canada (Ingenium) succeeded in obtaining a water sample, collected 2.4 kilometers below the surface of the earth from the Kidd Creek Mine, located near Timmins, Ontario.

This sample was discovered by a geologist at the University of Toronto, Dr. Barbara Sherwood Lollar, in 2009. In a statement issued by Ingenium, Dr. Sherwood Lollar and her team at the laboratory explained that water analysis revealed that the average residence time of the sample was ten times older; What was then considered the oldest known water.

Ingenium indicated in its statement that some of the components of this water are older, as this ancient sample testifies to the period before major oxidation occurred, and before the Earth took its first breath.

A unique discovery... a water bottle dating back a billion years

In a video posted on the Ingenium website, Rebecca Dolgoy, curator of industrial techniques for natural resources, revealed a unique analysis of the water sample, and confirmed that the water collected from 2.4 kilometers below the surface of the earth at the Kidd Creek mine dates back to the Precambrian era, which is... The period before the age of dinosaurs.

The old water bottle, in addition to some of the tools used to collect and analyze the sample, were placed in the Ingenium Center, where this will allow researchers and scientists to access this unique piece to conduct research, understand and interpret its secrets, and contribute to the development of the scientific collection.

Christina Tessier, President and CEO of Ingenium, said:

“Ingenium is thrilled to welcome this unique discovery into our exceptional collection. We are extremely proud to host this remarkable piece of world heritage, which represents an incredible Canadian contribution to global science and innovation.”

This artifact represents a valuable and unique addition to the Ingenium collection, as it is the oldest artifact ever acquired by the company.