Some billions of years ago, Earth was a very different place. Long before life appeared on Earth, countless meteorites rained down on it. One such impact, known as the S2 event, occurred about 3.26 billion years ago and has left behind a trail of clues about our planet’s early history.

A giant meteorite first discovered in 2014 caused a tsunami bigger than any in known human history and may have sparked life, scientists reveal.

The S2 meteorite landed in South Africa and likely created massive tsunamis, blocking out sunlight with dust. But researchers think bacteria quickly bounced back from the destruction.