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The bacteria forming the stromatolites were the first life to photosynthesise
疊層石是第一種進行光合作用的物種
and release oxygen into our world.
生成氧氣到我們的世界中
This led to one of the most profound changes in the history of Earth.
它們領導了一場地球史上最深刻的改變
Ultimately, the planet would have an atmosphere rich in oxygen,
最終，地球有了富含氧氣的大氣層
but before that could happen, something got in the way.
不過在此發生之前還有些阻礙
To see what stopped the oxygen reaching the atmosphere,
看看有什么阻止氧氣到大氣層
I'm heading deep into the Australian outback.
我朝澳大利亞內陸深入
Although this area is dry and dusty now,
雖然這一地區現在干燥和沙漠化
two and a half billion years ago these rocks were formed beneath the sea
二十五億年前這些巖石是在海底下
and they hold the key to what happened to the oxygen.
它們是制造氧氣的關鍵
Back then, the seas were rich in iron that was dissolved in the water.
那時候，海水里溶解了大量鐵
When the oxygen given off by the stromatolites met the iron.
當疊層石生成的氧氣遇到鐵
they bonded together.
它們結合在一起
The result huge amounts of iron oxide formed, or as we usually know it, rust.
結果，生成了大量的鐵氧化物或者如我們平時叫法，鐵銹
