Controversy over Nature magazine claims world's oldest fossils have been found

By Marcus Strom
Updated March 2 2017 - 6:08am, first published 5:08am
The rock structure in Canada where the fossils were found.  Photo: Nature/University College London
The rock structure in Canada where the fossils were found. Photo: Nature/University College London
Filaments from the Canadian rocks that scientists say show structural evidence of early bacterial life. Photo: Nature/UCL
Filaments from the Canadian rocks that scientists say show structural evidence of early bacterial life. Photo: Nature/UCL
Professor Franco Pirajno, geologist at the University of Western Australia, in the Earaheedy Basin in Western Australia. Photo: Franco Pirajno
Professor Franco Pirajno, geologist at the University of Western Australia, in the Earaheedy Basin in Western Australia. Photo: Franco Pirajno
Some of the rocks from Quebec. Photo: Nature/University College London
Some of the rocks from Quebec. Photo: Nature/University College London
Emeritus Professor Malcolm Walter from UNSW. Photo: Marco Del Grande
Emeritus Professor Malcolm Walter from UNSW. Photo: Marco Del Grande
The area of Canada in northern Quebec where the structures were discovered. Photo: Nature/University College London
The area of Canada in northern Quebec where the structures were discovered. Photo: Nature/University College London

Claims published on Thursday in Nature that the world's oldest fossils have been discovered have been challenged by leading experts in the field.