This is evident in sedimentary rocks from the period, which contain large amounts of meteorite debris.

The research could reshape how we look at Earth and its evolution.

Could ring systems have existed at other points in time?

Earth may have once had a Saturn-like ring system, new evidence suggests

If so, how might they have affected things like climate and even the distribution of life?

The team’s research has beenpublishedin Earth and Planetary Science Letters.