During the Ediacaran Period, Earth experienced a significant shift in its magnetic field strength. Researchers from the University of Rochester have discovered that the magnetic field was up to 30 times weaker than it is today, lasting for at least 26 million years. This ultra-low field strength allowed charged particles from the sun to strip away lightweight atoms such as hydrogen from the atmosphere, causing them to escape into space. As a result, more oxygen remained in the atmosphere and surface ocean, potentially enabling more advanced life forms to emerge.
The Ediacaran fauna, one of the most remarkable life forms during this period, bore a striking resemblance to early animals, with some species reaching over a meter (three feet) in size and displaying mobility.