Context-

An international team has found living shallow-marine stromatolites on Sheybarah Island in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia.

What are Stromatolites?

Stromatolites are layered sedimentary formations (microbialites) primarily formed by photosynthetic microorganisms like:

• Cyanobacteria
• Sulfate-reducing bacteria
• Pseudomonadota (formerly proteobacteria)

Significance:

Played a key role in the Great Oxygenation Event, introducing oxygen into the atmosphere and transforming Earth's composition.

Notable Location:

Hamelin Pool, Australia, boasts the most extensive living stromatolite system globally.