Mathematics research at the Australian National University could help answer big questions about the origin of life on Earth.

Murray Batchelor, of the Mathematical Sciences Institute, is modelling the formation of stromatolites, rocks built in shallow water by photosynthetic micro-organisms. The rocks are among the earliest signs of life on the planet, and some of the oldest putative specimens -- dated to more than 3 billion years old -- are in Western Australia's Pilbara region. Debate rages over whether ancient specimens have biological or chemical origins, and the shape of the structures is central to the argument.

Batchelor's team has developed a mathematical model to simulate stromatolite growth patterns to see if biological processes alone account for the shapes. The work could help in the conservation of the delicate World Heritage-listed ecosystem in Shark Bay, Western Australia, one of the few places left where stromatolites still form. "We need to learn more about the way stromatolites grow."