The geologists of the University of Standford have concluded that the bacteria did not perform photosynthesis as today about 3,000 million years ago. The study of some unique rocks of the South African Republic and the fossilized bacteria present seems to indicate that in the process of forming organic compounds from carbon dioxide, photosynthesis was based on hydrogen and released water. According to the researchers, knowing photosynthesis based on hydrogen is an important step in understanding the origin of life.