China's first AI model for stratigraphy sets a global time standard for Earth's 4.6 billion years

At the 5th International Stratigraphy Congress, Chinese scientists unveiled the world's first AI model for stratigraphy and a smart global comparison system for rock layers. This tool aims to create a shared database for Earth's 4.6-billion-year history, helping researchers study the origins of life, resource distribution, and climate change.

Academician Shen Shuzhong explained the goal is to organize all geological records on a single timeline using big data. China has already found 11 'golden spikes' (global boundary stratotype points), the most of any country, setting a universal reference for Earth's history.

Hosted by the International Commission on Stratigraphy and organized by Nanjing University, this was the first time the congress was held outside Europe. Over 700 experts from 33 countries attended, highlighting China's growing role in stratigraphy.