The Story of Earth

The Formation of Earth

• 5 Billion Years Ago: The Sun forms, surrounded by dust.
• 4.5 Billion Years Ago: Dust and rocks form Earth through gravity.
• Early Earth: Hot and toxic with a molten surface; no life.

The Formation of the Moon

• A collision with a young planet (Thea) leads to debris forming the Moon.
• Earth's Days: Initially 6 hours long due to fast rotation.

The Arrival of Water

• 3.9 Billion Years Ago: Meteorites bring water to Earth.
• Cooling: Earth's surface cools to support liquid water.

The First Signs of Life

• 3.8 Billion Years Ago: Meteorites introduce carbon and amino acids.
• Hydrothermal Vents: Underwater chimneys produce a chemical soup leading to microscopic life.

Evolution of Life

• 3.5 Billion Years Ago: Stromatolites begin photosynthesis, producing oxygen.
• Oxygen's Role: Oxygen transforms the atmosphere, supporting new life forms.

Geological Changes

• 1.5 Billion Years Ago: Formation of supercontinent Rodinia.
• Plate Tectonics: Continents shift, influencing life and climate.

Snowball Earth

• 750 Million Years Ago: Rodinia breaks apart, leading to massive ice ages.
• 650 Million Years Ago: Earth becomes a frozen ball of ice.
• Volcanoes: Eruptions increase greenhouse gases, warming the planet again.

Cambrian Explosion

• 540 Million Years Ago: Complex life appears, leading to diverse marine life.

The Rise of Land Life

• 460 Million Years Ago: Ozone formation allows life on land.
• 375 Million Years Ago: Fish develop limbs, leading to tetrapods.

The Age of Giant Insects and Reptiles

• 300 Million Years Ago: High oxygen levels lead to giant arthropods and reptiles.
• Introduction of Seeds: Plants spread across land, altering ecosystems.

Permian Extinction

• 250 Million Years Ago: Massive volcanic eruptions lead to the largest extinction event.
• 95% of life lost; survivors adapt to new conditions.

The Age of Dinosaurs

• 200 Million Years Ago: Dinosaurs dominate post-extinction; continents continue to shift.

Formation of Modern Continents

• 180 Million Years Ago: The Atlantic Ocean forms, separating continents.
• Marine Evolution: New creatures like ichthyosaurs dominate oceans.

The Extinction of Dinosaurs

• 65 Million Years Ago: An asteroid impacts Earth, causing massive extinction.
• Mammals Survive: Adaptability allows mammals to thrive post-dinosaurs.

The Rise of Mammals and Primates

• 47 Million Years Ago: Early primates emerge, leading to human evolution.

The Formation of Modern Landscapes

• 20 Million Years Ago: Tectonic activity forms the Himalayas.

The Evolution of Humans

• 1.5 Million Years Ago: Homo erectus emerges.
• 70,000 Years Ago: Homo sapiens migrate out of Africa.
• Ice Ages: Glaciers shape the Earth and migration patterns.

The Present and Future

• 6,000 Years Ago: End of last Ice Age; modern continents and climates form.
• Earth’s history shows a timeline of change, leading to current human life.
• The Future: The Earth's story continues, with the potential for more transformations.