The Earth formed 4.6 billion years ago. Life took hold on it's surface pretty quickly in geological terms, around 3.9 to 4 billion years ago, in what was then a hostile, oxygenless environment, hellishly hot.
But life kept on plugging along ever since, becoming increasingly complex as it went.
Around 750 million years ago, the entire planet froze over solidly in an episode dubbed "Snowball Earth", and it stayed that way for a good long time.
But then it thawed out again... and when it did, life was still there. it had somehow survived under all that ice on a frozen planet. Around 540 million years ago, that life that had survived the Snowball Earth cataclysm suddenly expanded and diversified in what is called "the Cambrian Explosion".
Given the history of the tenacity of life on Earth, I cannot understand what it was about finding these organisms that surprised the purveyors of scientific thought!
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But life kept on plugging along ever since, becoming increasingly complex as it went.
Around 750 million years ago, the entire planet froze over solidly in an episode dubbed "Snowball Earth", and it stayed that way for a good long time.
But then it thawed out again... and when it did, life was still there. it had somehow survived under all that ice on a frozen planet. Around 540 million years ago, that life that had survived the Snowball Earth cataclysm suddenly expanded and diversified in what is called "the Cambrian Explosion".
Given the history of the tenacity of life on Earth, I cannot understand what it was about finding these organisms that surprised the purveyors of scientific thought!
.
Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king.
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’