5 minute lesson
History of Earth on a Football Field!
Do you really understand the history of Earth?
You may think you have the facts nailed down: 4.5 billion years since it’s beginning, 3.8 billion years since life began, 800 million years since multi-cellular organisms, 200,000 years since the first humans.
The problem with big numbers is that we don’t actually understand what they mean. How far back they stretch, and how much of a blip we are on the timescale of this planet. How do you gain some perspective? Why not lay the history of earth out on a scale most of us are pretty familiar with, an American football field.
SkunkBear explains it all for us in this great video!
Why It Matters
Sometimes it really is all about perspective!
The history of humans on this planet seems so vast. So full of culture, life, and history. We seem like such a vital part of Earth’s story. When in fact, our planet has been here so long without us!
It’s remarkable to think about our place in the grand scheme of things. How close we are to the dinosaurs when we see how “recently” life appeared on Earth. This kind of perspective helps us to understand our impact on the planet better, and how we could be better stewards.
Think how amazing it is that in the tiny amount of time we’ve been on his planet we have explored so many of its corners and even left our planet for the moon and beyond!
Let's Talk About It
Skunk Bear
Skunk Bear is NPR’s science youtube channel, exploring the secrets of the universe, the wonders of nature, and answering your science questions.