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Eons

How Ancient Microbes Rode Bug Bits Out to Sea

Season 6 Episode 11 | 8m 42s

Between 535 and 520 million years ago, a new kind of biological litter began collecting in the ancient oceans of the Cambrian period. Exoskeletons helped early arthropods expand in huge numbers throughout the world’s oceans. And tiny exoskeleton fragments may have allowed some of the most important microbes in the planet’s history to set sail out into the open ocean and change the world forever.

Aired: 01/08/24
Extras
Watch • 10:47
Eons
When Dinosaurs Threw Up A Mystery
How dino stomachs are revealing a mystery.
Special: 10:47
Watch • 10:47
Eons
Did Dinosaurs' Extinction Give Us Fruit?
One of the most surprising effects of the cascade of changes was...fruit?
Special: 10:47
Watch • 8:37
Eons
Why Paleontologists Can’t Stop Fighting About Spinosaurus
What does it mean to be a “semi-aquatic” dinosaur?
Special: 8:37
Watch • 12:22
Eons
The Dinosaurs Too Big To Be Dinosaurs
How did sauropods, uniquely large land animals, actually live, with their anatomy and physiology pus
Special: 12:22
Watch • 12:12
Eons
Darwin's Unexpected Final Obsession
What was Charles Darwin really obsessed with?
Episode: S7 E21 | 12:12
Watch • 12:29
Eons
Are All Oceans Basically Reincarnated?
Did you know ocean basins are reincarnated?
Episode: S7 E20 | 12:29
Watch • 8:36
Eons
Could This Sperm Whale Eat The Meg?
How did such a large predator survive?
Episode: S7 E19 | 8:36
Watch • 9:41
Eons
When Red Pandas Roamed North America
How did a relative of the red panda end up in North America?
Episode: S7 E18 | 9:41
Watch • 8:10
Eons
Webs vs wings: The arms race of the air
How did the competition of spiders vs insects drive them both into the air?
Episode: S7 E17 | 8:10
Watch • 12:38
Eons
The Graveyard at the Center of the Earth
Why plate tectonics don't make sense.
Episode: S7 E16 | 12:38
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Watch • 12:12
Eons
Darwin's Unexpected Final Obsession
What was Charles Darwin really obsessed with?
Episode: S7 E21 | 12:12
Watch • 12:29
Eons
Are All Oceans Basically Reincarnated?
Did you know ocean basins are reincarnated?
Episode: S7 E20 | 12:29
Watch • 8:36
Eons
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How did such a large predator survive?
Episode: S7 E19 | 8:36
Watch • 9:41
Eons
When Red Pandas Roamed North America
How did a relative of the red panda end up in North America?
Episode: S7 E18 | 9:41
Watch • 8:10
Eons
Webs vs wings: The arms race of the air
How did the competition of spiders vs insects drive them both into the air?
Episode: S7 E17 | 8:10
Watch • 12:38
Eons
The Graveyard at the Center of the Earth
Why plate tectonics don't make sense.
Episode: S7 E16 | 12:38
Watch • 9:59
Eons
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Why was it the mammals who triumphed?
Episode: S7 E15 | 9:59
Watch • 10:09
Eons
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Episode: S7 E14 | 10:09
Watch • 10:39
Eons
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Episode: S7 E13 | 10:39
Watch • 10:38
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Episode: S7 E12 | 10:38