Before, during, and after the K–Pg extinction: a thriving Late Cretaceous world of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, birds, and flowering plants gives way to the asteroid strike and global collapse that ended the age of non-avian dinosaurs.
The K-Pg Extinction Read More »
The Permian-Triassic extinction was not just the end of many species. It was a planetary reset that destroyed the old synapsid-dominated world and opened the door for the archosaur line that would later give rise to dinosaurs.
The P-T Extinction Read More »
The Cenozoic era starts with the K–Pg extinction 66 million years ago. That event marks the sudden end of the reign of dinosaurs and the rise of mammals and birds.
Cenozoic Era: Age of Mammals & Birds Read More »
The Mesozoic era starts with the end-Permian mass extinction 252 million years ago. Dinosaurs ruled over all, including us. It ends the reign of dinosaurs with the K–Pg extinction 66 million years ago.
Mesozoic Era: Age of Dinosaurs Read More »
The start of the Paleozoic era is marked by burrowing life 538.8 million years ago. The era includes the dominant rise of our ancestors. It ends 252 million years ago with the end-Permian mass extinction, a volcanic cascade global warming event.
Paleozoic Era: The Age of Synapsids Read More »
Archaea are a primary branch of early life, and eukaryotes emerged from within this archaeal lineage.
About 2 billion years ago, bacteria are added to cells and that group leads to eukaryotes. You are a walking chimera ecosystem made of an Archaea host and trillions of Bacterial power-plants.
Bacterial Endosymbiosis: Origin of Eukaryotes Read More »
About 450 million years ago, fungi and plants have a rich dirt root alliance. Plants gave sugars, fungi gave phosphorus and minerals.
Fungal Underground Alliance Read More »
LECA is the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor. LECA reproduced sexually pushing the mixing of DNA back before 1.75 billion years ago.
LECA: Likely Sexual Reproduction Read More »
About 1.55 billion years ago, bikonts evolved two flagella to pull themselves forward. These tiny rowboats led to all plants and is not an animal-fungi ancestor.
Bikonts: Plant Ancestors Split Off Again (Front-Pull Pioneers) Read More »
Conifers branched about 300 million years ago with their seed-bearing cones (woody or modified), enabling them to thrive on dry land.
Conifers branch off Read More »
The modern coast redwood species is about 25 million years old, but its lineage reaches back roughly 100 million years into the age of dinosaurs.
Redwood Lineage Emerges Read More »
A lineage can survive for hundreds of millions of years while remaining morphologically recognizable. Living fossil is poetic, but scientifically the ginkgo represents a relict lineage and a morphologically conservative lineage.
Ginkgo biloba — A Living Fossil in My Backyard Read More »
Around 1.5 billion years ago, red and green algae diverged, establishing two major photosynthetic lineages from which all modern plants ultimately descend.
Red-Green Algae Ancestors Split Read More »
Flowers evolved 130 million years ago, transforming seed-plant reproduction by enclosing ovules.
About 2 billion years ago, eukaryotic cells are defined by a membrane-bound nucleus and internal organelles. Their emergence created the structural foundation for complex life.
About 252 million years ago, needle-like leaves had become a defining adaptation of conifers, enabling survival and expansion in dry environments.
Pine Needles Evolve Read More »
About 145 million years ago, broad angiosperm leaves with reticulate venation evolved during the rise of flowering plants.
Modern Trees: Modern Leaves Read More »
Ginkgo represents an ancient seed-plant lineage going back 270 million years ago.
Ginkgo biloba-like Trees: True Leaves Read More »
About 385 million years ago is when trees started to emerge, distinguished by their secondary growth wood and deep roots.
First True Trees: Spore Reproduction Read More »
