From the singularity 13.8 billion years ago through the plate tectonic shifts of 56 million years ago on Earth, then continuing through to a few Big Bang related human observations. The thing to understand about the Big Bang is that it’s a verified theory. However, the first second of the Big Bang is highly speculative. I created this timeline as part of the research for chapter 1 of my book: “30 Philosophers: A New Look at Timeless Ideas.”
13.8 Billion Years Ago
Highly speculative.
Singularity
13.8 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Big Bang Expansion
13.8 Billion Years Ago: First Millisecond
Highly Speculative. An irrational idea rationally deduced.
Planck Era
13.8 Billion Years Ago: First Millisecond
Mostly speculative. Still an irrational idea rationally deduced.
Grand Unification Era
13.8 Billion Years Ago: First Millisecond
A bit speculative. Still an irrational idea rationally deduced but with some empirical data.
Inflationary Epoch
13.8 Billion Years Ago: First Millisecond
A bit speculative. Still an irrational idea rationally deduced but with some empirical data.
Electroweak Era
13.8 Billion Years Ago: First Hour
A bit speculative. Still an irrational idea rationally deduced but with some empirical data.
Nucleosynthesis Period
13.7 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
First Atoms
13.6 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Population III Stars: Heavier Elements
13.59 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Population II Stars: Heavy Element Synthesis
13.4 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Galaxies are Born
About 13.39 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Birth of the Milky Way
10 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Population I Stars: Like our Sun
10 Billion Years Ago
Verified: 10 to 7 Billion Years Ago
Interstellar Clouds: Organic Molecules
4.6 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Birth of the Sun
4.5 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Earth is Born
4.48 Billion Years Ago
4.49 to 4.6 Billion Years Ago
First Atmosphere: Hydrogen & Helium
4.45 Billion Years Ago
Spedulative guess: 4.2 to 4.4 Billion Years Ago
Inorganic Precursors to Organic Molecules
4.44 Billion Years Ago
About 60 million years after Earth forms.
Moon Formation
4.3 Billion Years Ago
4.5 to 4 Billion Years Ago
Second Atmosphere: Carbon Dioxide & Nitrogen
4.2 Billion Years Ago
4 to 4.4 Billion Years Ago
First Oceans: Fresh Water
4.1 Billion Years Ago
Spedulative guess: 4 to 4.4 Billion Years Ago
Chemical Evolution of Organic Molecules
4 Billion Years Ago
Spedulative guess: 3.9 to 4.1 Billion Years Ago
Formation of Prebiotic Microenvironments
3.95 Billion Years Ago
Spedulative guess: 3.85 to 4.15 Billion Years Ago
First Life: Self-Replicating Molecules
3.9 Billion Years Ago
Spedulative guess: 3.8 to 4.1 Billion Years Ago
Cellular Membranes
3.85 Billion Years Ago
Spedulative guess: 3.75 to 4.05 Billion Years Ago
RNA World
3.8 Billion Years Ago
Spedulative guess: 3.7 to 4 Billion Years Ago
Assembly of Protocells
3.8 Billion Yeas Ago
From 4.6 to 3.8 bya.
Late Heavy Bombardment
3.6 Billion BCE
Spedulative guess: 3.5 to 3.8 Billion Years Ago
LUCA: Last Universal Common Ancestor
3.5 Billion Years Ago
3.5 to 2.5 Billion Years Ago
Second Oceans: From Fresh to Salty
3.42 Billion BCE
3.42 to 3.7 Billion BCE
Oldest Known Fossil-Microorganisms
2.4 Billion Years Ago
2.4 BYA to about 540 MYA
Third Atmosphere: Oxygen Atmosphere
1.7 Billion BCE
Stable cell types, cell to cell communication
Animals, Plants, and Fungi Split
Circa 260 Million BCE
Plate Tectonics
250 Million BCE to 1 CE
Pangaea Super Continent Breakup
56 Million BCE
Opening of the North Atlantic Ocean
185 CE
Verified. Historically documented and empirically validated.
RCW 86 Supernova
1 Million Years From Now
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Brand New Constellations
4.5 Billion Years From Now
Verified. Ratonally predicted.
Milky Way-Andromeda Collision
5 Billion Years in the Future
Verified. Ratonally predicted.
Death of the Sun
7 Billion Years From Now
Verified. Ratonally predicted.
Formation of a New Solar System
1 to 37 Quadrillion Years From Now
Highly speculative. Rationally deduced.
Black Dwarf Sun
1+ Googol Years From Now
Highly speculative. Rationally deduced.
Lambda Model: Heat Death of the Universe
