A Very Long Time Ago... Life Started

3 Billion Years Ago

This was a very long time ago. Imagine going back in time before Hitler launched the First Missile, before DaVinci drew his first Masterpiece, in fact, let's skip further before Man even existed (Which was 2 Million Years ago BTW). Oh yeah, there were the Dinosaurs! Don't mind them they were here only 65 Million Years ago. I'm talking about a time when Charnia (500 Million Years ago) haven't even existed yet. 

Before all those, there were only simple microscopic single cells. They first appeared around 3 Billion BC where the Earth wasn't the same as what we know right now. In fact, they were the most advanced form of life on the planet. And that's way over half the entire history of life on earth.

And there was Light...

3 Billion Years Ago, the continents were still formed by millions of lava eruptions that form into basalt. Days were only 6 hours long because at that time the earth was still spinning much faster than it does today. Lands were dominated by volcanoes. It was very hostile and lifeless like all of the other planets outside Earth today. But Deep in the oceans.....

Life had already begun

The latest theory is that chemicals spewing from underwater volcanic vents solidified and created towers like the photo above. And this produced the conditions needed for the first cells to form. 

Some of them begun to harness the energy of sunlight. (Much like what plants do today) And so they formed colonies. We all know that plants get their energy and source of sugar from the sun. A process we all know as Photosynthesis. Some rocky stromatolites in western Australia have been constructed by similar photosynthesizing bacteria. Others managed to survive by extracting nourishment directly from the environment. Like the fungi (or Animals that would later evolve). This state of affairs continued for a vast period of time. But something happened.... 

Suddenly, within a space of a few million years. Advanced organisms appeared. Why? It is still a mystery. But some clues were found in the eastern coast of Canada. There are tons of evidence that may well have been the spark that started the evolution of Animals.

Photo Source: BBC - First Life