How Did Life Start Exactly? Part 1
Updated: Apr 29, 2023
The In-Depth But Brief Timeline To The Origin of Life
Photo Credits: By 8385 on Pixabay
Introduction
Before we dive into the timeline for the origin of life, it is important to understand that unpopular ID will be factored in at the end of this timeline. We are going to take a look at how life started from the big bang and all the way into the evolution of humans. This article will be split into two parts, so stay tuned for when the second one will be posted.
The Big Bang
Singularity
The big bang occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago. The start of the universe was not really a big bang, rather, an expansion of matter from a single "point" (called a singularity) of infinitely dense matter and temperature.
Quantum Fluctuations
Following the singularity was sudden and temporary changes in the amount of energy in a "single point" in space.
Inflation
After quantum fluctuations was an inflationary period. At this time, physicists believe that the universe underwent a brief expansion faster than the speed of light (299 792 458 m/s or approx. 186,000 miles per second). Within a few fractions of a second, the universe doubled in size about 100 times. Inflation can be thought about as the true start to the "Big Bang".
Continual Expansion
The Formation of Atoms
As the universe continued to expand, the formation of particles and gases began to form. Protons formed and marked the beginning of nuclear fusion( a fancy way of saying two or more atomic nuclei combine to form different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles thus releasing energy).
Formation of Stars and Galaxies
Galaxies, planets, and stars formed through the collection of gases. Starting with our very own galaxy, The Milky Way, scientists believe that gases and dust collapsed through the working of gravity. Stars sprung up from collapsed clouds and then formed the first two structures the galaxy is known for; the spherical halo and the bright disk. At the center sits a massive black hole called Sagittarius A, which scientists have trouble understanding its formation.
Formation of Planets & Solar Systems
Within the Milky Way Galaxy are 5,000 solar systems and 100 billion planets. The Sun and planets were formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago from clouds and dust that collapsed called the solar nebula. The collapse occurred from the explosion of nearby stars and forming a swirling disk of material.
The pressure in the core of this disk started to pull material in and continue nuclear fusion. Hydrogen atoms began to form helium and released tremendous amounts of energy. Followed by this release was the birth of the sun(which took up almost 99% of the available matter).
Matter outside of the disk began to clump and smash into one another which started the formation of larger objects. Some remained as asteroids, comets, and irregular moons, while others formed into the spherical planets that we know today.
Hello Earth!Well....A Real Hot One
Rock Formation
The Earth formed through the collision of nearby rocks and eventually fell into the orbit of the larger mass (the sun). One of the most important collisions with Earth was with the planet called Theia. This ancient planet collided with Earth during the early solar system timeline and created chunks of rock that would eject from Earth. These rocks eventually clumped together and fell in line with Earth's gravity and orbit our planet. Today, we know Theia as our friendly Moon.
After rounds of collisions, the planet took its spherical shape. Though it is a planet, Earth is just hot and angry and is not suitable for life.
Early Life
Early life started with water, though there are many theories in question, all species could not have formed without it. It is believed that comets and asteroid collisions with Earth bought the molecule over. Continual fusions of hydrogen and oxygen from these rocks led to their formation.
To continue..... Read Part 2. of this article
Coming soon!
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