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Why did evolution stall during the 'boring billion'?
New Scientist ^ | Jeff Hecht

Posted on 06/12/2014 7:44:28 PM PDT by JimSEA

LONG before evolution on Earth kicked in with a vengeance, it seemed to stall completely.

From 1.7 billion years ago, for a billion boring years, Earth remained a slimy, near-static world of algae and microbes. The pace picked up 750 million years ago: glaciers spread, complex animals appeared, and by 520 million years ago the Cambrian revolution – an explosion of varied life – was under way. The reason for that long stasis has been a mystery.

We may now have the answer: the gradual cooling of the planet's interior. Just as turning down a stove burner slows the boiling of a stew pot, cooling of the mantle allowed the "scum" on top to thicken, says Peter Cawood at the University of St Andrews, UK. The resulting surface stability slowed geological change, seemingly stalling evolution for a billion years, until the planet was cool enough for tectonic activity to shift up a gear.

(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science
KEYWORDS: evolution; geology; godsgravesglyphs; precambrian
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To: LukeL

I totally agree, the only possible explanation is magic.


81 posted on 06/23/2014 9:12:25 AM PDT by Sawdring
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To: ForGod'sSake

I just noticed that varmintman’s account has been banned.

What happened?


82 posted on 06/23/2014 9:47:46 AM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007 (Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.)
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To: JimSEA

All this focus on refuting evolution is a diversion from not being able to explain why 100 different branches of science have proven nicely the world is older than 6,500 years.


83 posted on 06/23/2014 1:10:39 PM PDT by spyone (ridiculum)
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To: Ultra Sonic 007
I just noticed that varmintman’s account has been banned. What happened?

SHEESH, I haven't a clue. Seems odd though. AFAIK, the first exchange I ever had with him was on this thread so I can't offer any personal insights on his proclivities. His posting history didn't reveal anything particularly heinous...unless some doozies were removed. Right, wrong or otherwise, I certainly liked much of what he posted on this thread.

Maybe I'll make some inquiries...

84 posted on 06/23/2014 10:32:20 PM PDT by ForGod'sSake (What part of "Fundamentally transforming the United States of America" don't the LIV understand?)
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