The Origins of Life: From the Big Bang to Exoplanets

🌌Life on Earth may have started shortly after the Big Bang, suggesting that life could have originated in space.

🔬The clock of evolution indicates that genomes have been doubling in size every 350 million years on average.

🌍The universe in its early stages was extremely hot, offering the right conditions for life to thrive almost everywhere.

🌱The first life forms on Earth may have been complex already because they might have been evolving for billions of years somewhere else in the universe.

🌟Life could be flourishing in uncountable forms and in all kinds of cosmic environments, including exotic planets and moons.

Could life have originated in the universe shortly after the Big Bang?

—Yes, there is evidence suggesting that life may have started shortly after the Big Bang and could have originated in space.

How did the first living things manage to cross the gap from dead matter to functioning genomes?

—The origin of functioning genomes is still a scientific mystery. The problem lies in the chicken-egg paradox, where proteins are needed to make genomes, but genomes are needed to make proteins. The exact process is still unknown.

Why were the first life forms on Earth already complex?

—The complexity of the first life forms on Earth may be explained by the possibility that they were evolving for billions of years somewhere else in the universe.

Could life exist in other cosmic environments?

—Yes, it is possible that life could be thriving in various cosmic environments, including planets, moons, and even between the stars.

Will we ever find evidence of extraterrestrial life?

—While the existence of extraterrestrial life is still speculative, ongoing research and exploration may provide insights and evidence in the future.

00:00The video introduces the 12,024 Human Era Calendar, which includes 10,000 years of human history. The focus of this year's calendar is on the possibility of extraterrestrial life in various cosmic environments.

00:35Life on Earth may have started shortly after the Big Bang, when the universe was much hotter than today. This suggests that life could have originated in space.

02:11The clock of evolution indicates that genomes have been doubling in size every 350 million years on average. This suggests a rapid evolution of life on Earth.

05:12The early universe was a suitable habitat for life, with the right temperature and chemical elements. This could explain the quick emergence and complexity of life on Earth.

06:45Life may have originated in the exotic cosmic environments where substances like ammonia or ethane can stay liquid at very low temperatures.

09:35Exploring our cosmic backyard, including planets like Mars, moons like Enceladus and Europa, and environments like Titan, could provide evidence of extraterrestrial life.

09:57The 12,024 Human Era Calendar is available for purchase, and every purchase supports the kurzgesagt vision of sparking curiosity and inspiring people worldwide.