From The Big Bang to Now!

13.7 billion years ago an enormous explosion ignited. Following this explosion was the origin of time (at least time relating to the universe). Due to the abundance of energy created in the explosion, space resisted gravity and grew to an enormous size. This continuous expansion of our universe is called inflation.

As the universe expanded, it cooled. During the cooling process, the basic elements of matter were created from the powerful energy. Quarks (particles carrying a fractional electric charge) were the first particles created. Quarks merged in groups of three inside a proton or neutron.

Since neutrons can only exist for approximately twenty minutes on their own, neutrons either died off or fused with a proton to form a type of hydrogen or two protons fused with two neutrons to form the nucleus of helium. Electrons were the final particles created from the abundance of energy. The temperatures of the universe were so extreme that electrons couldn’t combine with other particles.

The early universe was nothing more than plasma (ionized gas). This lasted approximately 300 million years as the universe expanded and cooled. Finally, the universe was cool enough for electrons to be captured by hydrogen and helium nuclei. At this time, the first atoms were formed.

The universe was full of clouds with hydrogen and helium gas. A light was then released, that is still visible today. It is called the cosmic microwave background.

Inflation caused the first ripples in the density of matter. Over 10 million years, matter gathered at these denser locations. Over 100 million years, the center of each cloud evolved into a hyper-giant/star. In time, the cores of these hyper-giants/stars became dense enough for nuclear fusion. Because of these hyper-giant/stars sizes, the hyper-giants/stars converted hydrogen and helium fuel into the first elements of the universe. All the elements of the atom, heavier than helium, were created inside the core of hyper-giants/stars.

After 3 million years, these hyper-giants/stars collapsed and exploded into supernovas. The stars spewed all the heavy elements into the universe. Gravity condensed these new elements into a new generation of stars (smaller in size).

It took approximately 5 million years for gravity to force a reaction from these elements. Millions of new stars were created from these new clouds consisting of heavier elements. Gravity pulled these stars together, and the collaboration of the stars formed larger and larger groups of stars. This is where all the spiral galaxies were created. These galaxies today are still growing as they consume thousands and millions of neighboring clusters and stars.

Stars nearing their demise can collapse under gravity and turn into black holes. A black hole consumes everything that enters its event horizon (point of no return). Millions of black holes are in the Milky Way Galaxy, but the largest one is the one in the center.

Galaxies formed together to form clusters and super clusters. The Milky Way is a member of a group of 20 or so galaxies and star clusters that make up our local group. The largest galaxy in our group is Andromeda. Super clusters may contain thousands of galaxies, and the closest super cluster is the Virgo Super Cluster to which we’re being gravitationally drawn.

About 4.6 billion years ago our solar system started to form. The sun was hot enough to light its own nuclear fires, and our sun and planets condensed under the heavy pressure of gravity. Our inner planets are small and rocky, containing heavier elements while the outer planets are large and gas giants. Our sun is just an average sized star compared to the 100s of billions of stars in our known universe.

Earth was created approximately 4.5 billion years ago. At first, there was no oxygen in the air. The rain washed certain chemicals from the air, and lightning and ultraviolet radiation fused with these chemicals, forming a very special molecule - a molecule could make copies of itself. This very special molecule was the origin of life on earth, and when this molecule learned to protect itself inside cell walls, life began.

3.5 billion years ago cells learned how to use the suns energy in a process called photosynthesis and due to recent studies also chemosynthesis. Life then grew, and layers of microorganisms mixed with sediments became the world’s first living structures, “stromatolites”. These mounds exported oxygen, and these new gases created the ozone layer.

1.5 billion years ago a cell developed an extra membrane to protect its genes, a nucleus. 800 million years ago the first multicellular organisms appeared. The first multicellular organisms were sponges, and their cells filtered out water and consumed tiny bits of food. Later they evolved into having muscle cells and nerve cells, which enabled bending and stretching, but still they were immobile.

600 million years ago there was an ancient worm, which developed the first centralized nervous system. A congregation of these cells formed the first brain, and light-sensitive cells for formed the first eyes.

30 million years later a huge variety of creatures appeared - this time is called the Cambrian Explosion. Everything alive today originated from the Cambrian Period. The first fish appeared over 500 million years ago – that is where spines and jaws with teeth originated.

400 million years ago the lands of earth was a grass terrain. Plants spread onto land along with fresh water. Animals followed – the earliest being centipedes, scorpions and crabs. These first insects developed the first lungs. Invertebrates were the first ashore, but the vertebrates quickly followed. Vertebrates developed fin like legs.

370 million years ago amphibians emerged from the swamps. Reptiles evolved from amphibians, and they developed the first waterproof eggs. The inside of the eggs were similar to oceanic climates. Reptiles have to expand their lungs to breathe, and due to this, crocodiles became the first creatures to stand on their legs so they could walk and breathe comfortably.

Approximately 200 million years ago, earth was one giant continent called Pangaea. Most the terrain was deserts and grasslands. For more than 160 million years, the dinosaurs ruled the Earth. For the first time, reptiles became mammal-like, developing hair and pairing with one mate for life. The dinosaurs laid eggs, but would nurture their young with special milk glands from their stomach. During the Jurrassic Era, life was still plentiful in the oceans. More and more new species were evolving.

Approximately 125 million years ago, slow movement broke up the northern and southern landmasses – the waters rose, and new coastlines and seaways were construed. Now flying creatures called Pterosaurs evolved and dominated these new cliffs and lands.

Approximately 65 million years ago, a meteor ten miles wide in size, eradicated the dinosaurs reign when crashing in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Catastrophic weather followed that bested 65% of all life.

Millions of years after the meteor crash, the dinosaurs were all dead. This period is called the Eocene. Temperatures have risen, and tropical rainforests have spawned on every continent. Now the rulers of Earth are descendants of the dinosaurs, the birds. This was a perfect time for the mammal takeover. The biggest strength of mammals is the ability to adapt (survival of the fittest).

Approximately 6-7 million years ago was our first ancestor that differs from all other living creatures. The oldest archaeological finding for our origin is Tumai. Its skull dates back 6-7 million years ago.

Homo Sapiens descended from one common ancestor, Mitochondrial Eve. She lived approximately 150 thousand years ago in East Africa. Everyone on earth is related to her.

Approximately 150 million years ago a woman from East Africa lived. She was a hunter gatherer, but wasn't the first. She is special because every homo sapien is a direct descendent of her. Her name is Mitochondrial Eve - the mother of man.

This essay is a brief summary of our origin. Watch the video below for a detailed, visual retelling of the origin of life and the universe…

Galileo