6 Minute English Did a civilisation exist on Earth before humans?
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Oct 23, 2025 Could advanced civilisations have existed on Earth long before humans? Beth and Phil dive into this tantalizing question, exploring the Silurian hypothesis, which suggests that such a civilization might have left no trace. They also discuss the challenges of finding evidence, like fossils being rare, and how modern materials complicate our understanding of ancient technology. The conversation encourages an open mind about prehistoric mysteries and the vast timeline of Earth's history that spans billions of years.
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A Question That Dropped His Jaw
- Adam Frank recalls Gavin Schmidt asking him, 'how do you know that?' about there being no other civilisation on Earth.
- Frank said the question left his jaw dropped, showing how surprising the idea was to him.
Ancient Civilisation May Leave No Trace
- The Silurian hypothesis suggests an advanced civilisation could have existed long before humans without leaving clear traces.
- It reframes absence of evidence as a limitation of preservation, not proof of nonexistence.
Hypotheses Need Testing, Even Strange Ones
- The programme frames the Silurian hypothesis as testable and part of scientific inquiry, not mere speculation.
- It treats hypotheses as ideas that require evidence and can be proven right or wrong.