Earth & Life. 3.77 Billion Years Under Construction | Olivia Judson | Escaped Sapiens #60
The Escaped Sapiens Podcast
The microscopic Cockalithophores of Dover accumulated over time
The cliffs of Dover are made of tiny, frisbee-like shells of single-celled algae called cockalithophores. These organisms flourished during the time of the dinosaurs when the Earth had shallow inland seas. They can occur in huge numbers, forming visible patches from space. When they die, their shells accumulate at the bottom of the ocean, transforming the landscape over millions of years. The power of many small organisms over a long period of time can truly change the world. To comprehend these vast spans of time, consider that 1 million seconds is about 11 and a half days, but it is more than 31 years.
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