May
24

From Earth to the Solar System: Ediacaran

The emergence of complex life: A piece of upturned sandstone in the Flinders Range of South Australia shows ripple marks of an ancient sea bed. This area of Australia hosts fossils of the first complex, multi-cellular organisms which began to emerge on Earth ~600 million years ago. The study of these early fossils, known as the Ediacaran Fauna, help astrobiologists learn more about how complex life arose and evolved on Earth, and how it might evolve on other planets.  (Image Credit: Phoebe Cohen/MIT/NASA Astrobiology Institute)

Records of early complex life: This fossil, called Dickinsonia, is from the Flinders Range of South Australia. While it looks similar to some modern marine worms, its classification is still unknown. Dickinsonia lived about 550 million years ago. It is one of a group of fossils that represent the first complex, multi-cellular organisms on Earth. (Image Credit: Phoebe Cohen/MIT/NASA Astrobiology Institute)

Related posts:

Detail of brick with "brick" written on itOur Smithsonian: Backyard archaeology Pride Alliance logoAn alliance for everyone T rex detailDeep Time: “The lessons of the past inform the future” Head shot of Jim ZimbelmanThinking globally, acting locally

Posted: 24 May 2011
About the Author:

Alex di Giovanni is primarily responsible for "other duties as assigned" in the Office of Communications and External Affairs. She has been with the Smithsonian since 2006 and plans to be interred in the Smithson crypt.