“The 5 lives of the Earth” (France 5):

This Thursday at 9:05 p.m. on France 5, this documentary series presents a biography of our planet, revealing the most epic moments in its astronomical and geological history, from the first seconds of its existence until the arrival of human beings.

By exploring the mountains, the ocean floor, the craters, the valleys and the rocks of the earth’s crust, we can indeed read the history of the many lives of our Earth. 4.5 billion years ago, it was sterile, hot, devoid of a protective atmosphere.

At that time, the gases spewed by the volcanoes gradually formed an envelope toxic to life. But the water emerged and the magic happened. By covering 70% of the earth’s surface, it allowed the appearance of the first forms of life, notably cyanobacteria. They transformed the atmosphere by producing oxygen via photosynthesis. Then, 252 million years ago, the Earth experienced one of the worst cataclysms in its history and nearly 90% of species disappeared.

The cause of this extinction? Huge volcanic eruptions from deep within the Earth. They covered a vast region in what is now Siberia with lava and released massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Erasing everything in their path, these eruptions modified the earth’s climate, causing global warming…

This article appeared in Le Télépro on 11/14/2024