Building a Reliable Record of Animals' First Homes

Explore the intriguing delay in the emergence of complex life on Earth in this 51-minute colloquium talk by Marjorie Cantine. Delve into the geological record to understand why multicellular organisms took billions of years to become widespread despite the presence of liquid water and microbial life. Examine the potential links between the appearance of complex life and fundamental changes in Earth's environments, and consider the implications for the search for extraterrestrial life. Learn about cutting-edge in situ techniques used to assess the fidelity of sedimentary rock records and constrain key biogeochemical parameters from early animal habitats. Gain insights into the challenges of interpreting ancient environmental and biological data preserved in rocks that have undergone their own transformations over time. Discover how this research contributes to our understanding of Earth's history and informs the search for life elsewhere in the Universe.