Question

Earth probably formed __________ years ago, and the earliest evidence of life comes from fossils that are __________ years old.

A. 6,000; 6,000
B. 4.6 billion; 3.5 billion
C. 10 billion; 4.6 billion
D. 3.9 million; 2.0 billion

Answer 1

Earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago, and the earliest evidence of life is seen in fossils that are 3.5 billion years old, represented by simple single-celled organisms.

Step-by-step explanation:

Earth likely formed around 4.6 billion years ago, and the earliest evidence of life comes from fossils that are approximately 3.5 billion years old. The earliest organisms were simple, single-celled forms similar to bacteria. With time, life on Earth evolved, leading to the sophisticated structures like stromatolites, indicating life's ability to adapt and form complex communities from ancient times.

By understanding the origins and development of life on Earth, we also acknowledge the profound impact of life forms like cyanobacteria in changing the Earth's atmosphere and paving the way for the rich biodiversity that we see today.