Stuff You Should Know
The Silurian Hypothesis
Thu May 16 2024Description
This episode explores the possibility of ancient civilizations on Earth, the preservation of underground infrastructure, the challenges of finding evidence of ancient civilizations, geological processes, and the impacts of climate change. It discusses the Salurian hypothesis, the potential signs left behind by ancient industrialized civilizations, and the future search for evidence of past civilizations. The episode also delves into the preservation of underground structures, the world without humans, and the geological record. Additionally, it examines techno fossils, geological processes eroding evidence, and the search for ancient civilizations on Mars. Finally, it explores the impacts of climate change on Earth's geological history.
Insights
Choosing the right travel partner is crucial for a successful trip
Choosing the right travel partner is as important as choosing the right destination to avoid conflicting agendas.
The Salurian hypothesis challenges traditional definitions of life forms
The Salurian hypothesis explores the possibility of ancient defunct civilizations on Earth, proposing that intelligent life may have existed before the Cambrian explosion.
Ancient industrialized civilizations might have existed in different forms beyond traditional body plans
Astronomer Jason Wright suggests that intelligent industrialized life forms might have existed in different forms beyond traditional body plans.
Preservation of underground infrastructure after cities are gone due to erosion and corrosion
There is discussion on the potential preservation of underground infrastructure after cities are gone due to erosion and corrosion.
'The World Without Us' explores what the world would be like if humans suddenly vanished
'The World Without Us' by Alan Weisman delves into what the world would be like if humans suddenly vanished.
Earth does not preserve cities, ruins, or fossils well
Earth does not preserve cities, ruins, or fossils well, making it challenging to find evidence of ancient civilizations.
Techno fossils like plastic and smartphones could be future evidence of human presence
Techno fossils like plastic, smartphones, and chicken bones could be future evidence of human presence for anthropologists.
Geological processes can erode evidence of ancient civilizations
Various geological processes like plate collisions, glacier movements, and even earthworm activities can erode evidence of ancient civilizations.
Oceanic crust is a better place to find ancient artifacts
Oceanic crust takes longer to recycle, making it a better place to find ancient artifacts.
Human impact on climate change may have long-lasting geological effects
Human impact on climate change may have long-lasting geological effects comparable to ancient hyperthermals.
Chapters
- Choosing the Right Travel Partner and the Salurian Hypothesis
- Preservation of Underground Infrastructure and The World Without Us
- Techno Fossils and Geological Processes
- Searching for Ancient Civilizations and Impacts of Climate Change
Choosing the Right Travel Partner and the Salurian Hypothesis
00:00 - 14:05
- Choosing the right travel partner is as important as choosing the right destination to avoid conflicting agendas.
- The Salurian hypothesis explores the possibility of ancient defunct civilizations on Earth, proposed by astrophysicist Adam Frank and astronomer Gavin Schmidt.
- The hypothesis suggests that intelligent life on Earth may have existed before the Cambrian explosion, challenging traditional definitions of life forms.
- Astronomer Jason Wright adds to the discussion by proposing that intelligent industrialized life forms might have existed in different forms beyond traditional body plans.
- Speculation about the existence of other forms of life beyond what we know on Earth
- Discussion of the Salurian hypothesis, proposing the existence of an ancient industrialized civilization
- Naming of the hypothesis after a race of lizard people in Doctor Who universe
- Criticism towards using fictional references in an academic exercise
- Exploration of what signs an ancient industrialized civilization might have left behind on Earth
Preservation of Underground Infrastructure and The World Without Us
13:45 - 27:40
- The Therapy for Black Girls podcast focuses on mental health and personal development for Black women.
- The Bright Side podcast features conversations with inspiring culture makers.
- Discussion on the potential preservation of underground infrastructure after cities are gone due to erosion and corrosion.
- Reference to Jan Zelles-Chebitz, a paleontologist at the University of Leicester, who explores the preservation of underground structures.
- Exploration of what the world would be like if humans suddenly vanished, as detailed in 'The World Without Us' by Alan Weisman.
- Approximately 2.7-2.8% of the world has been urbanized, leaving a lot of land unoccupied.
- The development of civilizations is linked to intelligence and density, leading to advancements in technology.
- Earth does not preserve cities, ruins, or fossils well, making it challenging to find evidence of ancient civilizations.
- Fossils are rare and difficult to find, with only a small percentage of species having individuals fossilized.
- Humans have had a relatively insignificant impact on Earth's history according to science writer Peter Brannon.
Techno Fossils and Geological Processes
27:15 - 42:02
- Australopithecus Anomensis, the oldest indisputable ancestor to humans, lived around four and a half million years ago.
- Techno fossils like plastic, smartphones, and chicken bones could be future evidence of human presence for anthropologists.
- Chicken bones are considered potential fossilized evidence of human activity due to mass breeding and disposal practices.
- Earth's crust undergoes slow recycling processes through plate tectonics and erosion, leading to the eventual disappearance of geological features like the Himalayas over millions of years.
- Continental crusts have reinvented themselves twice in the last five hundred and forty million years.
- The oldest surface stretch of Earth is less than two million years old, highlighting the Earth's continuous recycling process.
- Our limited sense of time makes it challenging to comprehend spans of hundreds of millions of years.
- Various geological processes like plate collisions, glacier movements, and even earthworm activities can erode evidence of ancient civilizations.
- Geologists focus on studying residue and sediment layers to understand Earth's history, as erosion has caused a billion-year gap in the geological record known as the 'great unconformity.'
- The 'great unconformity' may have occurred during a period like snowball Earth when ice sheets covered the globe, leading to extensive erosion.
Searching for Ancient Civilizations and Impacts of Climate Change
41:33 - 55:56
- Oceanic crust takes longer to recycle, making it a better place to find ancient artifacts.
- Sediment in the ocean floor accumulates slowly, preserving traces of human activity like nitrogen and plastic polymers.
- Future geologists may identify spikes in sediment layers as evidence of past civilizations or events.
- Radioactive markers from nuclear tests could also leave a lasting signal in the geological record.
- Earth's cooling cycles may bring oceanic crust inland, making it more accessible for future archaeologists.
- Searching for ancient civilizations on Mars might be more promising due to lack of plate tectonics and potential probes sent from Earth.
- The paradox of leaving behind evidence of civilization: sustainable societies may not leave significant traces, while impactful ones may die out quickly.
- Impressions of past effects on Earth are key to identifying ancient civilizations in the geological record.
- Hyperthermal events involve abrupt extinctions, carbon buildup in the atmosphere, and rapid coastal erosion.
- Past hyperthermal events like the PETM had significant temperature increases due to CO2 emissions.
- There are concerns that human-induced climate change could lead to a hyperthermal event similar to past occurrences.
- Fossil fuels contributing to current climate change are formed from past mass extinctions.
- Human impact on climate change may have long-lasting geological effects comparable to ancient hyperthermals.