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The Ancients

The Ancients

The Cambrian Explosion: When Life Began?

Jun 14, 2026 · 1h 1m

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538 million years ago, life on Earth changed forever. In an evolutionary burst known as the Cambrian Explosion, complex animals rapidly appeared in the oceans, laying the foundations for almost every major animal group alive today. Tristan Hughes is joined by the mighty Henry Gee to explore biology’s 'Big Bang'. What triggered this extraordinary leap in evolutionary complexity? Why did creatures with eyes, shells and limbs emerge so suddenly in the fossil record? And what can the Cambrian Explosion reveal about the origins of animal life and the history of our planet? MORE Rise of Humans Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify The Age of Dinosaurs Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify We're going on…