Origin of Life
ENAZ
A trilobite fossil preserved in rock — a marine arthropod of the Paleozoic era

Science, examined

Origin of Life

How did it all begin? In the language of fossils, the cell and genetic information.

Sections

Four directions, one question

All of our articles are gathered into four main sections, each divided into topics and articles.

Fossil collection

Traces left in stone

Fossils are the most direct witnesses of the past. Below are schematic drawings based on actual specimens — photographs of real fossils are in the Fossil Archive further down.

№ 001

Trilobita

Trilobites

Period
Cambrian – Permian
Age
≈ 521–252 million years
Found in
All continents
№ 002

Anomalocaris canadensis

Anomalocaris

Period
Cambrian
Age
≈ 508 million years
Found in
Burgess Shale, Canada
№ 003

Opabinia regalis

Opabinia

Period
Cambrian
Age
≈ 508 million years
Found in
Burgess Shale, Canada
№ 004

Crinoidea

Sea lilies

Period
Ordovician – present
Age
≈ 485 million years – today
Found in
World oceans
№ 005

Ammonoidea

Ammonites

Period
Devonian – Cretaceous
Age
≈ 409–66 million years
Found in
All continents
№ 006

Polypodiopsida

Ferns

Period
Devonian – present
Age
≈ 390 million years – today
Found in
Land areas

Fossil archive

The memory of stone

Genuine fossils found around the world — each with its location and age. Click a photo to enlarge it.

Full archive →

Science news

New discoveries, a closer look

New findings published in scientific journals, and what they tell us.

All news →
Biomimetics: Technology Inspired by Nature
Dolphin Skin Cuts Fuel Use on Ships

A propeller coated to mimic dolphin skin reduced fuel consumption on a giant crude carrier by 2%.

Read →
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Life's Three-Layer Code

DNA does not carry only a protein code: regulatory and architectural codes are hidden in the very same sequences.

Read →
Objective lenses of a laboratory microscope

Our approach

“Science begins with asking questions. We don't run from questions either.”
1

We cite our sources

Every claim is referenced to scientific journals, books and research.

2

We separate fact from interpretation

We show the observed fact and how it is interpreted, side by side.

3

We ask questions

Rather than handing out ready-made answers, we invite the reader to think.