Planet Earth.
The third from the sun of the solar system, it's story began 4.6 billion years ago. At first, Earth seemed destined to be devoid of life, but everything changed. Another planet, Theia, smashed into Earth, and the two planets fused.
Creating a brand new world.
Our world.
Even today, Theia lies right beneath our feet. A smaller chunk of Theia became our moon, and slowly, our oceans. Until life on Earth was ready to begin.
Life first began 3.5 billion years ago as singe-celled organisms. Including LUCA, Last-Universal-Common-Ancestor. Over time, the atmosphere turns from yellow methane to a blue sky from oxygen producing plants. And during a time called the Cambrian, the first complex life begins to fill the oceans.
Most of them were Arthropods, animals with exoskeletons. But a new animal has evolved, a human thumbnail-sized creature, but an evolutionary giant called Haikoichthys. The first ever fish, and earliest known ancestor. They were unique for having armor not on the outside, but tough inside. Evolving a primitive backbone, a notocord. The very first vertebrate: forerunner of all future backboned animals from the dinosaur, to the elephant, to us.
Over time, many animals have come and go in the oceans. But then, some 360 million years ago, the first fish-like creatures grew tougher fins allowing them to become the first vertebrate land-dwellers becoming amphibians.
And eventually, some developed tough scaly skin becoming the first reptiles. Reptiles eventually conquered the land, and eventually, the Archosaurs evolved as one branch leads to crocodilians, while the other branch evolved to become the remarkable and certainly most famous animals to have ever existed.
The dinosaurs.
The Mesozoic was a time when nature put on it's greatest show. The skies were filled with flying giants. In the seas, monstrous reptiles patrolled the depths. And on land, dinosaurs of every kind, all facing the struggle to survive.
Who knows how long their reign would have lasted, if not for a six-mile asteroid striking the Earth 65 million years ago bringing their rule to an end.
Eventually, a new cast animals took over, creatures that were hidden in the dinosaurs' shadows.
The mammals.
Mammals took over filling the void, and became the new masters of the world. They grew to gigantic sizes, evolved into powerful killers, like the famous sabertooth cats. And they even laid claim to the oceans.
Then, around four million years ago came mankind's own origins. When a type of ape came down from the trees, and walked upright.
Our story of this epic time finishes just 30,000 years ago, in the Ice Ages. When our planet turned cold, and our ancestors hunted in the realm of the Mammoth.
Humans eventually became the new dominant species on Earth, proving to be more advanced than any other creature in history. Creating buildings touching the sky, vehicles take can leave the planet, and weapons that can destroy.
But in the last century, humans have proven to be unstoppable. In the lifetime of one person, wildlife populations decline by 60%, a once stabled temperature has rose, affecting the sea ice at the poles. Forests being cut down too much as humans exploit new farming lands, as the Philippines has lost 90% of it's rainforests in recent years. And oceans under threat from plastic pollution, and overfishing, and accidentally manmade pollution of oil spills.
Earth is so far the only known planet supporting life. And it's the only home we got.
And sooner or later, even our intelligence won't save us from extinction.
Today, 35% of the natural world remains, and now eight billion people live on Earth, as the maximum number Earth can support is three billion.
But people are looking for new ways to restore nature, and to help restore global temperatures and saving Earth's biodiversity.
And when given the chance, nature can recover surprisingly quickly.
As plants and animals, along with the world's forests and oceans help keep a healthy Earth. And endless cycle that has repeated countless in nature for hundreds of millions of years.
A blue and green planet.
Author's Note:
When I saw Our Blue and Green World for the first time, it was totally worth the wait. Seeing the return of the Green Anaconda, and the introduction of the Green Anaconda Power Suit and Power Disc was cool.
But what made it truly worth it was the introduction of the Blue Whale. And seeing a Blue Whale Power Suit and Power Disc. The Creature Power Disc image of the Green Anaconda and Blue Whale also make great wallpapers on my phone.
And I truly didn't expected Paisley to have a change of heart after seeing the structures of coral. At least the Wild Kratts now have three villains to worry about again. But I think trying to convince to stop is unlikely. Especially Zach.