A Super-short Extra-brief History of the Universe

BIG BANG ≈14 billion years ago ≈14 billion years ago An unbelievably enormous explosion that generated all space, time, matter, and energy. An unbelievably enormous explosion that generated all space, time, matter, and energy.

Post-Inflation High Energy Seconds after BB Seconds after BB Forces like gravity and basic particles like protons, neutrons, and electrons form. Forces like gravity and basic particles like protons, neutrons, and electrons form.

Elements Form 3 minutes after BB 3 minutes after BB Particles combine to form basic elements such as Hydrogen and Helium, still the most abundant elements in the big U. Particles combine to form basic elements such as Hydrogen and Helium, still the most abundant elements in the big U.

Hot & Cold (The World is a Gas) 300,000 to 500,000 years after the BB 300,000 to 500,000 years after the BB As the giant gas cloud cools, electrons join the atoms of H and He. Photons rush outward. These are seen today as cosmic microwave radiation. As the giant gas cloud cools, electrons join the atoms of H and He. Photons rush outward. These are seen today as cosmic microwave radiation.

Galaxies and Stars are Born 1,000,000,000 years after the BB (yup, that’s a billion years) 1,000,000,000 years after the BB (yup, that’s a billion years) The U continues to expand. Pockets of gas become dense and stars are ignited. Groups of stars form the earliest galaxies. The U continues to expand. Pockets of gas become dense and stars are ignited. Groups of stars form the earliest galaxies.

Era of Quasars 3,000,000,000 years after the BB 3,000,000,000 years after the BB Some smaller galaxies combine into larger ones shaped like eggs or spirals. Some collisions are so great that they collapsed into black holes. Gases being drawn into these black holes became so hot it glowed, which can still be seen today. Some smaller galaxies combine into larger ones shaped like eggs or spirals. Some collisions are so great that they collapsed into black holes. Gases being drawn into these black holes became so hot it glowed, which can still be seen today.

Supernova 6,000,000,000 years after the BB 6,000,000,000 years after the BB Some stars are born. Others die. Some dead stars explode violently spewing common elements like oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and iron all around the U. Some stars are born. Others die. Some dead stars explode violently spewing common elements like oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and iron all around the U.

Our Sun is born 5,000,000,000 years ago or about 8 billion years after the BB 5,000,000,000 years ago or about 8 billion years after the BB A cloud of gas in one of the spiral arms of the Milky Way Galaxy forms a medium sized star we know as our Sun. A disk of dust and debris surrounding the sun coalesces into planets, asteroids, moons, and comets. A cloud of gas in one of the spiral arms of the Milky Way Galaxy forms a medium sized star we know as our Sun. A disk of dust and debris surrounding the sun coalesces into planets, asteroids, moons, and comets.

Terrestrial Planets Form / Gas Giants Form 4,560,000,000 years ago 4,560,000,000 years ago Inner planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars form in the hot inner solar system. Outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune form in the cooler outer solar system. Inner planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars form in the hot inner solar system. Outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune form in the cooler outer solar system.

Our Moon forms 4,500,000,000 years ago 4,500,000,000 years ago A Mars-sized planet hits Earth sending debris into orbit. This material eventually combines to form our moon. A Mars-sized planet hits Earth sending debris into orbit. This material eventually combines to form our moon.

Earth’s Atmosphere and Oceans 4,200,000,000 years ago 4,200,000,000 years ago Volcanoes spew hot gases onto Earth’s surface. These gases cool into our atmosphere and water condenses into Oceans. Volcanoes spew hot gases onto Earth’s surface. These gases cool into our atmosphere and water condenses into Oceans.

Earliest Possible Evidence for Life (tiny, simple things not like you) 3,800,000,000 years ago 3,800,000,000 years ago Scientists are looking at and debating fossil evidence and chemical evidence indicating life began around this time. Scientists are looking at and debating fossil evidence and chemical evidence indicating life began around this time.

Earth’s Oxygen-“Rich” Atmosphere develops 3,500,000,000 years ago 3,500,000,000 years ago Phirst Photosynthesizers begin pumping Oxygen into the atmosphere. Phirst Photosynthesizers begin pumping Oxygen into the atmosphere.

First Ice Age (No not the movie, still way before that.) 2,500,000,000 years ago 2,500,000,000 years ago Lots of stuff froze. Lots of stuff froze.

Ozone Shield forms 2,200,000,000 years ago 2,200,000,000 years ago Some Oxygen (O 2 ) converts into Ozone (O 3 ) protecting Earth from harmful UV rays. Some Oxygen (O 2 ) converts into Ozone (O 3 ) protecting Earth from harmful UV rays.

Early Multi-cellular Critters Form 600,000,000 years ago 600,000,000 years ago Funky looking jellyfish like creatures left imprints we find today. Funky looking jellyfish like creatures left imprints we find today.

First Land-based Plant Life 430,000,000 years ago 430,000,000 years ago These were moss like plants that took over the land from the bacteria and slimes that preceded them. These were moss like plants that took over the land from the bacteria and slimes that preceded them.

Pangaea 250,000,000 years ago 250,000,000 years ago The continents are all combined into one giant land mass. This later splits to form the current continents via sea-floor spreading. The continents are all combined into one giant land mass. This later splits to form the current continents via sea-floor spreading.

First Dinosaurs 230,000,000 years ago 230,000,000 years ago Small bi-pedal carnivores. Small bi-pedal carnivores.

First Homo-Sapiens (that would be early humans from whom you and I descended) 150,000 to 200,000 years ago 150,000 to 200,000 years ago Despite his advanced age, there is no evidence that Mr. Weinenger was among these early people. You may want to ask him just to be sure. Despite his advanced age, there is no evidence that Mr. Weinenger was among these early people. You may want to ask him just to be sure.