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Breathing Life Into Earth

In Breathing Life Into Earth, geologist Iain Stewart explains how oxygen left the ocean and filled the atmosphere, creating a huge turning point in the story of life on Earth. This oxygen helped form the ozone layer, which acts like a protective shield, blocking harmful radiation from the Sun and allowing life to thrive. Without oxygen, Earth wouldn’t have been able to support all the amazing life forms we know. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
Video Details
Grades:
6-89-12
Program:
Earth: The Power of the Planet
Time:
1:47
Subject:
Science
Topic:
Earth and Space Science

Lesson Express

Q: How did the movement of oxygen from the ocean to the atmosphere change Earth’s environment and support the evolution of life?
A: When oxygen moved into the atmosphere, it made the air breathable and supported the development of energetic life forms. This oxygen-rich atmosphere allowed organisms to become more complex, eventually leading to the wide variety of species, including humans, that exist today. It also stabilized Earth’s environment, making it suitable for long-term life.

Q: What might Earth look like today if oxygen had never left the ocean and filled the atmosphere?
A: Without oxygen in the atmosphere, there would be no ozone layer to protect the planet from ultraviolet radiation, so life would likely remain very simple, like bacteria or algae. Complex organisms, including animals and humans, wouldn’t exist because they need oxygen to survive and evolve. Earth would be a very different, less diverse place.

Q: How does the relationship between oxygen and the ozone layer demonstrate the importance of balance in Earth’s systems?
A: The ozone layer, created by oxygen, shows how interconnected Earth’s systems are. Too little oxygen wouldn’t support life, but too much could disrupt the balance of gases in the atmosphere. This balance allows life to flourish while protecting it from harmful external forces, like ultraviolet radiation.

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