If the sun was dimmer 4 billion years ago, how did the Earth stay warm? Today, we learn how just a small percent of Earth's atmosphere goes a long way in controlling global climate, both today and in the ancient past. Along the way, we'll visit an imaginary frozen Earth without any sun, a hazy giant moon of Saturn, and learn exactly what the greenhouse effect is.Extra credit: Visit a greenhouse, or find a cleaning product with ammonia.

If the sun was dimmer 4 billion years ago, how did the Earth stay warm? Today, we learn how just a small percent of Earth's atmosphere goes a long way in controlling global climate, both today and in the ancient past. Along the way, we'll visit an imaginary frozen Earth without any sun, a hazy giant moon of Saturn, and learn exactly what the greenhouse effect is. Extra credit: Visit a greenhouse, or find a cleaning product with ammonia.

29: The Goldilocks Planet

This podcast starts at the beginning of Earth's prehistory and works forward through time.  Bedrock will explore the first 90% of Earth’s past, a time known as the Precambrian Era.  Before humans, before dinosaurs… there was the Precambrian.
The Earth was an incredibly alien world, but not a dead one. 
Along the way, you will build a mental toolkit to see the world like a geologist. You will never look at a mountain, the moon, or pond scum in quite the same way again.

Welcome to Bedrock.
For transcripts, visuals, and references, check out https://www.bedrockpodcast.com

Science

Life Sciences

Earth Sciences

This podcast starts at the beginning of Earth's prehistory and works forward through time. Bedrock will explore the first 90% of Earth’s past, a time known as the Precambrian Era. Before humans, before dinosaurs… there was the Precambrian. The Earth was an incredibly alien world, but not a dead one. Along the way, you will build a mental toolkit to see the world like a geologist. You will never look at a mountain, the moon, or pond scum in quite the same way again. Welcome to Bedrock. For transcripts, visuals, and references, check out https://www.bedrockpodcast.com

Share 29: The Goldilocks Planet

Sign up to save your podcasts

29: The Goldilocks Planet

29: The Goldilocks Planet

More shows like Bedrock: Earth's Earliest History

Big Picture Science

Science In Action

In Our Time: Science

BBC Inside Science

Origin Stories

SpaceTime: Your Guide to Space & Astronomy

The Common Descent Podcast

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

Terrible Lizards

Geology Bites

PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast

Eons: Surviving Deep Time

The Astrophysics Podcast

Rare Earth

Crash Course Pods: The Universe