The birth of modern life was fueled by poop, new theory proposes
The Cambrian explosion is a critical moment for life on Earth—and it may have been all about poop
A new theory suggests that poop played a role in the Cambrian explosion, a significant period of rapid evolution 540 million years ago. Researchers publishing in Trends in Ecology & Evolution noted a correlation between coprolites (fossilized poop) and the diversification of early animals. Larger, more structured, and more frequent coprolites appeared around the same time animals began moving deeper into the ocean.
Just like modern deep-sea life depends on falling poop for nutrients, it is hypothesized that the increasing amount of poop may have supplied these essential nutrients, fueling the explosion of animal diversity. However, the exact cause and timing of this phenomenon remain unclear, as the research is still in its early stages and further investigation is needed to determine if the poop or the animal diversity came first.
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