This approach relies on new sources of intense radiation and new X-ray methods, which will be described. What he didn't realize was just how sudden the appearance really was. Darwin did not have access to radioactive decay clocks, which now have given us the answer. We have something like 3.5 billion years of fossil record and yet all of the modern animal groups appeared in the fossil record in less than 10 million years, about 530 million years ago. The mystery deepens when molecular clocks were used to estimate the time of origin of animals.
Molecular dates are far older than the fossils indicate.
We will offer up to 7.5 hours for the Long Island Geologists field trip in June. There will be Refreshments and Demonstrations after the Presentations.