Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24


/ problen1-to trace back into the
dawn of time the tracks life has
left in the rocks.
First came the announcement by the
National Academy of Sciences last
month of the establishment OF gold
medal to be awarded for conspicuous
research In pre-Cambrian evidences OF
the existence of living things-that u.s.
of life on earth between 5000 and
billion years ago. Next came word
from Australia that great quantities OF
well preserved fossils had been found
In pre-Cambrian formations, whereas
previously these have been extremely
few and in poor condition.
Until recently the Cambrian period
roughly a half billion years ago-nas
been the frontier of life IN time. In the
unexplored yastness beyond were only
crushed fragments of worms and cruS-
taceans The pages of the book OF time
were so scorched and torn that it was
almost impossible TO decipher any OF
them. Yet obviously life did not origi-
nate in the Cambrian or In the PERIODS
Immediately preceding 1t. The earliest
animal fossils are OF creatures VINO nave
come a long way from the beginning
and from the point OF differentiation
between plants and animals. In fact,
according to recent researches OF DR..
Austin II. Clark, noted biologist OF the
National Museum, some OF them repre-
sent types which are very much alive
on earth today.
Great Darkness Beyond.
The dominant creatures were crus-
taceans-distant ancestors on the one
hand of the crabs and on the other of
the scorpions and spiders. Certainly
millions OF years must have been neces-
sary for such intricate organisms to
have evolved from the earliest forms OF
life. Yet beyond them is the great
darkness which science now Is endeav-
oring TO penetrate.
There is O good deal of indirect EVIL
dence Of the existence OF life perhaps
even a billion years behind the Cam
brian, according TO psychologists OF the
Smithsonian Institution, which Is a
world center for studies of this sort.
The earliest known geological forma-
tons, such as the Granville series of
Eastern Canada, contain limestone and
graphite, Both these are the products
Of organic chemistry. 1t Is generally
/ held although some chemists have ar
gued differently-that they cannot be
produced without the presence Of life.
The same processes which were going
on billion years ago still may be OBJ
served at Harpers Ferry, where algae,
| minute water plants, are engaged In
| building rock. These tiny plants must
| have carbon dioxide to live. They Sc
| cure 1t from the lime bicarbonate In So
/ luton In the river. The removal OF the
| carbon dioxide leaves lime carbonate.
which Ii insolublc in water and forms
| limestone dams. Those in formation
at Harpers Ferry look like masses of
| brown mud, but actually are hard as
| concrete. Some Of these dams now are
or 3 feet high. The production Of
| graphite probably Is more complicated
process. only dimly understood by geolo-
| gi6ts. but they generally are agreed that
! wherever limestone or graphite are. life
has been. In pre-Cambrian formations
| 1t has been possible TO distinguish yari~
Gus types Of algae In the rocks. most OF
/ which still are at work In ponds and
streams Of the United States, building
/ up the mountains OF tomorrow, The
/ oldest known forms OF life have changed
| little. either In appearance or behavior.
| since the dawn Of time.
Seek Direct Evidence.
| But the paleontologists arc seeking
! fr more direct evidences Of life be-
| mind the Cambrian~fOr the actual
remains of living creatures which Will
help theEn IN TeconstEucilpg this nays.