Part 3/7:
Hot streams from beneath the Earth's surface react chemically, giving rise to the first organic molecules. By just over four hours into our 24-hour timeline, the primordial soup is rich in amino acids and RNA, setting the stage for life.
5:00 AM: Birth of the First Cell
At five hours in, the first fully formed cell appears, marking the official inception of life on Earth.
5:53 AM: The First Viruses
Shortly thereafter, at 5:53 AM, viruses emerge as Earth's core separates into solid and liquid layers, giving rise to a magnetic field.
11:13 AM: Formation of Ecosystems
As the clock moves towards midday, primitive prokaryotes form basic ecosystems, learning to harness energy and prompting the early stages of biological diversity.