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NOVA· Season 40 · Episode 16

Australia's First 4 Billion Years - Life Explodes

S40E16·6.5·April 17, 2013·1h·PBS

How did life storm the beaches and dominate planet Earth? Ancient Australian fossils offer clues in "Life Explodes." Half a billion years ago, Australia was still part of the super-continent Gondwana. The oceans were teeming with weird and wonderful animals, but the world above the waves remained an almost lifeless wasteland. All that was about to change, though. Host Richard Smith introduces Earth's forgotten pioneers: the scuttling arthropod armies that invaded the shores and the waves of green revolutionaries whose battle for the light pushed plant life across the face of a barren continent. Evolution continued underwater as well, with armor-plated fish experimenting with teeth, jaws, sex, and lungs. NOVA's prehistoric adventure continues with four-legged animals walking onto dry land—and the planet poised for disaster.

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#5In Season 40of 11 rated episodes
#255All-timeof 287 rated episodes
−0.2vs season avgSeason 40 averages 6.7
2013First airedApril 17, 2013

Guest stars

Richard SmithRichard Smithas Host/Biologist

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