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NOVA· Season 50 · Episode 11

Ancient Earth: Birth of the Sky

S50E11·7.7·October 4, 2023·1h·PBS

Today, Earth is enveloped by a thin veil of gas, a narrow band of atmosphere that protects a world covered in lush green vegetation, deep blue oceans, and abundant life. But 4.5 billion years ago, Earth was a very different place: a hellscape of molten lava and barren rock, under relentless bombardment from meteors, and with no atmosphere whatsoever. So how did our familiar blue sky come to be? Breathtakingly realistic animations and a chorus of science experts reveal how the primordial inferno first gave rise to an orange-hued cauldron of toxic gasses that would be deadly to us today. Witness how the first drops of rain splashed down on the searing planet, setting the stage for the evolution of life. And discover how life itself helped create the air we all breathe today.

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#11In Season 50of 17 rated episodes
#168All-timeof 287 rated episodes
−0.3vs season avgSeason 50 averages 8.0
2023First airedOctober 4, 2023

Guest stars

Mercer BoffeyMercer Boffeyas Narrator (voice)

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