NOVA

S50E12 Ancient Earth: Frozen

Seven hundred million years in the past, Earth was enveloped in ice, resembling a vast snowball that extended from the poles to the equator. This extreme climate posed a grave danger to the survival of primitive complex organisms. How did life persevere in such a harsh environment? Top researchers explore the possibility that this frozen catastrophe sparked innovative evolutionary adaptations, allowing life to rebound and flourish—ultimately leading to the remarkable diversity of species we observe in the present day.