Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

David Attenborough talks about Charnia, fossils of early life on Earth, and a connection with his childhood. From 2011.

David Attenborough has always been fascinated by fossils; even as a boy he'd spend many hours exploring the local quarry near his home in Leicestershire.

Near his family home was a forest which he visited frequently, but didn't hunt for fossils there because he knew the rocks were too old to have any postcards of early life embedded in their layers.

But he was wrong - those rocks harboured a wonderful secret - a secret that would rattle the cages of the big thinkers of the time and would change the story of life on earth for ever.

Written and presented by Sir David Attenborough.

Producer: Julian Hector

First broadcast on 成人论坛 Radio 4 in March 2011.

10 minutes

Last on

Today 01:45

Broadcasts

  • Fri 4 Mar 2011 20:50
  • Sun 6 Mar 2011 08:50
  • Sun 17 Jan 2016 11:50
  • Sun 17 Jan 2016 19:50
  • Sun 15 Jul 2018 11:50
  • Sun 15 Jul 2018 19:50
  • Mon 6 Jan 2020 11:50
  • Mon 6 Jan 2020 21:50
  • Sun 25 Apr 2021 10:45
  • Sun 25 Apr 2021 21:45
  • Thu 29 Apr 2021 11:45
  • Thu 29 Apr 2021 21:45
  • Sun 9 Oct 2022 10:45
  • Sun 9 Oct 2022 21:45
  • Thu 13 Oct 2022 11:45
  • Thu 13 Oct 2022 21:45
  • Sun 31 Dec 2023 10:45
  • Sun 31 Dec 2023 15:45
  • Sun 31 Dec 2023 21:45
  • New Year's Day 2024 04:45
  • Yesterday 06:45
  • Yesterday 11:45
  • Yesterday 17:45
  • Today 01:45