science ๐ฌ Ancient poop fueled life's big glow-up
A new study suggests an ancient fecal explosion may have helped complex life evolve. Scientists in Australia and Germany found this theory relates to the Cambrian explosion, around 540 million years ago. The research considered ancient diets and trophic interactions to explain nutrient influx into oceans. This nutrient cycling, driven by waste, helped accelerate ecosystem development at the end of the Ediacaran period. The findings offer a new framework for understanding how life diversified into its current complex forms. ๐ฆ