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geodood · 10-09-2006, 08:08 PM

"Until recently, astronomers estimated that the Big Bang occurred between 12 and 14 billion years ago. To put this in perspective, the Solar System is thought to be 4.5 billion years old and humans have existed as a species for a few million years. Astronomers estimate the age of the universe in two ways: 1) by looking for the oldest stars; and 2) by measuring the rate of expansion of the universe and extrapolating back to the Big Bang; just as crime detectives can trace the origin of a bullet from the holes in a wall."

http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/m_uni/uni_101age.html

I understand their Big Bang statements, however I wonder what they base their statement "humans have existed as a species for a few million years". I guess that they are including "Lucy" type beings. (all hominids that is)

http://www.asu.edu/clas/iho/lucy.html#age

So when did Homo Sapien enter the picture? (from both a fossile and historic record?) Not our "ancestors" but "us"?

10-09-2006, 08:08 PM	#4
geodood Advanced Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 166 Rep Power: 223	From NASA's website "Until recently, astronomers estimated that the Big Bang occurred between 12 and 14 billion years ago. To put this in perspective, the Solar System is thought to be 4.5 billion years old and humans have existed as a species for a few million years. Astronomers estimate the age of the universe in two ways: 1) by looking for the oldest stars; and 2) by measuring the rate of expansion of the universe and extrapolating back to the Big Bang; just as crime detectives can trace the origin of a bullet from the holes in a wall." http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/m_uni/uni_101age.html I understand their Big Bang statements, however I wonder what they base their statement "humans have existed as a species for a few million years". I guess that they are including "Lucy" type beings. (all hominids that is) http://www.asu.edu/clas/iho/lucy.html#age So when did Homo Sapien enter the picture? (from both a fossile and historic record?) Not our "ancestors" but "us"?