How Earth's First, Unkillable Animals Saved the World

The video explores the harsh conditions of Snowball Earth, where temperatures plummeted and the planet was covered in ice. Despite these conditions, sponges, one of the earliest animal groups, survived and thrived. Sponges are unique multicellular organisms without organs, featuring pores and canals for filtering food. They are incredibly resilient, capable of surviving extreme conditions and reproducing both sexually and asexually. During Snowball Earth, sponges played a crucial role in oxygenating the oceans by feeding on cyanobacteria, paving the way for more complex life forms. Their filter-feeding habits allowed for the evolution of larger photosynthesizers, which contributed to the rise in ocean oxygen levels, ultimately supporting the diversification of animal life.

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