Written by Merel Dagher (PEACE Advisor)
What is the approximate age of the universe? (More than one answer may be correct)
a. 14 billion years ago
b. 14 Ga
c. 14 million years ago
d. 14 Ma
a. 14 billion years ago
b. 14 Ga
c. 14 million years ago
d. 14 Ma
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The correct answer is either a or b. The universe originated about 13.8 billion years ago, or 13.8 Ga. Remember Ma denotes million. Galaxies formed about 13.2 billion years ago; the earth formed 4.6 billion years ago, and ecological systems followed about 3.9 billion years ago. Prokaryotic communities grew in abundance about 3.5 billion years ago (stromatolites), and oxygen became prevalent in the atmosphere about 2.7 billion years ago. Eukaryotes came into existence about 2.1 billion years ago and humans evolved relatively recently, approximately 2.5 million years ago.