History of the Old Earth

The age of the Earth is crucial to understanding evolution and the fossil record, and the first expressed contemplation of an old Earth was associated with discussions of stratigraphy and biological evolution (Al Biruni, see Week 2).

History of YOUNG Earth Buffon Hutton and Lyell Kelvin Ernest Rutherford 

Buffon

In Les époques de la nature (1778) Buffon discussed the origins of the solar system, speculating that the planets had been created by a comet's collision with the sun. He also suggested that the earth originated much earlier than 4004 BC, the date determined by Archbishop Ussher. Based on the cooling rate of iron balls he calculated an age for the earth of about 75,000 years. His ideas made the elites at the University of Paris angry, and he retraced his statements.

Buffon doing one of his many famous experiments

Buffon doing one of his many famous experiments

  

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