Storiascopio · Era 1 of 12 · primary year 3
Cyanobacteria and photosynthesis
about 2.7 billion years ago · Shallow coastal waters around the world
In short
Cyanobacteria learnt to use sunlight to get energy from water and carbon dioxide. During this process, called photosynthesis, they gave off oxygen. In shallow water they formed layered mats which over time became stromatolites.
Why it matters Photosynthesis began to change the atmosphere and made more complex life possible.
Source: Nature Communications, 2021, “Diurnal Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycling and enhanced O2 production in a simulated Archean marine oxygen oasis”
Where we are in the era “The Earth before us”
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
about 13.8 billion years agoEvent 10 of 25about 66 million years ago
Your turn
Name ______________________ Class ______ Date __________
When did it happen? Find the date at the top and write it here:
Tell it in your own words: what happened?
Draw the scene below.
storiascopio.com/en/event/cyanobacteria-and-photosynthesis/ · free worksheet, you may photocopy it for your class