How and where did the first cells form on planet Earth, 4 billion years ago?

To answer that question, we investigate why oil and water hate each other, explore the seafloor with the Titanic's discoverer, and take a relaxing dip inside a hot spring.

Extra credit: drop some olive oil into water, or make a trip to the closest hot spring in your local area.

Season 1 Finale.

What was the first living thing on Earth, when did it live, and what did it do?

Today, we end Season 1 by meeting LUCA, the oldest ancestor for every living thing on Earth today. On the way, we'll tackle how complex life formed in a chaotic universe and why it hasn't formed again, take a trip down life's family tree, and meet a deadly modern microbe- one of the closest relatives of the oldest living thing.

Thank you all for listening to Season 1, and stay tuned for Season 2!

Extra Credit: Take a look at family photos, or check your canned foods for botulism.

Is there any place today that resembles the Earth 4 billion years ago?

Surprisingly, the answer is yes... ish. Today, we'll learn a secret recipe for continents, one that made the very oldest rocks on Earth and is still making the island of Iceland today.

Along the way, we'll freeze a magma chamber solid, meet some politically contentious metals, and cross a real bridge from one tectonic plate to another.

What types of volcanoes were erupting 3.8 billion years ago?

Today, we meet a new type of rock and a new type of volcano, far more powerful and dangerous than those we've met so far. The old volcano is long dead, but the scars it left behind can still be seen across the Greenland landscape. Along the way, we'll learn how different types of lavas are made, why a few rocks can float in water, and learn about a field trip Dylan took to Iceland in 2010.

Extra Credit: Eat a grilled cheese sandwich, blow a bubble in gum, or make campfire.