Three Eras of Cosmic Evolution

* Article: Three eras of cosmic evolution. By Eric Chaisson. World Futures The Journal of General Evolution 23:11, April 1987.

URL = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234360985_Three_eras_of_cosmic_evolution

Abstract

"Major stages in the evolution of the universe are discussed as a background for the study of the nature and distribution of life.

The history of the universe since the time of the Big Bang is divided into six epochs,

• corresponding to chaos, the hadron epoch, and the lepton epoch, which collectively make up the radiation era,

• and the atom epoch, the galaxy epoch and the stellar epoch, which make up the matter era.

The scenario of cosmic evolution, which links the development of galaxies, stars, heavy elements, life, intelligence, technology and the future, is examined as an alternative formulation of the history of the universe which illustrates the progression from simplicity to complexity. Problem areas in the understanding of the evolution of the universe are considered, including galaxy formation, the origin of life and chemical evolution in interstellar space.

• The transformation from the matter era to the life era, signaled by the emergence of technologically intelligent life, is finally discussed as second in importance only to the transformation from the radiation era to the matter era."

(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234360985_Three_eras_of_cosmic_evolution)