Main Content
Humans have walked the Earth for 190,000 years, a mere blip in Earth's 4.5-billion-year history. Learn more about the planet's tumultuous past.
More About the Prehistoric World
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Prehistoric Time Line
National Geographic's interactive time line takes you on a 4.5-billion-year-old trip through Earth's history⎯from its Precambrian birth to the birth of Homo sapiens some 190,000 years ago.
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Pterosaurs—Lords of the Ancient Skies
The largest animals that ever flew, pterosaurs ruled the Mesozoic skies for 150 million years, flapping and soaring long before the first bird ruffled a single feather.
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Fossil Wars
In the international fossil trade, even priceless specimens have a price tag. Ancient bones can end up in a movie star's mansion as easily as in a museum.
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Mass Extinctions
More than 90 percent of all organisms that have ever lived on Earth are extinct. Learn how millions of creatures can disappear in a geological blink of an eye—and see what might be next.
Quizzes
2010 Emerging Explorers
National Geographic's Emerging Explorers Program recognizes and supports uniquely gifted and inspiring young adventurers, scientists, photographers, and storytellers—explorers who are already making a difference early in their careers.
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Bolortsetseg Minjin, Paleontologist
Bolortsetseg hopes to inspire a new generation of Mongolian paleontologists through outreach programs with schools, museums, and the nation’s educational TV channel.
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Beth Shapiro, Molecular Biologist
Beth Shapiro is analyzing ancient DNA samples and statistical models that will give science a whole new view of our tumultuous past.
Expedition Mongolia
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Join the Expedition
Help Emerging Explorer Albert Lin find the lost tomb of Genghis Khan by joining the crowdsourcing effort to scan satellite images for clues. A ground team in Mongolia will investigate the clues suggested by the community. You'll be breaking ground in archaeology, without actually breaking any ground!
Science Topics
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The Great Energy Challenge
Better understand the need for clean energy and learn how to be part of the solution.
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Your Oil Spill IQ
You know the Gulf is a mess, but how much do you really know about oil spills?
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Personal Energy Meter
See how you measure up against others, and how changes at home could do tons to protect the planet.
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Your Energy Diet
Reducing power use is a like taking off extra pounds. These small steps may help heal the planet, and save you money.
My Shot National Parks
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Parks Infinite Photograph
Zoom in on a spectacular national park photo to reveal hundreds more photos making up the original.
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National Park Jigsaw Puzzles
Scroll through hundreds of national park images. Click on a thumbnail to play a jigsaw puzzle.
Special Ad Section
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Play Game
Visit river rescue sites and save the ecosystem!
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Audio Slideshow
Take a photographic journey through Montana and hear Annie Griffiths Belt's narrative.
