In this video, I go over why the period between about 1.8 billion years ago and 800 million years ago is called the Boring Billion and whether it was really that boring or if this is an outdated name. I start by discussing the life that was around during the boring billion then go into the geology and ocean chemistry of the time and how events such as the formation of the first supercontinent, snowball earth, and the first rise in molecular oxygen on Earth affected the evolution and diversification of life, especially complex, multicellular life. I then discuss why the ocean remained largely sulfidic and anoxic (lacking oxygen) throughout the boring billion and why it was drastically different in the periods directly before and after the boring billion during the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) and Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event (NOE). I close out the video by concluding whether the boring billion was really boring or if this name should be updated. Let me know your opinion in the comments! ;)

References:
1. Tectonics during Boring Billion: Roberts, 2013: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2013....
2. Breakup of Rodinia: Li, 2011: https://doi.org/10.1007/9781402092...
3. Overview of Earth's Oxygenation & its Effects on Life: Lyons et al., 2021: https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2020.2418
4. Rise of Atmospheric O2: Kump, 2008: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06587
5. Evolution of Ocean Chemistry: Anbar & Knoll, 2002: https://doi.org/10.1126/SCIENCE.1069651
6. Sluggish MidProterozoic Biosphere: Ozaki et al., 2019: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30281...
7. Canfield et al., 2020: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2...
8. Yang et al., 2017: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2...
9. Breaking the Boring Billion: Diamond et al., 2021: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/97811195074...
9 (sorry I put 9 twice, this is the 2nd one). KrissansenTotton et al., 2015: https://doi.org/10.2475/04.2015.01
10. Role of Anoxygenic Photosynthesis: Johnston et al., 2009: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0909248106
Other minor references:
Earth System History: https://amzn.to/3v1Iy0G
Geomicrobiology: https://amzn.to/2WAloTR
O2 Overshoot during GOE: Bekker & Holland, 2012: https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EPSL.2011.1...

GEO GIRL Website: https://www.geogirlscience.com/ (visit my website to see all my courses, shop merch, learn more about me, & donate to support the channel if you'd like!)

0:00 Video Outline
0:42 What was the Boring Billion?
2:57 Life in the Boring Billion
5:54 What Delayed Biodiversification?
8:18 Geology of the Boring Billion
10:30 Oxygen in the Boring Billion
16:10 Oceanic Oxygen Oases
17:57 Nutrient Limitation
20:54 Anoxygenic Photosynthesis
22:52 Warm Despite Lack of CH4
25:24 After the Boring Billion
26:30 Was it really Boring?
27:11 References & Related Videos

Hey there, Earth enthusiast! Check my favorite Earthfriendly products:
Bamboo toilet paper: https://shrsl.com/3cvku
Bamboo paper towels: https://shrsl.com/3cvkw
Compostable tableware: https://shrsl.com/3cvkz
Compostable trash bags: https://shrsl.com/3cvl0
Bamboo cutlery + straw! : https://shrsl.com/3cwfl
EcoFriendly Tote (great for grocery shopping!): https://shrsl.com/3cwfp
Reusable straws + cleaning brushes (my fav!): https://shrsl.com/3cwft
Ecofriendly laundry detergent: https://shrsl.com/3cwgo

Directly offset your carbon footprint with Wren: https://shrsl.com/3d0t2
(Just click link, press get started, take the free C footprint quiz, then choose how much you want to reduce your footprint by donating to the C sequestration projects they're funding!)

Nontextbook books I recommend:
Oxygen by D. Canfield: https://amzn.to/3gffbCL
Brief history of Earth by A. Knoll: https://amzn.to/3w3hC1I
Life on young planet by A. Knoll: https://amzn.to/2RBMpny
Some assembly required by N. Shubin: https://amzn.to/3w1Ezm2
Your inner fish by N. Shubin: https://amzn.to/3cpw3Wb
Oxygen by N. Lane: https://amzn.to/3z4FgwZ
Alien Oceans by K. Hand: https://amzn.to/3clMx1l
Life's Engines: https://amzn.to/3w1Nhke

Tools I use as a geologist/teacher/student:
Geology field notebook: https://amzn.to/3lb6dJf
Geology rock hammer: https://amzn.to/3DZw8MA
Geological compass: https://amzn.to/3hfbdLu
Geological hand lens: https://amzn.to/3jXysM5
Camera: https://amzn.to/3l6fGRT
Carbonneutral pencil bag: https://shrsl.com/3cvjv
Carbonneutral backpack: https://shrsl.com/3cvkc

Disclaimer: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission, but there is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!