Humans have pondered their origins for 50,000 years. In seeking evidence, scientists discover that the essence of all life is in its chemistry.

For 50,000 years, humans have grappled with the question of why they exist. Scientists have sought out the evidence. This is the story of how chemistry shaped the planet and gave rise to all life on Earth.

If the history of Earth were condensed into 24 hours, humans would have existed for just two seconds. The impact of humans' chemically induced crises goes beyond this, and chemistry must be at the core of future solutions.