The man who discovered the 'abyss of time' - BBC News

In the 1700s, geologist James Hutton discovered a rock formation in Scotland that transformed how we think about time.

Through studying the rocky headland of Siccar Point, Hutton identified the existence of ‘deep time’ – proving that Earth is millions, not thousands, of years old.

#Science #History #BBCNews

[FluffyKittenofMordor]

Time is so unfathomably big. To be able to physically touch something that existed when humanity was not even at its infancy is sublime.

[scientifico]

I've been trying to come to terms with big time, the changing of things on geological scales. Its helped me to frame my life, to put myself and my wants and desires, my ideas of legacy and impermanence on a new scale of importance... and ultimately we are all unimportant. This great civilization is a blink, and we are like falling leaves, one shell on the beach. So love when you can, laugh when you can, do what you can... or sit quietly and watch the clouds roll by. All we have is this humble moment.

[stevie-ray]

Scotland is such an amazing place geologically, with some parts once attached to the rocks east of Manhattan Island, New York!

[Steamforger]

That's the wrong James Hutton at 0:41 - that's another James Hutton who was a minister/bookseller who died in 1795. The National Portrait Gallery you licensed the image from literally has the details in the description.

[harrietharlow]

I'm a huge James Hutton fan and geology buff so this is very enjoyable. I love his 'no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end'. What a beautiful description of the immensity of time. It's mind-blowing if you think about it for a bit.

[jamiebill]

What an absolutely beautiful voice on the bonnie lass. Both talking and then when she started singing 🤯🔥🥰

[kimberlyperrotis]

I fell in love with geology in the first intro course I took to fulfill the general physical science requirement. I immediately switched my academic course to geology and went on to become an environmental geologist. What a wonderful career I had, I am now retired. This career offers the two things all workers most want: autonomy and variety I was never bored once in my career. The salary and benefits are very good, and there is lots of opportunity for travel, too. There is math through calculus, chemistry and physics to get through, but if I can do it, anyone can. I encourage any person who loves the environment and working outdoors to consider it as a career, geologists consistently report the highest job satisfaction over workers of every other career.

[donnadamelio]

Loved the photography. Scotland is such a unique country, not just the shoreline but the highlands as well. So much history written in its various layers of rock and sediments over billions of years, it is truly an environment worth exploring.

[imredeeming]

Siccar point is the most sacred place in the world for geologists. The Bethlehem and Mecca of Geology

[ronitennant]

This was so much more poetic and romantic than I expected. Very nice!

[drewcampbell]

Hutton is my favourite scientific figure from history. Thrawn, often unkempt and (some say) quite uncouth, his leap of imagination is simply one of the most staggering insights ever made by a human. And that thrawnness was essential too; essential to stand up to received wisdom in the more learned scientific community and defy the political power of dogmatic religious belief. What a man!

[joe.oneill]

Fascinating how Hutton was able to calculate such a huge difference in the age of the Earth from what was commonly accepted.

[mj]

wow he managed to clone himself and talk a lot about rocks all in the same video

[adhoc]

One can only imagine how Leonardo da Vinci must have felt when he found seashells high up in the Alps . .

[rhmendelson]

This was PHENOMENAL!
A treat for the eye, and the heart. ❤ Thank you for a lovely production BBC!

[ufosrus]

It's been ages since I took college geology courses, so thanks for reminding me about Hutton. Science aside, these two men sure look alike and could pass for siblings. 😊

[mikekolokowsky]

It’s really hard to break out of your own self importance and realize how big time is, how vast space is, then get walloped by the realization that time and space are kind of the same thing. Most people get uncomfortable for a moment before scurrying back to their little burrows of the the all important, everlasting familiar daily routine. I try to keep my mind swimming in the thought of endlessness before the real world comes to drag me back to its trifle.

[charelldrivessocal]

These two guys look so much alike they could be brothers.

[MatthewHarrold]

There is a beautiful structure to this 13 minutes of truth ... from observation and hypothesis to science and music/culture, to eventually present/future threats. The BBC is truly a world treasure that needs a modern funding model that doesn't include an antiquated TV tax. Excellent reporting. $0.02

[hellyripphin]

What a beautiful piece. Congratulations to the authors/ creators for a wonderfully assembled vignette.