Your Time Machine Broke - At The Worst Time In History

Summary

This script takes the viewer on a harrowing journey through different eras of Earth's history, showcasing extreme environments from the Early Triassic to the Early Devonian. The protagonist, trapped in a malfunctioning time machine, experiences hostile conditions—searing heat, desert wastelands, toxic air, and bizarre alien landscapes populated by oversized arthropods and fungal towers. The narrative paints a vivid picture of a planet ravaged by mass extinctions, fluctuating climates, and strange life forms. The journey ultimately pushes the limits of survival, culminating in an unexpected call to rebuild civilization amidst the chaos.

Takeaways

• 😀 You are trapped in the Early Triassic period, 250 million years ago, in a harsh, CO2-rich environment with extreme heat and dryness.
• 😀 The Earth during this time is suffering from a permanent fever due to intense volcanism and the runaway greenhouse effect.
• 😀 The supercontinent Pangea has formed, creating the largest desert in Earth's history, with almost no rain and extreme temperatures.
• 😀 The atmosphere contains three to five times more CO2 than today, making breathing difficult and causing your body to rapidly dehydrate.
• 😀 Sandstorms, dust devils, and searing temperatures constantly threaten your survival in this hellish landscape.
• 😀 The Tethys Sea, though a shallow ocean, is a toxic, hot, and oxygen-starved environment filled with bacteria and primitive marine life.
• 😀 The atmosphere is thick with humidity and heat, making it difficult to breathe and causing your sweat to evaporate without cooling you.
• 😀 In the Late Carboniferous period, 320 million years ago, you find yourself lost in an oxygen-rich jungle filled with giant arthropods and dangerous creatures.
• 😀 The dense, humid air and 60% higher oxygen levels make breathing feel unnatural and dizzying, but it benefits the arthropods which have evolved to immense sizes.
• 😀 Your time machine takes you to the Early Devonian period, 400 million years ago, where life on land is beginning to thrive, but the air is thin and oxygen levels are low, making survival difficult.

Q & A

What is the environment like in the Early Triassic period?

The environment in the Early Triassic is extremely hot and dry, with no vegetation and little moisture in the air. The sky is cloudless and reflects intense sunlight onto an endless desert of red and orange sand dunes. The temperature can reach up to 50°C, and the air is rich in CO2, causing breathing difficulties.

Why is the Earth in such a hostile state during the Early Triassic?

Earth is in a hostile state due to the aftermath of the worst mass extinction in history. The planet is suffering from extreme volcanic activity and the runaway greenhouse effect, which has caused a permanent 'fever' and high levels of CO2. The formation of the supercontinent Pangea has also led to a massive desertification of the land.

What are the main challenges faced by the time traveler in the Early Triassic?

The main challenges include intense heat, dry air, a lack of vegetation, and the risk of dehydration and sunburn. The time traveler is also exposed to high CO2 levels, which makes breathing difficult. Additionally, their time machine is broken, and they are stranded in a desolate and hostile environment.

How does the landscape change when the time traveler arrives at the Tethys Sea?

The landscape at the Tethys Sea is more humid and swamp-like, with a few ferns and spindly plants. The water is murky, hot, and low in oxygen. Bacteria thrive in the warm environment, and the air is filled with a rotten-egg smell from hydrogen sulfide. The time traveler faces the challenge of extreme heat and discomfort in the humid atmosphere.

What is the significance of the oxygen levels in the atmosphere during the late Carboniferous period?

During the late Carboniferous, the oxygen levels in the atmosphere are significantly higher than today, around 60% more. This allows for the evolution of giant arthropods, which dominate the ecosystem. The high oxygen content also affects the time traveler’s physiology, causing dizziness and confusion.

What types of creatures inhabit the landscape in the Carboniferous period?

The Carboniferous period is dominated by giant arthropods due to the high oxygen levels. Notable species include Megarachne (a cat-sized predator), griffinfly (a giant insect with nearly 1-meter wingspans), Arthropleura (a massive millipede-like creature), and Pulmonoscorpius (a giant scorpion). These creatures are all adapted to the oxygen-rich environment.

Why is the environment in the Carboniferous period dangerous for the time traveler?

The environment is dangerous due to the extreme humidity and the presence of highly flammable plant life. The oxygen-rich atmosphere also makes everything more susceptible to catching fire, and sudden thunderstorms can occur, creating a volatile and life-threatening situation for the time traveler.

What does the landscape look like during the Early Devonian period?

In the Early Devonian period, much of the planet is covered in shallow seas, while the land is rocky with braided rivers and mudflats. The atmosphere is thin, with only 15% oxygen, and the sky appears harsh and white. Large fungal Prototaxites dominate the land, reaching up to 8 meters in height.

How does the time traveler's body react to the thin atmosphere in the Early Devonian?

The time traveler struggles to breathe due to the thin atmosphere, which has only 15% oxygen compared to today's 21%. This causes shallow, unsatisfying breaths and dizziness. The atmosphere’s low oxygen levels contribute to a sense of physical discomfort and confusion.

What is the significance of the Prototaxites fungi in the Early Devonian period?

The Prototaxites fungi are massive, towering over the landscape, and dominate the environment in the Early Devonian. They produce spores that fill the air, which irritates the time traveler’s skin and lungs. These fungi represent an early stage of land colonization by large organisms, though they are not plants in the modern sense.