MemCast
MemCast / episode / insight
Vision transformed passive darkness into active understanding, sparking the Cambrian explosion
  • In the pre‑Cambrian seas there was abundant light but no eyes, so life existed in pure darkness.
  • The first light‑sensing creatures, trilobites, appeared about 540 million years ago, introducing the ability to detect other organisms.
  • This new sense allowed organisms to perceive a world of many “selves,” creating a competitive arena that drove rapid diversification.
  • Li argues that this visual feedback loop was the engine of the Cambrian “big bang” of animal life.
  • The story illustrates how a single sensory capability can reshape an entire ecosystem.
Fei‑Fei LiTED00:00:18

Supporting quotes

黑暗并非因为缺乏光线,而是因为缺乏观察的眼睛。 Fei‑Fei Li
三叶虫——第一种能感光的生物,出现了。 Fei‑Fei Li
视觉被认为推动了寒武纪生命大爆发。 Fei‑Fei Li

From this concept

From Darkness to Insight: Vision as Evolutionary Catalyst

Li traces the story from a primordial, eyeless ocean to the emergence of light-sensing trilobites, showing how vision turned passive darkness into active understanding, which in turn birthed intelligence and curiosity. The narrative frames vision as the first feedback loop that let organisms not just see but act on what they see.

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