Our speaker - Dr Annabel Cartwright, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Cardiff

The sudden emergence of complex life on Earth, in the Cambrian and Ordovician periods 540 to 440 m years ago, coincided with the resurfacing of our nearest neighbour, Venus in a violent volcanic phase. Before this, Venus may have been more hospitable with shallow seas and a less toxic atmosphere.

Current models indicate that Venus may have been habitable. Complex life may have evolved on the highly irradiated Venus and transferred to Earth on asteroids. This model fits the pattern of pulses of highly developed life appearing, diversifying and going extinct with astonishing rapidity through the Cambrian and Ordovician periods, and also explains the extraordinary genetic variety which appeared over this period.

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