Dating the Earth

The Book of Genesis states that the earth, its heavens, water, and land were formed in six days. But how old is the earth? Up until the 19th century, experts had ascertained the time of the creation at 4004 B.C., less than 6000 years earlier. However, by dating rocks, noting the lack of fossils and bacteria in some areas of the globe, and studying meteorites, geologists have determined that the earth's first landforms emerged 4 billion years ago. This program travels back in time to uncover the place where life began: volcanoes on the floor of the primordial ocean. Original BBC broadcast title: The Time Travelers. (50 minutes)