Grant knew that people could not imagine geological time. Human life was lived on another scale of time entirely. An apple turned brown in a few minutes. Silverware turned black in a few days. A compost heap decayed in a season. A child grew up in a decade. None of these everyday human experiences prepared people to be able to imagine the meaning of eighty million years - the length of time that had passed since this little animal had died.
Grant understood that the vastness of geological time was beyond human comprehension. Everyday experiences shaped our perception of time on a much shorter scale, such as fruits spoiling or a child's growth. This limited understanding makes it difficult for people to grasp the concept of time spans like eighty million years, which can seem incomprehensible and abstract.
In contrast to the brief moments of human life, geological time stretches far beyond our daily experiences. For instance, while we can witness changes in a matter of minutes or days, the life and extinction of ancient creatures occur over epochs that are difficult to visualize. This disconnect emphasizes our challenge in appreciating the true age of the Earth and the significance of events that unfolded millions of years ago.
