Evolution is a very hot topic, causing much controversy for almost 200 years. It is the belief that creatures have changed and adapted to their environments over time and that the Earth is more than 6,000 years old. This has been proven to be true using radiometric dating, proving that some things are millions of years old. Another theory that contributes to this is the theory of uniformitarianism. This shows layers of rock that are more than 6,000 years old, built on top of each other, showing a timeline of the rock. Evolution has been understood in layers by various scientists over the years. Some made little bits of it in their earlier writings, but it wasn't really put together until Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species." He obtained information from a collection of other previous writings and from his trip to the Galapagos Islands, where he observed various differences between species to adapt to their environments. According to his research, there were turtles with elongated necks, living in areas where food was higher in the air than in other places (Darwin). This is what one might take as an example of adaptation, an adaptation being a characteristic that allows an organism to survive better in its environment. Darwin's investigation into evolution began when he traveled to the Galapagos Islands, where he collected evidence that he would eventually include in his book. While on the Galapagos Islands, he discovered finches with beaks built to penetrate the specific type of nut found on their island, and birds on other islands also had corresponding beaks. He also found the previously mentioned turtles, another key example of animals adapting to their environment. This demonstrates the ability, above... middle of paper ......d as "the rapid evolution of many species other than ancestral species" (Nowicki). This is caused by punctuated equilibrium, being "bursts of evolutionary activity followed by long periods of speciation" (Nowicki). During these explosions adaptive radiation occurs, and this is how many species are linked to a common ancestor. Overall, evolution is a very broad topic, very controversial, and causes a lot of problems in the scientific community. What is set out above is a collection of some of the most important principles of evolution, intended to provide a broader explanation of evolution, so that those who may not know much about it can now understand the basic facts. These are the basics, so don't think this is all the information. Use it with caution, because there are always people who know more than you.