430                        The Bible According to Einstein

Now microbes were among Nature’s most basic and most early forms of life. In the beginning more than three-and-a-half-billion years ago, there were primitive hyperthermophiles, microorganisms that thrived in extremely heated waters. And with time, microbes evolved. And what was their phylogenic tree? Embryonic microbes branched out to two main types: archaea and bacteria. And archaea would survive more than three-billion years of biological battles to become a modern phylogenic kingdom. They would dwell in the harshest of environments – hot springs, extremely salty waters, sulfurous pools, in mineral-laden sea-deep vents, and in ecosystems almost devoid of diatomic oxygen. They would be the great survivors, living where no others could. Now after several hundred-million years, the primordial hyperthermophilic archaea would branch into methanogens, which produce methane as a waste, and hydrogen-sulfide feeding microorganisms, which use sulfur instead of oxygen for metabolic processing. Eventually after hundreds of millions of years, some archaea would evolve to salt-loving halophiles, among which would be halobacteria, capable of performing photosynthesis based on carotenoids, yellow pigments that function as a weaker form of chlorophyll.¹³² And some species of methanogens, halophiles, archaeal hyperthermophiles and mineral-processing archaea would survive several billion years and unto this day. Now bacteria would have an even more "successful" history. Not only would they survive in harsh environments, but they would spread throughout the World. After several hundred-million years, green bacteria would emerge, some using sulfur in their metabolic processes, others using chlorophyll to photosynthesize. Now eventually, cyanobacteria would arise, which not only photosynthesized but produced O₂ as waste.¹³³ And later, purple photosynthetic bacteria emerged.¹³⁴ And species of cyanobacteria as well as thermophilic, green and purple bacteria would survive for billions of years to become a modern phylogenic kingdom.

The Old Testament                                       431

     Now it would take almost two-billion years for a third group of microbes to emerge. They would be the eukaryotic microorganisms with sophisticated cells. And they too would survive unto this day. Hence, in modern times there would be three main types of microbes: archaea, bacteria, and eukarya.
     And throughout geo-history, each microbial type would branch out into more specific forms – simple and complex types would be achieved. Their numbers would increase steadily with time. They would become the common denominator of all life, the biological base – the pyramids of life would be constructed on their backs. Bacteria would be basic. Microbes would be the masters of the World.
     And throughout geo-history, sometimes mass extinctions would strike Earth’s life. And many forms of life would disappear forever. And among the fauna and the flora, there would be many losers and few winners. But among the winners would be microbes – they would always win the battles, for they would be most robust. Thus microbes would survive the mass extinctions.
     And trilobites would one day dominate the sea but later die. And dinosaurs would one day dominate the land but later die. But microbes would verily survive. And feeding on the dead remains of others, they would even thrive.
     And in modern times, man would think he was the master of the World. Microbes would verily "know better." They would really rule the World.

Microbes have built the strongest house.