boring billion

American  

[bawr-ing bil-yuhn] / ˈbɔr ɪŋ ˈbɪl yən /

noun

1. a period in the earth's development occurring between 1,800 and 800 million years ago that is characterized by relative geological and climatic stability, slow evolutionary development, and low levels of atmospheric oxygen.

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Etymology

Origin of boring billion

First recorded in 2005–10

Example Sentences

A striking pattern emerged: a steady thinning of the crust throughout the so-called boring billion.

From National Geographic • Feb. 11, 2021

His team’s work adds even more intrigue to the boring billion, and underscores a point some scientists have brought up in the past: Perhaps this age may have not been so dull.

From National Geographic • Feb. 11, 2021

The team suggests that this slowdown resulted from changes in how heat was distributed on Earth's surface during the boring billion, when the continents largely clustered in a single supercontinent.

From National Geographic • Feb. 11, 2021