It's important to note that in geologic terms, the Cambrian Explosion really refers to the proliferation of hard-bodied organisms. There's almost definitely a

It's important to note that in geologic terms, the Cambrian Explosion really refers to the proliferation of hard-bodied organisms. There's almost definitely a sudden increase in global biodiversity, but it's an increase in fossil preservation that gives it the name "Cambrian Explosion". Fairly complex lifeforms were around well before the Cambrian (e.g. the Ediacaran Fauna [1]), and even some hard-bodied organisms were around before (the "small shelly fauna" [2]). At the start of the Cambrian, though, hard body parts (i.e. biomineralization) really took off. It's often hypothesized to be an "evolutionary arms race" with armor and teeth. In that context, weathering of the continents influencing the chemical composition of the seas and therefore making it easier for organisms to grow hard body parts starts to make a lot more sense. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ediacara_biota http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ediacara_biota [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_shelly_fauna https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_shelly_fauna Also, I just noticed that the article links to something in New Scientist. The paper it refers to was published earlier in Nature: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v484/n7394/abs/nature10969.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v484/n7394/abs/nature10... Google Scholar tells me there's a pdf here, if anyone is interested: http://211.144.68.84:9998/91keshi/Public/File/34/484-7394/pdf/nature10969.pdf http://211.144.68.84:9998/91keshi/Public/File/34/484-7394/pd...