Intricate mechanisms like the DNA double helix and cellular energy production are identical across all life forms. The sheer complexity makes it statistically impossible for them to have evolved twice, serving as irrefutable evidence that all species descended from one common ancestor.
Species from different branches of the tree of life often independently develop similar traits to solve the same problem, like swallows and swifts evolving for aerial insect hunting. This 'convergent evolution' makes them appear closely related, posing a significant challenge to accurately mapping evolutionary history.
By mapping which modern species share a particular trait (e.g., a backbone), scientists can deduce when that trait first appeared in a common ancestor. This method allows them to reconstruct the characteristics of ancient creatures from millions of years ago, even without direct fossil evidence.
Plants like the Venus flytrap can be 'put to sleep' using the same anesthetic drugs that work on animals. This exposure eliminates their electrical signals and response to stimuli, suggesting a deeply conserved biological mechanism for consciousness or responsiveness across different kingdoms of life.
Being rooted and unable to escape danger, plants evolved to be highly predictive. They must anticipate changes in light, seasons, and resources to survive. This immobility, often seen as a weakness, is actually the evolutionary driver for a sophisticated form of forward-thinking intelligence.
To overcome the limitations of wheeled rovers getting stuck, future exploration robots may be inspired by plant growth. Instead of moving through space, they will 'grow' through it, extending structures from one point to another. This approach allows for traversing difficult terrain and creating a distributed information network.