The theory of evolution is a complex one, so Bill Nye broke it down using something we all can understand: Emojis!
Cartoon smileys represented molecules, and Nye explained how they hooked together—"probably with energy from the sun"—and "accidentally found ways to reproduce themselves." These molecules "could not make perfect copies of themselves," and they kept reproducing these imperfections, Nye explained in a Mashable video that was part of G.E.'s Emoji Science event.
"And pretty soon you had complicated things," said Nye, as emoji after emoji continuously popped up onscreen. These things, like bacteria, continued to reproduce, and they became things like multi cellular organisms—like barnacles, sea jelly, and as Nye joked, "even my old boss!"
"They key to this is time-—time, time, time!" said Nye, illustrating his point with a handful of clock emojis. And over the course 4.54 billion years, organisms continuously evolved, eventually creating humans and the world we know today.
Nye is a big proponent of evolution, and he's been outspoken against schools that teach Bible-based creationism instead of the science-based theory. His newly released book, Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation, explains the science behind evolution through narrative.
He also addresses why it's important for even religious schools to teach the scientific aspects of how we came to be on this earth. "My biggest concern about creationist kids is that they're compelled to suppress their common sense, to suppress their critical thinking skills at a time in human history when we need them more than ever," he told The New York Times. "By the time you're 18, you've made up your mind. It's going to be really hard for you, as they say in the Mormon tradition, to 'lose your testimony.' But if you're 7 or 8, we got a shot."