Which eon began around 541 million years ago and continues to the present?

The Phanerozoic Eon began approximately 541 million years ago and encompasses the present day. This eon is significant because it marks a time when abundant and diverse life forms began to flourish on Earth, leading to the development of complex multicellular organisms. The Phanerozoic is divided into three geological eras: the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic, each characterized by distinct biological, geological, and climatic events.

During this eon, important evolutionary milestones occurred, such as the Cambrian Explosion, which saw a rapid increase in the diversity of life. The presence of well-preserved fossil records from this period allows scientists to study and understand the evolution of life over millions of years. Contrasting this with the other eons, the Archean, Proterozoic, and Hadean periods precede the Phanerozoic, and they primarily encompass the formation of the Earth, the development of simple life forms, and the gradual increase of atmospheric oxygen, but they do not include the diverse flora and fauna that characterize the current era.