Charles Darwin's legacy

At the age of 22, Charles Darwin sailed around the world on the HMS Beagle, happening upon new landscapes, cultures and, of course, animals. During his travels, he developed his scientific theory of evolution. Fossils in particular raised questions for the young Darwin. As he examined the bones of large, extinct mammals and fossilized trees, he thought about deep time.

Darwin kept extensive journals during his travels, as well as 1,750 pages of notes — like these drawings of finches from the Galapagos Islands with beaks adapted to different diets. He collected bones and carcasses to bring back. Upon returning to London, he published his diaries as the "Journal of Researches Into the Geology and Natural History of the Various Countries Visited by H.M.S. Beagle."

After figuring out that individuals in a population who were best suited to their surroundings were more likely to live and therefore, pass on their genes — i.e. his theory of natural selection — Darwin eventually published his seminal work "On the Origin of Species" in 1859. He was very concerned about how the book and his ideas would be received in Victorian England.

The church dismissed Darwin's theories. However, Darwin's friends and colleagues in the scientific community largely accepted the concept of evolution, though natural selection received less support at the time. Darwin would go on to tweak and update "On the Origins of Species" six times, putting out respective editions.

Darwin later wrote "The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex" in 1871, though by that time, his ideas were more widely accepted. This book looked into natural selection among humans. He wrote many other works during his life, often focusing on specific species or small sections of the animal or plant kingdoms.

Today, many people venture to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador to observe the natural beauty and the diverse array of wildlife — the place where Darwin's ideas first began to take root. The Charles Darwin Research Station still carries out scientific research, and works to conserve the islands' rich biodiversity.