Niles Eldredge

Niles Eldredge is an American paleontologist best known for his work on evolutionary theory, particularly the concept of "punctuated equilibrium." This idea, developed with Stephen Jay Gould, suggests that species evolve mainly in short bursts of significant change, interspersed with long periods of stability. This challenged the traditional view that evolution occurs gradually and steadily. Eldredge’s research emphasizes the importance of fossil records in understanding the history of life on Earth. His contributions have influenced how scientists study evolutionary processes and the development of species over time.