Charles Darwin's journey on the HMS Beagle from 1831 to 1836 was a huge part of how he came up with his ideas about evolution and natural selection. During this five-year trip, Darwin visited many different places, collected information, and made observations that really shaped his thoughts.

1. Important Discoveries:

• Galapagos Islands: Here, Darwin found many types of finches. These birds had different beak sizes and shapes that helped them eat different kinds of food. He found 13 unique species of finches, which showed how species can change over time to fit into their environment.

• Fossils: In South America, Darwin looked at fossils and saw that many old species were similar to animals we have today. This supported his idea that species change over generations.

2. Natural Selection:

• Darwin suggested that animals with helpful traits are more likely to survive and have babies. He called this natural selection. He summed it up with a simple formula: variability + competition = survival of the fittest.

3. Population Growth:

• He estimated that if one pair of elephants had as many babies as they could, their family line could grow to over 19 million in just 750 years. This showed how fast animal populations can grow and compete for resources.

These important ideas helped Darwin write his famous book, "On the Origin of Species," in 1859. This book changed the way we think about biology forever.