Geological Sciences | Science Communication
Boulder, Colo.: While wildfires over recent years have raged across much of the western United States and pose significant hazards to wildlife and local populations, wildfires have been a long-standing part of Earth’s systems without the influence of humans for hundreds of millions of years. “Wildfire has been an integral component in earth-system processes for… Continue reading Earliest record of wildfires provide insights to Earth’s past vegetation and oxygen levels
via Fossil discovery reveals that trilobites had clasper-like limbs used for mating Boulder, Colo., USA: Thanks to their easily fossilized exoskeleton, trilobites largely dominate the fossil record of early complex animal life. However, trilobite appendages and the anatomy of the underside of their body are typically not well preserved, which makes it difficult to infer… Continue reading Fossil discovery reveals that trilobites had clasper-like limbs used for mating
https://youtu.be/C7OS_gpFl2Y Not too long ago at a theme park not too far away, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland—and soon at Walt Disney World—transporting people to Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu. While the tall rock spires of Batuu enhance the other-wordly experience, they take their inspiration from some very real rocks… Continue reading The Geology of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge | Black Spire Outpost, Batuu
If you ever happen to find yourself at the Clinch Mountain Lookout Restaurant in Thorn Hill, Tennessee, be sure to 1) try a piece of their vinegar pie and 2) ask to check out the spectacular outcrop featuring trilobite trace fossils directly behind the restaurant. Trace fossils are not remains of the organism itself (i.e. a… Continue reading Trilobite trace fossils
The Thornton Quarry located near Chicago, Illinois is the site of a 420 million year old Silurian reef. The reef was formed in a shallow shelf, epicontinental sea environment, so the rocks of the quarry are filled with fossils! Many of the beds in the quarry are naturally gently tilted, and the structure has an… Continue reading Thornton Quarry, Illinois
This is my pet trilobite. His name is Teddy. He’s been dead for probably around 400 million years, and I believe he’s a Devonian-aged specimen from Morocco (though I’m not entirely sure). Back when he was alive, Teddy and his other trilobite friends were among the dominant Paleozoic fauna but finally went extinct during the… Continue reading Trilobites
Severity: TBD Cause: Fossil fuel combustion Climate: Rapid climate change, sea level change, ocean acidification, ocean anoxia, ozone destruction Aftermath: ?? Mass extinction aren’t just something of the past; it’s commonly accepted that we’re in one right now. While the Anthropocene isn’t yet an official epoch, there is mounting evidence to suggest that human activity has caused such a… Continue reading Mass Extinction Monday | BONUS – THE ANTHROPOCENE (present day)
[Also formerly known as the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) and now as the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction] Severity: 5th worst Cause: Meteorite impact released CO2 from carbonates Climate: Cold (SO2) then warm (CO2) Aftermath: Mammals arise Even though the End-Cretaceous is the least severe of all the mass extinctions, with 62% of species and 11% of families wiped… Continue reading Mass Extinction Monday | END-CRETACEOUS (65 Ma)
Severity: 4th worst Cause: Central Atlantic Flood Basalts, meteorite impact (?) Climate: Hot; Pangaea mostly desert Aftermath: Dinosaurs diversify Only 50 My after the End-Permian extinction, 65% of species and 12% of families were wiped out during the End-Triassic extinction. The exact cause of this extinction is still not very well constrained. It could possibly… Continue reading Mass Extinction Monday | END-TRIASSIC (200 Ma)
Severity: 1st worst Cause: Eruption of Siberian Traps Climate: Cold to extremely warm; ocean acidification and anoxia, ozone destruction Aftermath: Permanent ecosystem reorganization; low O2 for >106 years There’s good reason why the End-Permian extinction is referred to as “The Great Dying”; 95% of all species, 53% of all marine families, 84% of marine genera,… Continue reading Mass Extinction Monday | END-PERMIAN (250 Ma) – “The Great Dying”
Emily Zawacki, Ph.D. 