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Fossils are amazing how they are formed. The process is fossilization. I was surprised to discover that a series of mistakes must happen in order for a fossil to be created. First some living creatures must die and must some how escape the scavengers that have a roll in the food chain. The once living has to then become entombed in mud and sand.
The shroud must lie undisturbed for years so that mineralization can take place in which the tissue or cast gets filled in with sediment. Then this body turns to stone. The scientists that study these relics are called paleontologist. Dates in paleontology are usually revised backward in time, since a new find may revise an event earlier then what was discovered previously. Examining articles for the first multi-cellular organisms, First vertebrates or the pollination of insects to flowering plants. The strata of rock in which they are found date the fossils.
Measuring the extent of radioactive decay in certain isotopes they contain dates the rocks. The element carbon can exist in three different forms, Carbon 12 six protons and six neutrons, Carbon 13 six protons and seven neutrons. 12 C and 13 C are not radioactive. The rare 14 C is radioactive, its atom decay by the loss of an electron to nitrogen 14. Theirs a half-life 14 C is approximately 5, 730 years, this is how long it takes for half the atoms in and quantity to decay. The earth gains 14 C from cosmic radiation and losses it as a result of radioactive decay. Volcanic ash can be used for dating.
Ash known as mazama, with an age of 6, 720 radiocarbon years, and Glacier Peak B ash located in glacier peak Washington with an age of 11, 250 radio carbon years. Another method of dating is called molecular clock examine for genes which are descended from a common ancestral gene. Although very new this method sometimes clashes with conventional methods because its not well calibrated. I would like to refer to an article I read in Newsday health and discovery section by Time Than. A fossil named SM 3. A group of anthropologists at Mount Sinai School of Medicine study a skull that is believed to from the species of homo erectus which goes back 1. 8 million years and individuals disappeared about 100, 000 years ago.
Homo sapiens evolved after homo erectus. The discovery of how the brain was organized by examining folds in the skull. The homo erectus indicates the brain must have had cognitive specialization and ability to language. The fossil was discovered in Indonesia and bizarrely shows up in Manhattan into a collectors hand that dies and his collection brought by a natural shop called Maxilla Amandidle. The owner realized that the cranium may be very important for study and turned it over to the museum. Perhaps this unlocks missing pieces of the puzzle for paleoantropologist or changes the series of events as new finds often do.
Bibliography: Sources of References 1. The Science Times Book of Fossils and Evolution CO. 1998 By the New York Times Edited by Nicholas Wade 2. After the Ice Age by E. C.
Pilot 3. Newsday Health and Discovery, Tuesday November 14, 2000
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Research essay sample on Newsday Health And Discovery Health And Discovery Years
