Introduction to Paleontology

Taking a virtual walk from the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol to explore the 4.54 billion-year history of Earth, with each stride representing 1 to 2 million years; along the way, fossils paint a picture of life on Earth from its start.

Learning about those whose curiosity about the Earth and its fossils leads to the development of the science of paleontology; studying the geographic, climatic and chemical requirements for a living organism to leave behind its fossilized record.

In addition to the basic mechanical tools still used in the field today, paleontologists have an exciting digital tool chest; dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and x-ray computer tomography and their use to examine fossils of varying sizes and shapes.

While the fossilized remains of some organisms are rarely found, the evidence of their existence, as they interacted with the environment, exists; learning how trace fossils help understand the early evolution of the biosphere and animal life.

Learning how much the scientific name of an animal, past or present, really matters; from Carl Linnaeus' Systema Naturae to the modern system of cladistics, exploring how much can be learned about the history of life on Earth through classification.

Paleontology offers a lens to view how the planet's 4,400 minerals develop over years, both influencing and being influenced by the evolving biosphere; learning how Earth's few primordial minerals interact with liquid water; studying photosynthesis.