TED Talks Daily Hunting for dinosaurs showed me our place in the universe | Kennet Lacovara
Jun 17, 2020
Paleontologist Kenneth Lacovara, famed for discovering the gigantic Dreadnoughtus, shares his thrilling journey in the fossil-rich regions of Patagonia. He discusses the meticulous methods paleontologists use to unearth these ancient giants and ponders the astonishing evolution of life from small mammals to intelligent beings. Lacovara reflects on how understanding dinosaurs can illuminate our current challenges and emphasizes the necessity for humanity to learn from the past to create a sustainable future.
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Dinosaur Fossil Hunting Formula
- To find dinosaur fossils, locate rocks of the right age and type.
- Seek sedimentary rocks naturally exposed in desert environments.
Earth's Rock Record
- Earth's geological history is written in rocks, oldest at the bottom, youngest on top.
- Geological processes disrupt this order, making the record incomplete and complex.
Patagonian Discovery
- In Patagonia, Kenneth Lacovara found a 2.2-meter femur, initially isolated.
- The next year, he discovered another, linked to 145 other bones of a new species.