Donald R Prothero
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Various historic volcanoes, and the ability to survive them. It includes the Toba volcano, from Indonesia.
"The true story of the explosion of the Mount Toba supervolcano, the largest eruption in the past 28 million years, and its lasting impact on Earth and human evolution."--
Some 73,000 years ago the eruption of the Toba supervolcano released the energy of a million tons of explosives; seven hundred cubic miles of magma spewed outward in an explosion,...
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Devastating natural disasters have profoundly shaped human history, leaving us with a respect for the mighty power of the Earth, and a humbling view of our future. The author, a paleontologist and a geologist tells the harrowing human stories behind these catastrophic events. He describes in detail some of the most important natural disasters in history: the New Madrid, Missouri, earthquakes of 1811-1812 that caused church bells to ring in Boston;...
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"Perhaps nudged over the evolutionary cliff by a giant boloid striking the Earth, the incredible and fascinating group of animals called dinosaurs (except for their feathered descendants) became extinct some 65 million years ago. In their place evolved an enormous variety of land creatures, especially the mammals, which in their way were every bit as remarkable as their Mesozoic cousins." "The Age of Mammals, the Cenozoic Era, has never had its Jurassic...
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"Every rock is a tangible trace of the earth's past. The Story of the Earth in 25 Rocks tells the fascinating stories behind the discoveries that shook the foundations of geology. In twenty-five chapters--each about a particular rock, outcrop, or geologic phenomenon--Donald R. Prothero recounts the scientific detective work that shaped our understanding of geology, from the unearthing of exemplary specimens to tectonic shifts in how we view the inner...
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It took centuries of scientific effort--and a lot of luck--to discover and establish the diversity of dinosaur species we now know. How did we learn that Triceratops had three horns? Why don't many paleontologists consider Brontosaurus a valid species? What convinced scientists that modern birds are relatives of ancient Velociraptor? In this book, Donald R. Prothero tells the fascinating stories behind the most important fossil finds and the intrepid...
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"The theory of evolution unites the past, present, and future of living things. It puts humanity's place in the universe into necessary perspective. Despite a history of controversy, the evidence for evolution continues to accumulate as a result of many separate strands of incredible scientific sleuthing. In The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries, Donald R. Prothero explores the most fascinating breakthroughs in piecing together the evidence for...
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"Aliens. Ley lines. Water dowsing. Conspiracies and myths captivate imaginations and promise mystery and magic. Whether it's arguing about the moon landing hoax or a Frisbee-like Earth drifting through space, when held up to science and critical thinking, these ideas fall flat ... In 'Weird Earth. Debunking Strange Ideas About Our Planet, ' Donald R. Prothero demystifies these conspiracies and offers answers to some of humanity's most outlandish questions."--Publisher's...
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Describes the Eocene-Oligocene extinctions, an important turning-point in Earth history approximately 40 million years ago, when the first signs of Antarctic glaciation appeared. The text relates how, during a period of global cooling, the planet's climate and vegetation changed dramatically.
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"Over the past twenty years, paleontologists have made tremendous fossil discoveries, including fossils that mark the growth of whales, manatees, and seals from land mammals and the origins of elephants, horses, and rhinos. Today there exists an amazing diversity of fossil humans, suggesting we walked upright long before we acquired large brains, and new evidence from molecules that enable scientists to decipher the tree of life as never before. The...
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Throughout our history, humans have been captivated by mythic beasts and legendary creatures. Tales of Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Loch Ness monster are part of our collective experience. Now comes a book from two dedicated investigators that explores and elucidates the fascinating world of cryptozoology. Daniel Loxton and Donald R. Prothero have written an entertaining, educational, and definitive text on cryptids, presenting the arguments both for...