fear has been to have that Finland maybe T towns like Richmond or Winton or even
T towns like Richmond or Winton or even
T towns like Richmond or Winton or even Isis food if you’ve even heard of it
Isis food if you’ve even heard of it
Isis food if you’ve even heard of it it’s a place of red dirt and grassy
it’s a place of red dirt and grassy
it’s a place of red dirt and grassy plains rolling up to rocky outcrops
plains rolling up to rocky outcrops
plains rolling up to rocky outcrops scrubby green trees days of searing heat
scrubby green trees days of searing heat
scrubby green trees days of searing heat and summer flooding rain but drought can
and summer flooding rain but drought can
and summer flooding rain but drought can strike hard and rivers run dry now I
strike hard and rivers run dry now I
strike hard and rivers run dry now I want to describe an Outback Queensland
want to describe an Outback Queensland
want to describe an Outback Queensland that might seem a little otherworldly or
that might seem a little otherworldly or
that might seem a little otherworldly or alien to your eye the weather is warm
alien to your eye the weather is warm
alien to your eye the weather is warm and wet there are great wide rivers
and wet there are great wide rivers
and wet there are great wide rivers flowing down from volcanic mountains to
flowing down from volcanic mountains to
flowing down from volcanic mountains to the east horse tails grow on the
the east horse tails grow on the
the east horse tails grow on the riverbanks the a giant conifer forests
riverbanks the a giant conifer forests
riverbanks the a giant conifer forests fans and ginkgos and flowering plants
fans and ginkgos and flowering plants
fans and ginkgos and flowering plants cover the undergrowth and little towns
cover the undergrowth and little towns
cover the undergrowth and little towns like Isis fed an hour prime beachfront
like Isis fed an hour prime beachfront
like Isis fed an hour prime beachfront real estate where you can watch the
real estate where you can watch the
real estate where you can watch the sunset over a gigantic Inland Sea to the
sunset over a gigantic Inland Sea to the
sunset over a gigantic Inland Sea to the west
west
west this is Outback Queensland 100 million
this is Outback Queensland 100 million
this is Outback Queensland 100 million years ago there was a huge inland ocean
years ago there was a huge inland ocean
years ago there was a huge inland ocean called the Eromanga sea that covered
called the Eromanga sea that covered
called the Eromanga sea that covered what is Outback Queensland now as well
what is Outback Queensland now as well
what is Outback Queensland now as well as parts of the Northern Territory and
as parts of the Northern Territory and
as parts of the Northern Territory and northern parts of South Australia and
northern parts of South Australia and
northern parts of South Australia and New South Wales and this ocean was
New South Wales and this ocean was
New South Wales and this ocean was teeming with life
teeming with life
teeming with life there were crustaceans and molluscs and
there were crustaceans and molluscs and
there were crustaceans and molluscs and spiral shelled ammonites turtles and
spiral shelled ammonites turtles and
spiral shelled ammonites turtles and fish and sharks as well as huge marine
fish and sharks as well as huge marine
fish and sharks as well as huge marine reptiles
reptiles
reptiles please ear soars with their long necks
please ear soars with their long necks
please ear soars with their long necks Playa soars with their huge jaws full of
Playa soars with their huge jaws full of
Playa soars with their huge jaws full of sharp teeth and ichthyosaurs the ones
sharp teeth and ichthyosaurs the ones
sharp teeth and ichthyosaurs the ones that looked a little bit like dolphins
that looked a little bit like dolphins
that looked a little bit like dolphins but perhaps even stranger than these
but perhaps even stranger than these
but perhaps even stranger than these leviathans of the deep would be the site
leviathans of the deep would be the site
leviathans of the deep would be the site of dinosaurs roaming the landscape
of dinosaurs roaming the landscape
of dinosaurs roaming the landscape sauropods with their long necks the long
sauropods with their long necks the long
sauropods with their long necks the long tails theropods the meat-eating ones
tails theropods the meat-eating ones
tails theropods the meat-eating ones that ran about on two legs smaller
that ran about on two legs smaller
that ran about on two legs smaller dinosaurs
dinosaurs
dinosaurs under foot as pterosaurs flew in the sky
under foot as pterosaurs flew in the sky
under foot as pterosaurs flew in the sky alongside birds and giant bull dog-faced
alongside birds and giant bull dog-faced
alongside birds and giant bull dog-faced fish swam the rivers with tiny
fish swam the rivers with tiny
fish swam the rivers with tiny relatively tiny crocodilians only about
relatively tiny crocodilians only about
relatively tiny crocodilians only about a meter in length we know that these
a meter in length we know that these
a meter in length we know that these animals lived in and around the Eromanga
animals lived in and around the Eromanga
animals lived in and around the Eromanga sea a hundred million years ago because
sea a hundred million years ago because
sea a hundred million years ago because we’ve found their fossilized remains in
we’ve found their fossilized remains in
we’ve found their fossilized remains in outback queensland some of these fossils
outback queensland some of these fossils
outback queensland some of these fossils are beautifully preserved nearly entire
are beautifully preserved nearly entire
are beautifully preserved nearly entire skeletons with all their bones in place
skeletons with all their bones in place
skeletons with all their bones in place where others are just a scrap of bone
where others are just a scrap of bone
where others are just a scrap of bone here and there badly preserved and
here and there badly preserved and
here and there badly preserved and weathered so why is that why are we
weathered so why is that why are we
weathered so why is that why are we finding some fossils that are really
finding some fossils that are really
finding some fossils that are really really well preserved and other fossils
really well preserved and other fossils
really well preserved and other fossils that are just a scrap of bone
that are just a scrap of bone
that are just a scrap of bone why do paleontologists so often have to
why do paleontologists so often have to
why do paleontologists so often have to reconstruct an entire animal from just
reconstruct an entire animal from just
reconstruct an entire animal from just one bone or an entire plant from a
one bone or an entire plant from a
one bone or an entire plant from a single leaf we can find out through the
single leaf we can find out through the
single leaf we can find out through the science of taphonomy so fauna me is the
science of taphonomy so fauna me is the
science of taphonomy so fauna me is the study of the decay of organic remains
study of the decay of organic remains
study of the decay of organic remains and their eventual burial the transfer
and their eventual burial the transfer
and their eventual burial the transfer of organic remains from the biosphere to
of organic remains from the biosphere to
of organic remains from the biosphere to the lithosphere paleontologists as well
the lithosphere paleontologists as well
the lithosphere paleontologists as well as archaeologists and forensic
as archaeologists and forensic
as archaeologists and forensic scientists all used to follow me in
scientists all used to follow me in
scientists all used to follow me in their work and the interest in how
their work and the interest in how
their work and the interest in how animals decay and particularly humans is
animals decay and particularly humans is
animals decay and particularly humans is not restricted just to its scientific
not restricted just to its scientific
not restricted just to its scientific study between the 13th and 19th
study between the 13th and 19th
study between the 13th and 19th centuries Japanese Buddhist monks would
centuries Japanese Buddhist monks would
centuries Japanese Buddhist monks would meditate over the decaying corpses of
meditate over the decaying corpses of
meditate over the decaying corpses of humans to contemplate the frailty of
humans to contemplate the frailty of
humans to contemplate the frailty of life and repulsiveness of the human form
life and repulsiveness of the human form
life and repulsiveness of the human form and these were often illustrated in quiz
and these were often illustrated in quiz
and these were often illustrated in quiz or zoo which were 9 panels depicting a
or zoo which were 9 panels depicting a
or zoo which were 9 panels depicting a person’s life just before they died and
person’s life just before they died and
person’s life just before they died and then how the body decayed and you can
then how the body decayed and you can
then how the body decayed and you can see in the panel and the panels above
see in the panel and the panels above
see in the panel and the panels above that the bodies can start to swell and
that the bodies can start to swell and
that the bodies can start to swell and bloat and this is because bacteria that
bloat and this is because bacteria that
bloat and this is because bacteria that normally lives inside your body quite
normally lives inside your body quite
normally lives inside your body quite happily digesting food starts to
happily digesting food starts to
happily digesting food starts to cannibal
cannibal
cannibal the body after death moving along bone
the body after death moving along bone
the body after death moving along bone marrow and blood vessels and producing
marrow and blood vessels and producing
marrow and blood vessels and producing gases as a by-product causing the body
gases as a by-product causing the body
gases as a by-product causing the body to swell and as flesh continues to decay
to swell and as flesh continues to decay
to swell and as flesh continues to decay scavengers might be attracted to that
scavengers might be attracted to that
scavengers might be attracted to that body until nothing is left but a few
body until nothing is left but a few
body until nothing is left but a few bones to be buried and as to fauna mists
bones to be buried and as to fauna mists
bones to be buried and as to fauna mists and paleontologists specifically when
and paleontologists specifically when
and paleontologists specifically when we’re looking at a fossil it’s like
we’re looking at a fossil it’s like
we’re looking at a fossil it’s like we’re starting with the final panel of
we’re starting with the final panel of
we’re starting with the final panel of that painting and trying to work our way
that painting and trying to work our way
that painting and trying to work our way back through the decay process to try to
back through the decay process to try to
back through the decay process to try to figure out what that animal looked like
figure out what that animal looked like
figure out what that animal looked like in life but this can be hindered by
in life but this can be hindered by
in life but this can be hindered by taphonomic processes such as scavengers
taphonomic processes such as scavengers
taphonomic processes such as scavengers coming to visit the carcass if they
coming to visit the carcass if they
coming to visit the carcass if they remove not only muscle and skin but also
remove not only muscle and skin but also
remove not only muscle and skin but also bone and crush it into splinters then it
bone and crush it into splinters then it
bone and crush it into splinters then it will be very poorly preserved if not at
will be very poorly preserved if not at
will be very poorly preserved if not at all an animal’s body as it lays on the
all an animal’s body as it lays on the
all an animal’s body as it lays on the soil produces a pulse of nutrients that
soil produces a pulse of nutrients that
soil produces a pulse of nutrients that go into the ground and creates a lush
go into the ground and creates a lush
go into the ground and creates a lush cadaver decomposition Island which is a
cadaver decomposition Island which is a
cadaver decomposition Island which is a little macabre but fantastic for plant
little macabre but fantastic for plant
little macabre but fantastic for plant life and for fungal growth and for
life and for fungal growth and for
life and for fungal growth and for insects but eventually that body will be
insects but eventually that body will be
insects but eventually that body will be completely recycled into the soil and
completely recycled into the soil and
completely recycled into the soil and nothing will be left to fossilize and
nothing will be left to fossilize and
nothing will be left to fossilize and even if by chance and animal’s remains
even if by chance and animal’s remains
even if by chance and animal’s remains can be buried and fossilized they then
can be buried and fossilized they then
can be buried and fossilized they then have to survive for millions of years
have to survive for millions of years
have to survive for millions of years deep in the Earth’s crust under high
deep in the Earth’s crust under high
deep in the Earth’s crust under high pressure and high temperature and this
pressure and high temperature and this
pressure and high temperature and this often distorts fossils and warps them
often distorts fossils and warps them
often distorts fossils and warps them out of shape these processes are called
out of shape these processes are called
out of shape these processes are called taphonomic bias because it biases our
taphonomic bias because it biases our
taphonomic bias because it biases our understanding of the fossil record and
understanding of the fossil record and
understanding of the fossil record and what past ecosystems look like but
what past ecosystems look like but
what past ecosystems look like but paleontologists and archaeologists and
paleontologists and archaeologists and
paleontologists and archaeologists and forensic scientists will always include
forensic scientists will always include
forensic scientists will always include least a brief consideration for
least a brief consideration for
least a brief consideration for taphonomic bias before they go on to try
taphonomic bias before they go on to try
taphonomic bias before they go on to try to interpret ancient Ecology’s or
to interpret ancient Ecology’s or
to interpret ancient Ecology’s or morphologies shapes of animals for
morphologies shapes of animals for
morphologies shapes of animals for example if you find a pile of bones
example if you find a pile of bones
example if you find a pile of bones fossilized bones together you might
fossilized bones together you might
fossilized bones together you might think okay this represents a group
think okay this represents a group
think okay this represents a group of animals that were living together and
of animals that were living together and
of animals that were living together and died at the same time in the same
died at the same time in the same
died at the same time in the same environment but what if some of those
environment but what if some of those
environment but what if some of those bones were actually washed in from far
bones were actually washed in from far
bones were actually washed in from far away during a flood event for example
away during a flood event for example
away during a flood event for example now that pile of bones represents
now that pile of bones represents
now that pile of bones represents animals that lived at the same time but
animals that lived at the same time but
animals that lived at the same time but lived in different environments and what
lived in different environments and what
lived in different environments and what if some of those bones are actually much
if some of those bones are actually much
if some of those bones are actually much older and may have already been
older and may have already been
older and may have already been fossilized eroded out of an outcrop and
fossilized eroded out of an outcrop and
fossilized eroded out of an outcrop and washed down during the same flood event
washed down during the same flood event
washed down during the same flood event now that pile of bones represents
now that pile of bones represents
now that pile of bones represents animals that not only lived in different
animals that not only lived in different
animals that not only lived in different environments but lived at completely
environments but lived at completely
environments but lived at completely different times and taphonomic bias also
different times and taphonomic bias also
different times and taphonomic bias also extends to modern day processes like
extends to modern day processes like
extends to modern day processes like weathering from water and erosion and
weathering from water and erosion and
weathering from water and erosion and human interaction with remains as well
human interaction with remains as well
human interaction with remains as well when we pick up fossils from the field
when we pick up fossils from the field
when we pick up fossils from the field we might miss something and that will
we might miss something and that will
we might miss something and that will bias our understanding of whether a
bias our understanding of whether a
bias our understanding of whether a species existed in that place or didn’t
species existed in that place or didn’t
species existed in that place or didn’t anyone who has been to the UK to the
anyone who has been to the UK to the
anyone who has been to the UK to the farming regions of the UK and has an
farming regions of the UK and has an
farming regions of the UK and has an interest in archaeology might know that
interest in archaeology might know that
interest in archaeology might know that there are sometimes roman ruins that can
there are sometimes roman ruins that can
there are sometimes roman ruins that can be buried just below the topsoil about
be buried just below the topsoil about
be buried just below the topsoil about 10 or 20 centimeters down but the plat
10 or 20 centimeters down but the plat
10 or 20 centimeters down but the plat the tines on a plow as a farmer plows up
the tines on a plow as a farmer plows up
the tines on a plow as a farmer plows up a deck the pointed parts can tear lines
a deck the pointed parts can tear lines
a deck the pointed parts can tear lines through beautiful mosaic flaws I
through beautiful mosaic flaws I
through beautiful mosaic flaws I actually grew up on a farm in Western
actually grew up on a farm in Western
actually grew up on a farm in Western Australia but I was always really
Australia but I was always really
Australia but I was always really jealous of those kids who got to
jealous of those kids who got to
jealous of those kids who got to discover archaeological ruins or fossil
discover archaeological ruins or fossil
discover archaeological ruins or fossil dinosaur bones on their farms in other
dinosaur bones on their farms in other
dinosaur bones on their farms in other parts of the world I was a bit of a
parts of the world I was a bit of a
parts of the world I was a bit of a dinosaur obsessed kid the closest I got
dinosaur obsessed kid the closest I got
dinosaur obsessed kid the closest I got to ever finding my own dinosaur fossil
to ever finding my own dinosaur fossil
to ever finding my own dinosaur fossil was to pick up a dead sheep bone and
was to pick up a dead sheep bone and
was to pick up a dead sheep bone and pretend that was a dinosaur fossil and I
pretend that was a dinosaur fossil and I
pretend that was a dinosaur fossil and I would I would collect these whenever I
would I would collect these whenever I
would I would collect these whenever I found them mainly the skulls because
found them mainly the skulls because
found them mainly the skulls because they seem to be the most interesting and
they seem to be the most interesting and
they seem to be the most interesting and I would bring them back to our house and
I would bring them back to our house and
I would bring them back to our house and store them in a little shed nearby in my
store them in a little shed nearby in my
store them in a little shed nearby in my own miniature Museum much to my parents
own miniature Museum much to my parents
own miniature Museum much to my parents annoyance I wasn’t really interested in
annoyance I wasn’t really interested in
annoyance I wasn’t really interested in the bones beyond collecting them and
the bones beyond collecting them and
the bones beyond collecting them and putting them in that
putting them in that
putting them in that because they weren’t actually dinosaurs
because they weren’t actually dinosaurs
because they weren’t actually dinosaurs after all but I still remember being
after all but I still remember being
after all but I still remember being really annoyed one time when I was
really annoyed one time when I was
really annoyed one time when I was riding an attractor alongside my father
riding an attractor alongside my father
riding an attractor alongside my father and he was plowing a paddock and we came
and he was plowing a paddock and we came
and he was plowing a paddock and we came across a sheep skeleton lying in the
across a sheep skeleton lying in the
across a sheep skeleton lying in the tractors path and he just drove right
tractors path and he just drove right
tractors path and he just drove right over the top of it and I hear well he
over the top of it and I hear well he
over the top of it and I hear well he makes sense why would you try to deviate
makes sense why would you try to deviate
makes sense why would you try to deviate around in the long-dead sheep and you
around in the long-dead sheep and you
around in the long-dead sheep and you can tell it’s bones back into the soil
can tell it’s bones back into the soil
can tell it’s bones back into the soil but try telling that to a 10 year old he
but try telling that to a 10 year old he
but try telling that to a 10 year old he wants to collect more fossils I think a
wants to collect more fossils I think a
wants to collect more fossils I think a part of me I knew they weren’t dinosaur
part of me I knew they weren’t dinosaur
part of me I knew they weren’t dinosaur fossils of course but I think a part of
fossils of course but I think a part of
fossils of course but I think a part of me wanted to protect these bones that I
me wanted to protect these bones that I
me wanted to protect these bones that I was finding to stop taphonomic processes
was finding to stop taphonomic processes
was finding to stop taphonomic processes I’m happening and stop them being
I’m happening and stop them being
I’m happening and stop them being weathered and broken apart and run over
weathered and broken apart and run over
weathered and broken apart and run over by a tractor and what is the
by a tractor and what is the
by a tractor and what is the fossilization process but that
fossilization process but that
fossilization process but that protecting organic remains in perpetuity
protecting organic remains in perpetuity
protecting organic remains in perpetuity by encasing them in stone or turning
by encasing them in stone or turning
by encasing them in stone or turning them to stone themselves we can continue
them to stone themselves we can continue
them to stone themselves we can continue to think of taphonomic processes biasing
to think of taphonomic processes biasing
to think of taphonomic processes biasing our idea of the fossil record in a
our idea of the fossil record in a
our idea of the fossil record in a negative light but while they do destroy
negative light but while they do destroy
negative light but while they do destroy organic remains they can also leave
organic remains they can also leave
organic remains they can also leave evidence behind of the environment in
evidence behind of the environment in
evidence behind of the environment in which an animal lived and died the great
which an animal lived and died the great
which an animal lived and died the great thing about bone for example is that it
thing about bone for example is that it
thing about bone for example is that it is quite tough so it fossilizes much
is quite tough so it fossilizes much
is quite tough so it fossilizes much more readily than say skin or other soft
more readily than say skin or other soft
more readily than say skin or other soft tissues but it’s also relatively soft
tissues but it’s also relatively soft
tissues but it’s also relatively soft you can scratch it and scrape it and
you can scratch it and scrape it and
you can scratch it and scrape it and break it
break it
break it so as a fauna myths it’s our job to look
so as a fauna myths it’s our job to look
so as a fauna myths it’s our job to look at the scratches and scrapes and marks
at the scratches and scrapes and marks
at the scratches and scrapes and marks on bones and the way that the bones are
on bones and the way that the bones are
on bones and the way that the bones are positioned themselves and try to
positioned themselves and try to
positioned themselves and try to decipher what that means for the
decipher what that means for the
decipher what that means for the environment that that animal was living
environment that that animal was living
environment that that animal was living and dying in it’s almost like palem
and dying in it’s almost like palem
and dying in it’s almost like palem sister an ancient manuscript that’s had
sister an ancient manuscript that’s had
sister an ancient manuscript that’s had its original text I raised and then
its original text I raised and then
its original text I raised and then being written over the top of the gain
being written over the top of the gain
being written over the top of the gain and a raised again we’re trying to read
and a raised again we’re trying to read
and a raised again we’re trying to read these multiple messages and decode what
these multiple messages and decode what
these multiple messages and decode what was going on now as far as the animals
was going on now as far as the animals
was going on now as far as the animals that I was telling you about that lived
that I was telling you about that lived
that I was telling you about that lived in
in
in in Queensland 100 million years ago
in Queensland 100 million years ago
in Queensland 100 million years ago we’ve found their fossil remains in
we’ve found their fossil remains in
we’ve found their fossil remains in ocean deposits of the Eromanga sea and
ocean deposits of the Eromanga sea and
ocean deposits of the Eromanga sea and also in rivers and lakes but again we
also in rivers and lakes but again we
also in rivers and lakes but again we come to that question of why we find
come to that question of why we find
come to that question of why we find some fossils that are really well
some fossils that are really well
some fossils that are really well preserved and some that are describes a
preserved and some that are describes a
preserved and some that are describes a bone and when we looked at this more
bone and when we looked at this more
bone and when we looked at this more closely we found that the fossils that
closely we found that the fossils that
closely we found that the fossils that were really well preserved were found
were really well preserved were found
were really well preserved were found closer to the town of Isis furred and
closer to the town of Isis furred and
closer to the town of Isis furred and the ones that weren’t as well preserved
the ones that weren’t as well preserved
the ones that weren’t as well preserved were found closer to the town of Winton
were found closer to the town of Winton
were found closer to the town of Winton and we did some testing of zircon
and we did some testing of zircon
and we did some testing of zircon minerals to date those rocks and found
minerals to date those rocks and found
minerals to date those rocks and found that they’re actually about six to eight
that they’re actually about six to eight
that they’re actually about six to eight million years in age difference so the
million years in age difference so the
million years in age difference so the Isis food fossils are actually six to
Isis food fossils are actually six to
Isis food fossils are actually six to eight million years older but the
eight million years older but the
eight million years older but the assumption was still that they were
assumption was still that they were
assumption was still that they were buried in a similar environment just the
buried in a similar environment just the
buried in a similar environment just the difference in time wouldn’t necessarily
difference in time wouldn’t necessarily
difference in time wouldn’t necessarily change the taphonomic signature if they
change the taphonomic signature if they
change the taphonomic signature if they were both buried in lakes and rivers for
were both buried in lakes and rivers for
were both buried in lakes and rivers for example but with mineral testing of
example but with mineral testing of
example but with mineral testing of calcite grains that were growing around
calcite grains that were growing around
calcite grains that were growing around the fossils at Isis food we found a
the fossils at Isis food we found a
the fossils at Isis food we found a brackish water signature so not fresh
brackish water signature so not fresh
brackish water signature so not fresh water of lakes and rivers but a more
water of lakes and rivers but a more
water of lakes and rivers but a more mixed salt water and fresh water
mixed salt water and fresh water
mixed salt water and fresh water signature and that told us that these
signature and that told us that these
signature and that told us that these animals were actually living in a River
animals were actually living in a River
animals were actually living in a River Delta much closer to the Eromanga sea
Delta much closer to the Eromanga sea
Delta much closer to the Eromanga sea where salt water could come up River
where salt water could come up River
where salt water could come up River with the changing tides and now I want
with the changing tides and now I want
with the changing tides and now I want to think about what this means for the
to think about what this means for the
to think about what this means for the exploration of other planets into the
exploration of other planets into the
exploration of other planets into the future and how to follow me can help us
future and how to follow me can help us
future and how to follow me can help us understand whether life exists on any
understand whether life exists on any
understand whether life exists on any other planets at all NASA are planning
other planets at all NASA are planning
other planets at all NASA are planning to send people to Mars by 2033 and
to send people to Mars by 2033 and
to send people to Mars by 2033 and SpaceX might get there even sooner and
SpaceX might get there even sooner and
SpaceX might get there even sooner and with boots on the ground I think that
with boots on the ground I think that
with boots on the ground I think that our chance of finding fossil remains of
our chance of finding fossil remains of
our chance of finding fossil remains of microbes if they’re there at all will
microbes if they’re there at all will
microbes if they’re there at all will greatly increase but the Mars rover is
greatly increase but the Mars rover is
greatly increase but the Mars rover is already looking for traces of microbial
already looking for traces of microbial
already looking for traces of microbial life on Mars and at the Gale Crater we
life on Mars and at the Gale Crater we
life on Mars and at the Gale Crater we know that there was a lake groundwater
know that there was a lake groundwater
know that there was a lake groundwater stream system and we have similar types
stream system and we have similar types
stream system and we have similar types of rocks preserved on earth that we can
of rocks preserved on earth that we can
of rocks preserved on earth that we can compare and
compare and
compare and asked what fossils should look like in
asked what fossils should look like in
asked what fossils should look like in these types of rocks but even with the
these types of rocks but even with the
these types of rocks but even with the fossils that we find on earth it’s
fossils that we find on earth it’s
fossils that we find on earth it’s really hard to distinguish between
really hard to distinguish between
really hard to distinguish between organic and inorganic traces and as far
organic and inorganic traces and as far
organic and inorganic traces and as far as modern taphonomic processes on Mars
as modern taphonomic processes on Mars
as modern taphonomic processes on Mars go any fossil that is exposed that the
go any fossil that is exposed that the
go any fossil that is exposed that the surface is exposed to cosmic radiation
surface is exposed to cosmic radiation
surface is exposed to cosmic radiation that might degrade organic molecules and
that might degrade organic molecules and
that might degrade organic molecules and then we can’t test those rocks and find
then we can’t test those rocks and find
then we can’t test those rocks and find any trace of any life being there at all
any trace of any life being there at all
any trace of any life being there at all and this got me to thinking as well if
and this got me to thinking as well if
and this got me to thinking as well if we are sending people to Mars if we
we are sending people to Mars if we
we are sending people to Mars if we successfully land on the surface of the
successfully land on the surface of the
successfully land on the surface of the planet and colonize it or stay in Space
planet and colonize it or stay in Space
planet and colonize it or stay in Space Station’s surrounding that planet what
Station’s surrounding that planet what
Station’s surrounding that planet what are we going to do with our dead is it
are we going to do with our dead is it
are we going to do with our dead is it going to be a blanket rule that
going to be a blanket rule that
going to be a blanket rule that everybody has to be cremated or can
everybody has to be cremated or can
everybody has to be cremated or can people choose to be buried doesn’t
people choose to be buried doesn’t
people choose to be buried doesn’t matter if we introduce our own microbial
matter if we introduce our own microbial
matter if we introduce our own microbial life into the dead soil of another
life into the dead soil of another
life into the dead soil of another planet because their funeral rites and
planet because their funeral rites and
planet because their funeral rites and rituals that we have inextricably tied
rituals that we have inextricably tied
rituals that we have inextricably tied with the environments that are here on
with the environments that are here on
with the environments that are here on earth a Tibetan sky burial where a
earth a Tibetan sky burial where a
earth a Tibetan sky burial where a person’s body is left out for scavengers
person’s body is left out for scavengers
person’s body is left out for scavengers to eat and be nourished will have very
to eat and be nourished will have very
to eat and be nourished will have very little meaning on a Martian landscape
little meaning on a Martian landscape
little meaning on a Martian landscape where there are no scavengers but for
where there are no scavengers but for
where there are no scavengers but for the Turei and people of Sulawesi who put
the Turei and people of Sulawesi who put
the Turei and people of Sulawesi who put their dead in two crypts and let their
their dead in two crypts and let their
their dead in two crypts and let their bodies mummify and then bring them back
bodies mummify and then bring them back
bodies mummify and then bring them back out every few years to have a second
out every few years to have a second
out every few years to have a second funeral or ma-na they clean the bodies
funeral or ma-na they clean the bodies
funeral or ma-na they clean the bodies off and redress them in their favorite
off and redress them in their favorite
off and redress them in their favorite clothing it might actually be
clothing it might actually be
clothing it might actually be advantageous to put bodies and crypts on
advantageous to put bodies and crypts on
advantageous to put bodies and crypts on Mars they will mummify and stay that way
Mars they will mummify and stay that way
Mars they will mummify and stay that way for a long time
for a long time
for a long time I think our ideas about what is natural
I think our ideas about what is natural
I think our ideas about what is natural and normal as far as decay is concerned
and normal as far as decay is concerned
and normal as far as decay is concerned is going to change a lot as we start to
is going to change a lot as we start to
is going to change a lot as we start to explore other planets I’d like to finish
explore other planets I’d like to finish
explore other planets I’d like to finish with this quote from Jeanette Winterson
with this quote from Jeanette Winterson
with this quote from Jeanette Winterson from wait the myth of Atlas and Heracles
from wait the myth of Atlas and Heracles
from wait the myth of Atlas and Heracles which speaks to me as to why autonomy is
which speaks to me as to why autonomy is
which speaks to me as to why autonomy is so important and what it can teach us in
so important and what it can teach us in
so important and what it can teach us in particularly taphonomic bias
particularly taphonomic bias
particularly taphonomic bias earth is ancient now but all knowledge
earth is ancient now but all knowledge
earth is ancient now but all knowledge is stored up in her she keeps a record
is stored up in her she keeps a record
is stored up in her she keeps a record of everything that has happened since
of everything that has happened since
of everything that has happened since time began of time before time she says
time began of time before time she says
time began of time before time she says little and in a language that no one has
little and in a language that no one has
little and in a language that no one has yet understood through time her secret
yet understood through time her secret
yet understood through time her secret codes have gradually been broken her mud
codes have gradually been broken her mud
codes have gradually been broken her mud and lava is a message from the past of
and lava is a message from the past of
and lava is a message from the past of time to come
time to come
time to come she says much but who listens thank you
she says much but who listens thank you
she says much but who listens thank you [Applause]
”
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