All articles tagged with #geological dating
New research suggests Hells Canyon, North America's deepest gorge, formed about 2.1 million years ago due to a flood event that diverted water from Lake Idaho, carving the canyon rapidly. The study used cave sediment analysis and isotope dating to determine the canyon's age, revealing it is younger than previously thought and providing insights into the dynamic landscape of the southwestern U.S.
Researchers have precisely dated ancient multicellular fossils to 565 million years ago, using volcanic ash layers as time markers, shedding light on a significant period in Earth’s history when complex life began flourishing after a global ice age. The study, led by Curtin University, marks a pivotal moment in Earth's biological history and underscores the importance of understanding ancient ecosystems to unravel the mysteries of Earth's past and shape comprehension of life's evolution.
Researchers from Curtin University have used iron-rich layers in ancient sediments to determine that the Nullarbor plain in Australia shifted to dry conditions between 2.4 and 2.7 million years ago due to changes in climate, shedding light on how ancient climate change altered some of the driest regions of our planet. The study provides a clearer timeframe for the evolution of several native species and explains how the drying of Australia's interior separated the common ancestors of many species that once roamed freely across Australia, leading to the independent evolution of these isolated populations on the east and west coasts, eventually resulting in distinct species or sister species.