What Is a Fossil

>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=WWHJqnfmhQ8

Paleontology is the science of studying fossils from ancient organisms, and paleontologists are scientists who find and study those fossils. • Definitions of exactly what constitutes a fossil vary to some extent, but basically, fossils are naturally preserved physical traces of long-dead organisms. Usually, these traces consist of an organism's hard parts, such as bones, teeth, shells, or wood. Occasionally, when conditions are optimal, soft parts of organisms can also fossilize, such as impressions of skin, body outlines, and, more commonly, leaves. In almost all cases, fossils provide information about the original shape and structure of these physical traces; however, they usually do not provide any information about the original color of the body parts. Other traces of objects made by organisms, such as footprints, burrows, and nests, also qualify to be called fossils. Also, most definitions of fossils require that the organism's body part or other physical trace be more than 10,000 years old in order to truly be called a fossil. • However, objects made by prehistoric humans, such as pottery, arrowheads and buildings, are not considered to be fossils, but instead are referred to as anthropological artifacts. • This video is part of a series, Dinosaurs Explained, produced by the American Museum of Natural History. In the series, Museum paleontologists answer the most frequently asked questions about dinosaurs. • To watch the videos, go to www.amnh.org/explore/amnh-tv. Click on the Dinosaurs Explained Tab on the left side of the page. In the playlist, start with the first question and play each video consecutively for a mini-course in dinosaur fossils. • Episode 1: What Is and Is Not a Dinosaur? • • What Is and Is Not a Dinosaur? • Episode 2: Who Discovered the First Dinosaur Fossils? • • Who Discovered the First Dinosaur Fos... • Episode 3: How Do Dinosaurs Get Their Names? • • How Do Dinosaurs Get Their Names? • Episode 4: Are Any Dinosaurs Still Alive Today? • • Are Any Dinosaurs Still Alive Today? • Episode 5: How Many Kinds of Dinosaurs Are There? • • How Many Kinds of Dinosaurs Are There? • Episode 6: Where in the World Did Dinosaurs Live? • • Where in the World Did Dinosaurs Live? • Episode 7: What Is the Earliest-Known Dinosaur? • • What Is the Earliest-Known Dinosaur? • Episode 8: What Were the Biggest and Smallest Dinosaurs? • • What Were the Biggest and Smallest Di... • Episode 9: What Did Dinosaurs Eat? • • What Did Dinosaurs Eat? • Episode 10: How Fast Were Dinosaurs? • • How Fast Were Dinosaurs? • Episode 11: How Intelligent were Dinosaurs? • • How Intelligent Were Dinosaurs? • Episode 12: Did Dinosaurs Fight? • • Did Dinosaurs Fight? • Episode 13: How Did Dinosaurs Reproduce? • • How Did Dinosaurs Reproduce? • Episode 14: Did Dinosaurs Travel in Herds or Packs? • • Did Dinosaurs Travel in Herds or Packs? • Episode 15: What Was Dinosaur Skin Like? • • What Was Dinosaur Skin Like? • Episode 16: How Fast Did Dinosaurs Grow, and How Long Did They Live? • • How Fast Did Dinosaurs Grow, and How ... • Episode 17: What Color Were Extinct Dinosaurs? • • What Color Were Extinct Dinosaurs? • Episode 18: Were Dinosaurs Warm-Blooded? • • Were Dinosaurs Warm-Blooded? • Episode 19: How Did All Dinosaurs Except Birds Go Extinct? • • How Did All Dinosaurs Except Birds Go... • Episode 20: Can We Clone Extinct Dinosaurs From DNA Preserved in Their Fossils? • • Can We Clone Extinct Dinosaurs From D... • Episode 21: What Is a Fossil? • • What Is a Fossil? • Episode 22: How Do We Know Where to Look for Dinosaur Fossils? • • How Do We Know Where to Look for Dino... • Episode 23: How Are Dinosaur Fossils Discovered and Collected? • • How Are Dinosaur Fossils Discovered a... • Episode 24: How Are Dinosaur Fossils Prepared in the Laboratory? • • How Are Dinosaur Fossils Prepared in ... • Episode 25: How are skeletal mounts of dinosaurs in museum exhibits built? • • How are skeletal mounts of dinosaurs ... • Episode 26: Where are all the dinosaur fossils kept once they're prepared? • • Where are all the dinosaur fossils ke... • Episode 27: How Do We Know Which Kind of Dinosaurs Were Most Closely Related? • • How Do We Know Which Kind of Dinosaur... • Episode 28: How do we know how long ago dinosaurs lived? • • How do we know how long ago dinosaurs... • Episode 29: In what kind of environments did dinosaurs live? • • In what kind of environments did dino... • Episode 30: How does studying dinosaurs benefit humanity? • • How does studying dinosaurs benefit h... • *** • Subscribe to our channel: • http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c... • Check out our full video catalog: • / amnhorg • Facebook: http://fb.com/naturalhistory • Twitter: / amnh • Tumblr: / amnhnyc • Instagram: / amnh

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