Stromatolites

tags: , , , ,

Stromatolites.

These intriguing fossils are a visual portal into the emergence of life and the eventual evolving of life forms from Cambrian to modern times.

Image: Mark Boyle 2007 (NewScientist calendar 2008). [Much larger view]

More like this

tags: Comet McNaught, Great Comet of 2007, Astronomy, NewScientist, Image of the Day Comet McNaught. Also known as the Great Comet of 2007, McNaught is the brightest comet for over 40 years and the second brightest since 1935. Image: Noeleen Lowndes 2007 (NewScientist calendar 2008). [Much larger…
tags: outback mosaic, Australia, NewScientist, Image of the Day Outback mosaic. Australia is the world's driest inhabited continent and has the most variable rainfall. Image: Carole Tilney 2007 (NewScientist calendar 2008). [Much larger view]
tags: Siberian tiger, Amur tiger, Panthera tigris altaica, NewScientist, Image of the Day Amur (Siberian) tiger, Panthera tigris altaica. Tigers are most commonly poached for their fur and body parts, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is estimated that in 1991 alone, one-third of…
tags: blue poison dart frogs, Dendrobates azureus, Dendrobatidae, NewScientist, Image of the Day Blue Poison Dart Frogs, Dendrobates azureus. Dendrobates azureus is a species of poison dart frog found in the Sipaliwini District in Suriname of South America. Image: Gail Shumway/Getty Images 2007…

The ones in the picture are alive, aren't they? Kind of brings new meaning to the term "living fossil," huh?

Very cool picture with great colors. However, let's give the stromatolites full props and acknowledge their presence in the fossil record from 3.45 billion years ago and their importance in producing oxygen that eventually changed the composition of our atmosphere.

Thanks again.