tags: Stromatolites, fossils, earth science, NewScientist, Image of the Day
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]
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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.
These look like the living stromatolites in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Although beneath the surface, they're just as rocky as the 3.5 billion year old variety.
Here are some dead ones:
http://lablemminglounge.blogspot.com/2007/12/trophy-rocks.html