Tiny Fossils

Microfossils—the remains of single-celled organisms or parts of multicellular organisms found in ancient sediments and rocks—can only be studied with the help of a microscope. Despite their miniscule size, they are of immense importance. Written for a wide audience of curious readers, Tiny Fossils is an accessible and compelling account of the many ways microfossils illuminate our past and shape our present.

Stephen J. Culver explores how paleontologists study microfossils and why they have such a vast variety of uses. Scientists analyze microfossils to reconstruct past temperature and sea-level rises and falls, providing insight into the future consequences of climate change. Industries use them in everything from searching for natural resources such as oil and gas to making products like kitty litter and toothpaste. Microfossils can be indicators of pollution, and they have applications in monitoring environmental quality. They are used to underpin great art works, figure out the provenance of archeological artifacts, and solve crimes. We owe our very existence to the creatures they once were: Early in Earth’s history, microorganisms modified the composition of the atmosphere and chemistry of the ocean via photosynthesis and made the planet habitable by more complex organisms. By displaying the intellectual and practical value of microfossils, this book gives us a new lens on our daily lives and our world.