Book 5, Question 49 · Video
Still Digging! Why Do We Find New Fossils Every Year?
There are so many places on Earth that have not been searched carefully yet. Wind, water, and weather can uncover fossils that were hidden for millions of years. Better tools and l
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What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do we still find new fossils every year?
The Big Idea
Scientists find new fossils every single year, even though people have been looking for a long time. That's because Earth is huge, and lots of fossils are still hidden inside rock. Rock is still hiding surprises! Let's see how they get discovered.
Step 1
Step one: wind and rain wear away the rock. Over time, a cliff crumbles, and this is called erosion. It uncovers fossils that were hidden for millions of years.
Step 2
Step two: someone spots a strange shape. Hikers, farmers, and scientists are all looking, and now there are more of them than ever. Better tools, like drones and scanners, help, too.
Step 3
Step three: tell an expert, and a team studies it. A dig is planned. The fossil goes to a lab, and a new page is added to science. Some discoveries even turn out to be a brand new species!
A Closer Look
Let's look at a crumbling cliff. Rain and wind wear the rock away. A fossil peeks out of the cliff. And a sharp-eyed hiker spots it.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Scientists name dozens of new dinosaur species in a typical year. Kids and hikers have spotted some amazing fossils, just by looking carefully. Most of Earth's rocks have never been searched for fossils. If you spot a fossil, please leave it where it is. Take a photo, and tell a grown-up or a museum.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Go on a fossil safari. With a grown-up, walk along a path, a beach, or a rocky wall. Look for shapes in the stones, like shells or leaf prints. Take photos, but leave everything where it is.
Outro
Every new fossil is a page added to Earth's story. Keep your eyes open, because you might spot one someday! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!