4. Some things we know, some things we don’t
Keith Thomson
in Fossils: A Very Short Introduction
‘Some things we know, some things we don't’ illustrates that palaeontology is a dynamic science because we still only know the fossil record imperfectly. The understanding that certain ...
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1. Introduction
Keith Thomson
in Fossils: A Very Short Introduction
The ‘Introduction’ outlines the aims of the book: to show what fossils are, to explain some of the concepts and principles upon which the study of fossils is based, and to discuss the ...
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5. Drifting continents
Martin Redfern
in The Earth: A Very Short Introduction
‘Drifting continents’ focuses on the continental crust, which is very different to the ocean crust. The history of ideas that have contributed to the model of continental drift and plate ...
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4. Landscapes, tectonics, and climate
Andrew Goudie and Heather Viles
in Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction
‘Landscapes, tectonics, and climate’ outlines the two biggest influences on landscapes — what a landscape looks like is, to a large extent, a result of tectonics and climate change. Since ...
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9. Unseen landscapes
Andrew Goudie and Heather Viles
in Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction
‘Unseen landscapes’ examines some of the landscapes that are only just being revealed to us: submarine landscapes, and the landscapes of Mars and Titan. The major outlines of the ocean ...
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8. Controversies and prospects
David C. Catling
in Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction
‘Controversies and prospects’ examines the Rare Earth Hypothesis and looks at prospects for astrobiology and finding life elsewhere. The Rare Earth Hypothesis is that the fortuitous ...
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4. Revolutions
Tim Lenton
in Earth System Science: A Very Short Introduction
How did today’s Earth system become so radically different from those of our planetary neighbours, Mars and Venus? The presence of life is clearly a big part of the answer. Earth system ...
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4. Relationships between dinosaurs
David Norman
in Dinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction (2nd edn)
‘Relationships between dinosaurs’ examines the techniques used to study the geneaology, or evolutionary history, of dinosaurs. The primary technique is cladistics—or phylogenetic ...
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4. The enemy within: super-eruptions, giant tsunamis, and the coming great quake
Bill McGuire
in Global Catastrophes: A Very Short Introduction (2nd edn)
‘The Enemy Within’ begins with volcanic super-eruptions and their devastating consequences such as the 1815 eruption of volcano Tambora in Indonesia, and ancient eruptions in Yellowstone, ...
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Plate Tectonics: A Very Short Introduction
Peter Molnar
A revolution occurred in geology in the 1960s: plate tectonics. The idea that continents had drifted with respect to one another had been proposed decades before, but now the mechanism ...
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5. Rocks in the deep
Jan Zalasiewicz
in Rocks: A Very Short Introduction
It is over 6,000 km to the centre of the Earth, but our direct experience of its rocks goes to little more than 3 km below the surface in the deepest mines on Earth. ‘Rocks in the deep’ ...
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8. Human-made rocks
Jan Zalasiewicz
in Rocks: A Very Short Introduction
As minerals have evolved, so have the rocks that they make up. ‘Human-made rocks’ explains that we are entering a remarkable new phase of history that is of planetary—and perhaps ...
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7. Rocks on other planets
Jan Zalasiewicz
in Rocks: A Very Short Introduction
Rocks are not just an Earthly phenomenon. They make up the surfaces of some of the planets of the solar system and, in one form or another, those all of the many moons, innumerable comets, ...
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1. Planet Earth: in a nutshell
Bill McGuire
in Global Catastrophes: A Very Short Introduction (2nd edn)
Earth is the most dynamic planet in our solar system, but the very same geophysical features that make our world so life-giving and life-preserving also make it dangerous. ‘Planet Earth: in ...
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5. The threat from space: asteroid and comet impacts
Bill McGuire
in Global Catastrophes: A Very Short Introduction (2nd edn)
‘The Threat from Space’ considers the threat of asteroids and comets colliding with Earth. Potential impacts of Near Earth Asteroids, with almost circular orbits, have been identified, but ...
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7. When the ground shakes
Martin Redfern
in The Earth: A Very Short Introduction
A map of major earthquakes provides a guide to the tectonic boundaries across the Earth. ‘When the ground shakes’ examines the power of earthquakes, their distribution, and their impact, ...
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3. Studying landscapes today
Andrew Goudie and Heather Viles
in Landscapes and Geomorphology: A Very Short Introduction
What are the key theories and techniques of geomorphology from the 20th century onwards? ‘Studying landscapes today ’ looks at plate tectonics and Earth system science (ESS). ESS is the ...
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2. Mountains are not eternal
Martin F. Price
in Mountains: A Very Short Introduction
‘Mountains are not eternal’ explains the processes by which mountains, at completely different timescales, come and go—moving around the planet through the process of plate tectonics. There ...
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Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction
David C. Catling
What fascinates people about astrobiology is that it seeks answers to long-standing unsolved questions: How quickly did life evolve on Earth and why did life persist here? Is there life ...
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4. From slime to the sublime
David C. Catling
in Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction
‘From slime to the sublime’ asks: How did Earth maintain an environment fit for life? However life started, once established, it persisted for over 3.5 billion years and evolved from ...
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