Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #makeaplanet
Most recents (5)
Good morning, Planeteers! For today’s #MaleAPlanet quiz, spot the (likely) lie:
A) The dinosaur Anchiornis had brown, grey, black and white 🪶.
B) 🦣 were matriarchal, like modern elephants.
C) T. Rex “ran” ~5 m/s (11 mph) 🦖.
D) Giant ice age 🦫 built giant ice age dams.
A) The dinosaur Anchiornis had brown, grey, black and white 🪶.
B) 🦣 were matriarchal, like modern elephants.
C) T. Rex “ran” ~5 m/s (11 mph) 🦖.
D) Giant ice age 🦫 built giant ice age dams.
Today’s quiz is inspired by all the creative ways we can infer something about the behavior of extinct organisms based on clues in the fossil record.
Whoops, that was supposed to be #MakeAPlanet!
For today’s #MakeAPlanet quiz, lets zoom in on what we now call North America. Only one of these mammals evolved here; the others dispersed over land bridges long ago. Which species actually got its start on this continent?
A) Porcupines
B) Bison 🦬
C) Opossums
D) Horses🐴
A) Porcupines
B) Bison 🦬
C) Opossums
D) Horses🐴
Deep time—a phrase coined by the writer John McPhee to refer to the vastness of geologic time—shakes up, challenges, and expands so many preconceived ideas about nature. That’s one reason I love it so much.
Answer time! I really love the conversation and thought processes that went into folks' answers. The goal of these quizzes is to get people thinking, wondering, and learning.
So first, let's talk about what DIDN'T originate, evolutionarily speaking, in North America.
So first, let's talk about what DIDN'T originate, evolutionarily speaking, in North America.
For today's #MakeAPlanet quiz, rank these fossil sizes from smallest to largest:
1) Wingspan of Meganeura, a Carboniferous dragonfly
2) Shoulder height of Hyracotherium, the first horse
3) Beak-to-tail length of Archaeopteryx
4) Length of a ("Giant Claw") Therizinosaurus claw
1) Wingspan of Meganeura, a Carboniferous dragonfly
2) Shoulder height of Hyracotherium, the first horse
3) Beak-to-tail length of Archaeopteryx
4) Length of a ("Giant Claw") Therizinosaurus claw
This question comes from the ideas we have about the past -- and the scale of ancient organisms, which may loom large (or small!) in our minds. I'm much more interested in what you think (or feel) the answer to be, based on your imagination. I don't expect most people to know!
This one was less popular for some reason -- not relatable enough? Too nerdy? Too left-field? Too late in the day? Too Monday?
It’s time for today’s #MakeAPlanet quiz! Which set of phenomena were closest in time?
1) T. Rex — Stegosaurus
2) First unicellular life — First multicellular life
3) The ☄️ that killed the dinosaurs — Neanderthals
4) Trilobites first appeared — Trilobites went extinct
1) T. Rex — Stegosaurus
2) First unicellular life — First multicellular life
3) The ☄️ that killed the dinosaurs — Neanderthals
4) Trilobites first appeared — Trilobites went extinct
Y’all put your time travel caps on today!
So, what’s the answer? Let’s go one by one: The first evidence of life we have in the fossil record dates back about 3.5 billion years ago, only (!) a billion years after Earth formed.
Multicellular life, with its increased complexity?
600 million years ago!
Multicellular life, with its increased complexity?
600 million years ago!
Today’s #MakeAPlanet quiz: This essential element was a toxic product of early life that first caused extinction, but later allowed life to establish on land. Its production formed distinct rock layers. 50-80% comes from the oceans today.
A) Carbon
B) Oxygen
C) Iron
D) Nitrogen
A) Carbon
B) Oxygen
C) Iron
D) Nitrogen
Adding a little buffer so folks can guess without seeing the comments.
I tried to mislead you with some sneaky references (the reddish rocks and the ocean), so this was a fun one.
