Chapter 4 - Michael Torres

In chapter 4, Kolbert introduced the geologist, Walter Alvarez, who investigated layers of clay that turned out to be from an asteroid.  Alvarez concluded that the asteroid that this clay is from is most likely responsible for the destruction of the dinosaurs. Alvarez’s conclusion was originally rejected, saying that such an mass extinction could not be so rapid.  The more evidence found under the ground, the more Alvarez’s idea made sense. The finding of quartz that experienced sudden changes of pressure, the discovery of a layer of sandstone due to a tsunami from the same period as the quartz, and seeing the crater in Mexico pointed to the direction that an asteroid caused such a rapid catastrophic event that killed the dinosaurs.  This connects to the theme that science is a process and that it is a method of learning more about the world and it changes the way we see the world. At first, people did not agree with Alvarez that such an event could take place, but as more evidence was uncovered, scientific investigation pointed toward his theory, thus, changing the way we view the world.

Kolbert meets paleontologist Neil Landman who specializes in ammonites.  Kolbert joins Landman on the investigation of why nautiluses are still alive while their similar looking ammonites went extinct.  It is then suggested that nautiluses lay eggs that can adapt to changes in water pressure and temperature. This connects to Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest in chapter 3 because it is a fine example that the species with a favorable characteristic survived a catastrophic event and emerged victorious in the competition of survival against other animals.