Coprolite Study Revolutionized Paleontology and Revealed Eccentric Scientist

Key Quotes

"These bug-type looking things are actually not bugs at all. They're a material called coprolite, which is a scientific term for essentially fossilized feces. These beautiful stones that we're looking at, this is all poop. This is not a pool table, it's a poop table. It is a lot of poop."

The hosts explain that the decorative elements on the table are made from coprolite, which is fossilized feces. This quote highlights the surprising and unusual material used in the table's construction, setting the stage for the discussion about William Buckland.

"To get a quick temperature check of how people in England thought about the world and science at this time, this is decades before Darwin, long before carbon dating, and most people's understanding of the world came from the Bible. So people were like, 'Well, sure, these animals must have washed from the ark.'"

The hosts provide context for the scientific understanding of the era, noting that explanations for unusual findings often relied on biblical narratives like Noah's Ark. This quote illustrates the limited scientific frameworks available to people before major advancements like Darwin's theory of evolution and carbon dating.

"He made this connection because he went to zoos frequently. He was a huge animal lover and very interested in animals. He noticed that these stones looked a lot like the hyena enclosure, or the enclosures that he had visited at the zoo, and the poop that they left everywhere. He was thinking that these stones were perhaps not just stones."

The hosts describe how William Buckland's personal interests and observations led him to a scientific breakthrough. Buckland's familiarity with zoo animals and their waste allowed him to recognize the fossilized stones as coprolite, challenging prevailing explanations.

"Buckland understood that he had landed on a fruitful research topic, and this kind of became his thing. A few years after this, he traveled to this part of England that's known as the Jurassic Coast because there are so many fossils there. He linked up with this woman named Mary Anning, who was an avid fossil collector, and she had found this incredible fossilized fish creature that looked basically like a prehistoric swordfish."

The hosts explain how Buckland's initial discovery propelled his scientific career and led him to collaborate with other notable figures. This quote shows Buckland's continued dedication to studying fossils and his connection with Mary Anning, a prominent fossil collector.

"At baseline, Buckland was an eccentric man. From his earliest days lecturing in Oxford, he was that over-the-top professor where he'd be stomping around, acting out the animals he was talking about. He carried around a little bag of coprolite and bone and stuff to show off when he was talking to people."

The hosts describe William Buckland's personality and teaching style, characterizing him as an eccentric and engaging professor. This quote illustrates Buckland's unconventional approach to education and his passion for his subject matter, even in his daily interactions.

"William Buckland apparently at some point became interested in this idea of eating every animal on Earth just to try it. So the Bucklands had these crazy dinners, and they would invite people over, and they would be serving like elephant trunk and frogs and mice on toast and moles and hedgehogs and just all of these different creatures."

The hosts detail the unusual dining habits of William Buckland and his wife, highlighting their adventurous and eclectic culinary experiments. This quote showcases Buckland's extreme curiosity and willingness to taste a wide variety of animals, extending his scientific exploration into his personal life.