Natural Science Forum / Biology / Paleontology / July 2005

I have a passing interest and would like to know more.  I took these
pictures recently http://kokorolibrary.net/2005-06-13/
Can anyone tell me more about them?  and what is the last picture?
Thanks  ^_^

I'm a geologist working on my diploma thesis about the generation of recent
and sub-recent oncoids in freshwater environments in southern Germany.
Does anybody know publications about this topic, e.g. special localities
with typical deposits, (geo-)chemistry of oncoid building ...

Does anyone know if there are any theories which might permit one to
estimate the thickness of the ozone layer at various times? Does
greater or lesser ozone protection leave telltale signs which can be
used to estimate thickness at that point in time?

A question: how do we know when say Megalodon became extinct? Discovery
channel had a documentary in which it was speculated Megalodon could
have lived as recently as ancient seafaring civilzations and might
account for some of the early sea monster sightings..any thought?

This topic has been covered many times before, but I want
to get a final word, if not a balance of preponderances.
Were birds descended from some form of dinosaur, possibly
some type of meat eating theropods (saurischians), or

Here are links to two articles pertaining the recent discovery of 550
million-year-old Ediacara fossils in China--the specimens are preserved
in remarkable three-dimensional glory, apparently.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4664741.stm

Anyone know of a pterosaur egg having been found in Kansas?

Did ancient Polynesians visit California? Maybe so.
Scholars revive idea using linguistic ties, Indian headdress
Keay Davidson, Chronicle Science Writer
Monday, June 20, 2005

Within the last 5 years I read an article in a scientific magazine for
the general public (e.g. Scientific American) about a prototype of a
fish that could have lived 300+ million years ago.  The fish was not
really but was a archetype created by trending evolutionary forces