Tiny ocean jewels reveal Earth's ancient past
Microscopic radiolarians create exquisite silica skeletons that, upon death, sink to ocean depths, forming vast sediment layers that reveal Earth's ancient marine history.
Radiolarians are microscopic marine organisms that build stunning, jewel-like skeletons from silica. These intricate structures, often less than a millimeter across, drift in surface waters until the radiolarian dies. Then, their lightweight skeletons slowly sink, accumulating on the seafloor over millions of years.
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