Just got done streaming this three-parter about how plants have changed the biome and climate as much as the biome and climate have directed plants’ evolution. In the third part, covering the rise of grasses and the decline of trees, host Ian Stewart (a geologist) holds up a piece of coprolite (fossilized dinosaur dung) and relates how examination of cross-sections under a microscope reveal the shift in the herbivore’s diet (something about the shape of the chloroplasts). Anyway, at one point during the talk, he holds the piece up to his nose, sniff, comments quickly, “Oh, that stinks!” and goes on with the script.
I’m hard pressed to explain how 65-million year-old fossilized organic material could retain any of its original odors. Or is this an example of Scottish humor?
Coprolites are fossilized in the sense that their original components have been replaced with minerals. They could still have an odor but not from the original feces. I would think it’s just nerd humor, not necessarlly Scottish by nature. I find coprolites to be a good nerd gift for humorous reasons.
Yeah, humour, or non-original odour. On the latter, I’ve found (non-coprolite) fossils that were smelly - for example, pyritised ammonites, or fossils found amongst coal or shale - the organics and sulphur compounds can make them quite stinky.
I was thinking pyrites myself but know little how enough sulfide minerals could wind up in sedimentary rock to be detectable by odor. I’ll chalk it up to geologist humor. The year I was in college, the Geology Departments’ softball team were the Alluvial Fans.