How Many Fossils to Go an Inch? (ft. Robert Krulwich)

Also useful knowing why these trees piled up and buried underground instead of rotting and decaying like they would today. The trees, just like modern ones, were made out of lignin, which was unfamiliar to microorganisms and therefore could not be 'digested' and broken down into more useful stuff like they are today. This caused them to pile up instead of breaking down, and once microorganisms figured out how to break down lignin, this piling up stopped. In essence, all of the coal on earth comes from a single time period, between the first creation of lignin and when it finally was able to be broken down. It's a somewhat similar situation to what we have right now with plastic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b34al8YmQSA

I never realized until now how much I missed Robert's voice on radio lab. This is both a testament to Robert's narrations and the current crew there that are still as captivating while giving the show a new feeling.

I’m a marine biologist. I know this stuff like the back of my hand. But I have never seen a YouTube video that will stick with me as much as this one. Never seen one that is so captivating and interesting. Never seen one so intriguing. I will have to go and look for more Robert Krulwich.

The message behind this video is really good. It's not judgmental, but tells you straight up front how much energy we are using and what this equates to.

I was expecting an explanation of the possibility of burning newly dead bodies for electricity

I love the term "old sunshine" for fossil fuels, never though of it that way

Robert is such a talented presenter. This video is phenomenal

You just dethroned Kurzgesagt in the "most existential crises per minute of video" competition

This was beautiful. That last model about “using 100 earths every year” should be used a lot more in public campaigns.

The animation is off the charts once again, and the information provided is great too! 👍🏻

Excellent presentation and lovely to hear Robert Krulwich's voice again... miss the old RadioLab... way back when... Thanks!

So lovely to hear Krulwich’s voice again. It does not disappoint. Thank you, Robert!

I've missed Robert on Radiolab. His voice is so calming and his laugh infectious.

"The world must be restored, not only to provide for the fundamental needs of people today and in the future, but also to secure humanity's freedom in a universe where freedom is rare. For you must be self-sufficient in this universe, or you will become dependent upon others and they more than you will determine the terms of engagement and your ability to create and to determine your own future." To learn more about humanity's destiny within a universe full of intelligent life, read Marshall Vian Summers' work which is completely free online.

More Robert Krulwich, please! This was like a little bonus Radiolab with animation, very cool. Thanks!

This video was really good, nothing about it was particularly abnormal, but the artstyle, robert's voice, the longer video that feels more like a story than a science lesson. Just really hit all the little good spots

This was incredible. Just beautiful, scientific storytelling. Thank you all for sharing it!

I was expecting a creepy modern solution, instead I got a rather beautiful, mind blowing, explanation of fossil fuels.

Highly illuminating video thanks!

Beautiful, expanded my mind, thank you.