TEDTalks: Ancient Clues Season 1 Episode 9 Rob Dunbar: Discovering Ancient Climates in Oceans and Ice

Rob Dunbar is a marine biologist who has spent years studying the world's oceans and ice in search of clues about our planet's past climate. In this episode of TEDTalks: Ancient Clues, Dunbar takes us on a journey through time as he reveals the secrets hidden deep within the Earth's crust.

Dunbar's research is based on the idea that the oceans and ice hold important clues about past climates. By studying the layers of sediment in ocean floor cores and ice cores, Dunbar can determine how temperatures and atmospheric conditions have changed over time.

One of the fascinating things about Dunbar's work is how it is incredibly interdisciplinary in nature. Dunbar uses techniques and tools from multiple fields including microbiology, geology, chemistry, and physics to unlock the secrets of the past.

Throughout the episode, Dunbar shares some of his most exciting findings. For example, he shows how the isotopes of oxygen in ice cores can indicate how Antarctic sea ice has changed over the years. He also explains how the presence of certain types of microbes in ocean floor cores can point to past changes in ocean currents.

Perhaps most interestingly, Dunbar's work has revealed just how much the Earth's climate can change in a relatively short period. By looking at sediment layers, he has found evidence of massive floods and storms that occurred in the distant past.

Dunbar's research isn't just fascinating from a historical perspective, it could also have important implications for understanding our planet's future climate. By understanding how past climates have changed, we can better predict how they might change in the future.

Overall, this episode of TEDTalks: Ancient Clues is a fascinating deep dive into the worlds of ocean and ice research. Dunbar makes complex scientific concepts accessible and interesting to general audiences, and viewers are sure to come away with a new appreciation for the mysteries that our planet holds.