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I didn’t expect live plants when reading the headline. Something becoming a fossil after being buried by a mile of ice isn’t that surprising, in my opinion? Liv
by _Microft 6y ago
I didn’t expect live plants when reading the headline. Something becoming a fossil after being buried by a mile of ice isn’t that surprising, in my opinion? Live plants would have warranted a qualifier in my opinion.
Edit: but yes, you are of course right that adding ‘fossil’ would have made the headline clearer.
- TeMPOraL 6y agoIf the headline said "viruses" or "bacteria" instead of "plants", I'd definitely expect they meant live ones (and also that it's time to shelter-in-place even more than I already am). Given how ancient arctic pathogens are a relatively well-known popular culture meme, I also thought the headline means live plants.
- _Microft 6y agoHa, then it's just me. Though... plant-based life coming out of the cold reminds me of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_from_Another_World https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_from_Another_World
- waheoo 6y agoFossils aren't plants, they're rocks. Why would anyone assume you mean rocks when you say plants?
- simonh 6y ago"Scientists discover rocks beneath mile-deep Greenland ice" maybe isn't quite as catchy, or as useful in conveying relevant information.
- darkerside 6y agoBut it would have the advantage of being accurate. This is why they invented words like fossil.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]