The notion that oil originates from the decomposition of dinosaurs has intrigued and fueled imaginations for decades. This popular misconception, however, strays far from the scientific truth.

Burning oil, gas, and coal — literal fossil fuels, made from the compressed remains of ancient plants and plankton — has ...

Fossil plankton from half a billion years ago. These tiny algae measure much less than a millimetre in size. They evolved their colonial structure to avoid being eaten by early animals. Credit ...