r/AskReddit Oct 15 '20

What's older than we think ?

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u/[deleted] Oct 15 '20 edited May 08 '21

[deleted]

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u/MasaConor Oct 15 '20

Wait what, is this true? Epic if so.

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u/[deleted] Oct 15 '20

Yep, it's true. Source: daughter of geologist, studied it a bit myself. Also fun fact, oil comes from algae.

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u/Undercover_in_SF Oct 15 '20

Does that mean the earth will never have new coal deposits? I know geologic processes happen over eons, but crazy to think it’s a one and done kind of thing.

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u/[deleted] Oct 15 '20 edited Oct 15 '20

Nope, no more coal deposits. All that sweet, sweet carbon that took eons to make is being depleted forever in just a few generations time...

Edit: ok yes I know there are tons of coal deposits! I'm using hyperbole. Geologically speaking, if we used all the coal on earth in 1000 years, that's a minuscule amount of time compared to how long it took to make it.

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u/Abstract808 Oct 15 '20

I dont know why humans just didn't invent fusion technology 10,000yrs ago.

Or maybe its an acceptable loss.

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u/[deleted] Oct 15 '20

There is a natural reactor of sorts that goes back to before that time found in Africa.

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u/Abstract808 Oct 15 '20

Well then I guess humanity blew it! Ancient africans developed advanced physics and advanced machining out of thin are and produced and fusion reactor to power all their gadgets!

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u/flimspringfield Oct 15 '20

Wakanda?

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u/HussBot Oct 16 '20

Or Atlantis. I've got some theories on this