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The most groundbreaking scientist you've never heard of - Addison Anderson

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Seventeenth-century Danish geologist Nicolas Steno earned his chops at a young age, studying cadavers and drawing anatomic connections between species. Steno made outsized contributions to the field of geology, influencing Charles Lyell, James Hutton and Charles Darwin. Addison Anderson recounts Steno’s little-known legacy and lauds his insistence on empiricism over blind theory.

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Addison Anderson
  • Animator Anton Bogaty
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Steno’s Prodromus, where he lays out the principles of stratigraphy, can be found here.
Lecture Notes from Professor Paul Olsen, covering the development of geochronology.
Here are details about each principle of stratigraphy.
Download your new 2013 edition of the International Chronostratigraphic Chart from the International Commission on Stratigraphy. Don’t go another epoch without it!
Have you heard of Alexander von Humboldt? Not likely. The geologist turned South American explorer was a bit of an 18th century super scientist, traveling over 24,000 miles to understand the relationship between nature and habitat. George Mehler details Humboldt’s major accomplishments and why we should care about them today.

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Addison Anderson
  • Animator Anton Bogaty
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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