Eyes Made of Crystal? - Trilobites are Bizarre

Other cool things about Trilobites
People have been collecting them for at least tens of thousands of years, as they've been found in Native American burial mounds. One tribe has a name for them that means "Little water bug in a stone house."

There's a genus of trilobite found first in China named "Han" after the Chinese dynasty. There's one species in that genus that only has one single current fossil found, scientists named it "Han Solo." That sounds like a dad joke, and it probably is, but it's also true.

The extinction even that wiped out the last trilos (which we talk about on Eons) wiped out 90% of the species on Earth.

[JosephClayson]

"It's the CAAAMBRIAN EXPLOSION" 🎵🎶

[cupcakewithouttheicing]

bill wurtz voice: 🎶it's the Cambrian Explosion🎶

[pgraterol]

Something that I really admire of the Green brothers is that they are able to convey the passion that they have for each individual subject and are able to make their audience excited and eager to learn more about it!

[ArnovanZelst]

Man I wish I had a bomb-ass exoskeleton that I could shed

[Razbeariez]

Crystals for eyes sounds like something that came out of the lyrics of an indie pop song.

[vlogbrothers]

I'm listening to criticism, but I also have to do what's right for me as a human right now. I made the call I made, and I need to give this time before I'm able to talk about what I've learned publicly. I hope you can understand me not engaging with it head on during its hottest moment.

So I'm focusing some on stuff I love, like trilobites.

- Hank

[silhouette]

this was kinda good revision for my degree, so cathartic I was shocked when you stopped before getting into the different optical axes of calcite, and different refractive indices, and birefringence, and how mineralogy can inform palaeontology which is the COOLEST THING EVER. Because we can tell the field of vision and therefore the habitat (benthic, pelagic) of a trilobite based on the alignment of crystallographic axes of calcite in trilobite compound eyes and honestly what could be more beautiful

[leahcarson]

I had no idea that hank green was responsible for eons, those were always so fascinating to me and I love hank green so this makes me so happy

[ProfessorPolitics]

Wait, what you're telling me is that my Trilobite fossil is probably just the molted shell instead of the remains of the whole organism? That Trilo-bites, yo.

[elizabethsmith]

This is such a Hank video, and I love it so much. Hank, you seem genuinely interested and excited by science, and it is infectious!

[redish_mushroom]

Holy shit Hank was doing bizarre beasts back in 2017 and we didn't know

[stephengoralski]

That's so incredibly fascinating! Do any Arthropods still use that calcite crystal eye design? How did they grow the crystals?

[TrumpetDoc]

the early roots of Bizarre Beasts in Hank's brain?

[nathanong]

GOD BLESS YOU HANK GREEN. I study paleontology and good science communication is rare, but you hit the nail on the head. Trilobites are SO FREAKIN NEAT but most people dont bother getting past the fact that they're old and abundant. I'm super stoked to see what the Eons series is going to be like, thanks for taking this on!

[matt-sauer]

All I'll say is wow going back through all of these. It's just amazing with the benefit of hindsight to get to see the history of all sorts of shows I stumbled across before finally finding out more about Hank Green who created so many of them. My first impression of Hank Green was hey I like the way this guy talks about science on Sci Show and to see and learn more about how much early/current youtube is interconnected is just an amazing thing.

[osebka]

I'm so excited for this!! I'm a geologist and I absolutely LOVED paleontology. If I went into grad school that would've been my desired route and I'm just so happy that this new channel is a thing. Thanks! 😍

[StMonicaOurPerseverance]

Hank I would yell at you for trying to do all of the things, but I love all the things you do.

[silvertrees]

This is so cool! I don't even like biology, I consider it to be rather boring, but this was something else. Your passion is so open and clear for everyone to see and it makes me passionate about trilobites too! Keep up the good work, Hank! 👍

[brittanyparrish]

It constantly amazes me that Hank has time to breath, but this seems right up my alley

[CAcationu]

I get the same rush of excitement about trilobites as you do Hank and I'm very excited for Eons. Thanks for bringing yet another great program to light! Also "Best Wishes" to your wife Katherine and baby Orin!