DKK 3.8 million for research in Earth's history

Emma Hammarlund has received funding from the Swedish Science Council for a project that allows her to continue the exploration of Earth's history.

Central in the research is the time when Earth’s atmosphere approached its modern composition. Some researchers think this happened some time 350-400 million years ago, but they don’t know exactly how this relates to plants.

Also, if the dramatic rise in atmospheric oxygen took place some 150 million years after animals evolved, diversification of modern animals occurred in a much different setting than today.

"I am therefore curious of molecular control mechanisms that may have facilitated the evolution of animals, rather than just high oxygen", says Emma Hammarlund.

Work will be done both at SDU and at Lund University, Sweden.