If you had a time machine....

[Smdee]

I'd really love to see the last glacial period (about 10000+ years ago), especially Lake Agassiz. It had such an impact on the geography where I'm located and because of that the biomes that were created are so diverse. Also, it would be very interesting to see the migration of different animals from Asia across the Bering Strait because of the ice bridges. Including the migration of the first humans into North America.

 

[Molch]

I'd really love to see the last glacial period (about 10000+ years ago), especially Lake Agassiz. It had such an impact on the geography where I'm located and because of that the biomes that were created are so diverse. Also, it would be very interesting to see the migration of different animals from Asia across the Bering Strait because of the ice bridges. Including the migration of the first humans into North America.

yes! Being a resident of the Bering Strait, I'd ove to see this too. Btw, those weren't ice bridges: The Bering Land Bridge was good old solid land, and unglaciated even during the height of the ice age. Hence it was such a refugium for so many species. The bones of the past are still melting out of the permafrost all around us. It's not uncommon at all to find some ice age bones or ivory. I meself and a field assistant found a mammoth tusk in the river once. You can buy jewelry carved out of mammoth ivory here and it's perfectly legal and common. It's got a distinctive mottled-brownish look to it and can be easily distinguished from fresh or walrus ivory. The descendents of those first humans who migrated into N. America over the land bridge are still here too. Some of them are my friends and colleagues

If I could behold just one single ice age mammal with my own uncovered rheumy eyes - it would be the giant ground sloth. Just because there is absolutely nothing alive today that even remotely resembles them. Their closest relatives today are those little sad-eyed upside-down blobs with algae growing in their fur that hang in South American trees like so many overripe mangoes. Imagine one of those 12 feet tall with claws that could rip a cave bear apart. Yay!!

 

[eljorgo]

Silurian...... I had to see the very first plant species existing in land... Cooksonia.
Thus, risk of death is very low since there is nothing dangerous or massive on land to kill me, unlike many other most advanced periods such as Carboniferous witch is one of my favorites, but extremely poison human head sized jump spiders would not make my day a good one. And 6 meter pseudo-salamanders with claws and sharp teeth guarding every water puddle.

 

[Smdee]

yes! Being a resident of the Bering Strait, I'd ove to see this too. Btw, those weren't ice bridges: The Bering Land Bridge was good old solid land, and unglaciated even during the height of the ice age. Hence it was such a refugium for so many species. !

Really? I didn't know that, wow! It would be so awesome to see that...I love learning about the impact of glaciers. It's kind of funny...where my parents are, that was the beach of Lake Agassiz and the soil is very sandy, but where I live, an hour and a half away, the soil is clay based and heavy; so we're on the lake bed. It's awesome

 

[Molch]

Silurian...... I had to see the very first plant species existing in land... Cooksonia.
Thus, risk of death is very low since there is nothing dangerous or massive on land to kill me, unlike many other most advanced periods such as Carboniferous witch is one of my favorites, but extremely poison human head sized jump spiders would not make my day a good one. And 6 meter pseudo-salamanders with claws and sharp teeth guarding every water puddle.

totally. Silurian, to see both the first terrestrial plants and the first arthropods crawling around. And to see virgin, untrodden and untouched continents with awesome geology.

I just read that in the Silurian, average temperatures were likely much higher than today - possibly on the order of 100-120 F! And about 17 times more CO2 than today. So even without large toothy things to eat ya, your survival may be somewhat sketchy...

 

[mshine1217]

I've noticed that the male contibutors to this thread tend to want to go backwards. As a "liberated" female I'd like to go to the future. I'm not a visionary like HG Wells or Isaac Asimov, so I'm not sure what I'd find, but I would be prepared for the worst and pray for the best. :happy:

 

[Niels D]

I can understand why all males want to go back to the better days. Walking around in animal skins, clubbing things for fun, making chimplike noises all day and "invite" the ladies into your cave by pulling their hair. Ever seen "Quest for Fire"? Those were the days!

If I had a timemachine I would want to see way too much. I don't think that I would return to the present, only to check on my beasties.

 

[Italicus]

I can understand why all males want to go back to the better days. Walking around in animal skins, clubbing things for fun, making chimplike noises all day and "invite" the ladies into your cave by pulling their hair. Ever seen "Quest for Fire"? Those were the days!

If I had a timemachine I would want to see way too much. I don't think that I would return to the present, only to check on my beasties.

you don't have to go so far for that
ancient Egypt: women walked around with at least half of the breast exposed, they had beers, and the only pick up line was "do you want to spend an hour of pleasure with me?"
ancient greece: ever heard of Dionysus? god of wine and craziness, the celebrations in his honour were mega parties that always ended up in orgy
ancient rome: in every house the wife of the owner of house managed a group of concubines, at disposal of the husband and sons

and these are the wisest word i have ever read

 

[Azhael]

Well, yeah, breasts and wine, but also childhood death, disease, hunger, ignorance.....
Life has never been better than it is for us lucky few. Now, getting to see past organisms, while rettaining 21st century quality of life, that would be fantastic. Pitty it´s never going to happen xD

 

[Niels D]

I miss the clubbing though...

 

[Coastal Groovin]

I would go back in time to see Neanderthals in Europe. Then I would go back in time 200 years and collect myself about 100 bog turtles.

 

[DeCypher]

I would go back to the medieval ages of Europe and tell them about technology and computers, and explain what the future will be like. And also about Hitler and 9/11 and wars and whatnot, although that could end up in utter catastrophe. It would be like jump-starting humanity.
Oh and I'd like to see what all the Axolotls looked like before they evolved into neoteny. Possibly save a few.
And I'd go back about 12 hours to tell myself that eating peanut butter sandwiches directly before going to sleep will make my stomach feel awful upon waking.