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Can we calculate Palaeogravity?
by
Stephen W. Hurrell
by
Stephen W. Hurrell
Abstract
Palaeogravity, the strength of the Earth’s surface gravity in the past, is widely believed to have been constant for hundreds of millions of years. A simple scientific method is outlined to check if this belief is correct. The results indicate that, far from being the constant assumed, palaeogravity was lower in the past and has slowly increased towards our present-day surface gravity.
Suggested Citing Format
Hurrell, S.W. (2020). Can we calculate palaeogravity? http://dinox.org/hurrell2020c
See also a presentation about calculating palaeogravity here
See also a presentation about calculating palaeogravity here
Page updated 13 Jul 2026
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On Facebook - Dominik Dodis Katona. Sauropod neck vertebrae were hollow, at least that s what CT scan indicate. Does help to solve the problem of reduced gravity? https://svpow.com/category/ct/
Palaeogravity Laboratory. Yes, hollow dinosaurs, via a multitude of internal air sacs, is a very popular add hoc theory to reduce the mass of dinosaurs and pterosaurs. Dinosaurs can be reduced by 20% and pterosaurs can be nearly 90% filled with air!
Dominik Dodis Katona. well sauropod's lower estimates went last years from 70-80 to 40-50 tons. But it's not satisfying I guess, because some studies admit G max component is out of line compared to mammals with 20 tons.
On Academia - Ruud Loeffen. I highly recommend Stephen Hurrell’s work on palaeogravity to anyone interested in gravity, Earth history, dinosaurs, and the possibility that our planet’s past conditions were different from what is usually assumed. Hurrell has developed a clear and courageous line of reasoning: fossil animals may preserve indirect evidence of past surface gravity through the relation between body mass, bone strength, and weight. His work deserves attention because it asks a simple but profound scientific question: was Earth’s gravity always the same? Even readers who do not immediately accept the conclusion will find that his approach stimulates serious reflection about hidden assumptions in geology, palaeontology, and gravitational theory. This book is an important contribution to open scientific discussion and deserves to be read, examined, and debated with care.
