How Fossil Fuels Are Really Made of Ancient Life

Fossil fuels come from plants, algae, and tiny organisms that lived millions of years ago.
When these organisms died, their remains sank into mud, sand, and ocean floors.
Layers of sediment buried the remains, cutting off oxygen and slowing decay.
Heat and pressure over millions of years transformed the organic matter into fuels.
Coal formed mostly from ancient swamp plants compressed into carbon-rich rock.
Oil originated from marine microorganisms that were “cooked” into liquid hydrocarbons.
Natural gas often formed alongside oil, producing lighter hydrocarbon molecules.
Every drop of oil or lump of coal is concentrated ancient sunlight stored in molecules.
Fossil fuels are nonrenewable because their formation takes millions of years.
Burning them releases energy once trapped by ancient life—and carbon back into today’s air.