True or False: Scientists can directly investigate temperature in the fossil record.

The assertion that scientists can directly investigate temperature in the fossil record is false because temperature itself cannot be measured directly from fossilized remains. Instead, scientists infer past temperatures through indirect methods, such as studying the chemical composition of ancient sediments or analyzing isotopes in fossilized organic material. These methods allow researchers to draw conclusions about past climate conditions but do not provide direct measurements of temperature itself.

While there are techniques, such as examining the oxygen isotopes in calcified shells or the plant types found in certain sediment layers, that can give insights into historical climate, these are still considered proxy indicators rather than direct measurements of temperature. Therefore, the understanding of temperature from the fossil record is always an interpretation based on available evidence rather than a precise measurement.