Paleontology is the scientific study of the history of life on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. Paleontologists analyze fossils to understand the evolution of species, ancient environments, and the extinction events that have occurred throughout Earth's history. This field of study helps to reconstruct the past and provide insights into the planet's biodiversity, climate change, and geological history. Paleontologists use a variety of techniques, such as fossil dating, comparative anatomy, and paleoecology, to piece together the puzzle of Earth's biological past.