Rivers are one of nature's most powerful forces -- they bulldoze mountains and carve up the earth, and their courses are constantly moving. Understanding how they form and how they'll change is important for those that call their banks and deltas home. In this visual-packed talk, geoscientist Liz Hajek shows us how rocks deposited by ancient rivers can be used as a time machine to study the history of the earth, so we can figure out how to more sustainably live on it today.

Liz Hajek: What rivers can tell us about the earth's history

What rivers can tell us about the earth's history

Ancient rivers, acting as nature's bulldozers, reveal the earth's dynamic history through sedimentary rocks and shifting courses.

The Kosi River's dramatic course change in 2008, jumping over 30 miles, underscores rivers' powerful, landscape-transforming ability.

Mississippi River's changing paths over millennia, detailed through geological records, highlight the dynamic nature of river deltas.