And now I know why a variety of coal is called "Lignite". And why dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals were so big.

What an amazing story. It's been a while since I read something so interesting.

Ultimately, all energy on earth comes from the Sun, stored in the bonds between atoms or molecules. Plants are battery-manufacturing machines that create these bonds inside the organic compounds. Animals do the opposite - break the bonds to release the energy stored by trees. Animals also store energy within their own organic compounds such as fats and muscles and thus become part of the food pyramid.