A team of geologists from Curtin University discovered clear evidence of a high-speed impact that occurred 3.47 billion years ago (Archean EON) in the heart of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This discovery makes it the oldest impact crater found on Earth, surpassing the previous record of 2.2 billion years.
Grind cones from the Arctic Dome in the heart of Australia’s Pilbara region. Image credit: Curtin University.
“When more than a million craters with diameters exceeding 1 km and over 40 km, more than 100 km, the moon holds an exquisite record of the intense artillery fire that the body of the inner solar system has endured during the first billion years of its history.”
“On Earth, this early impact record appears to reflect the destructive efficiency of erosion and subduction, bringing the primary skin back to the convection mantle.”
“Nevertheless, the oldest part of many cratons, the ancient (4-2.5 billion years ago) nuclei of the continent formed 3.5 billion years ago, must maintain evidence of impact fluxes beyond similar regions of the moon of comparable age.”
“However, the oldest recognized terrestrial impact structure in Yarabuba, Western Australia dates 2.23 billion years ago. Where are Archean Craters?”
Professor Johnson and his co-authors investigated the Archiunlock Formation at the Arctic Dome in the Pilbara region and discovered evidence affecting major metstones 3.5 billion years ago.
“This discovery has challenged our previous assumptions about the ancient history of our planet,” Professor Johnson said.
Researchers discovered Archean Crater thanks to crushed cones. This is a unique rock formation that has only formed under the intense pressure of the Metstone strike.
The crushed cone at the site, about 40 km west of the marble bar, was formed when metstones over 36,000 km/h were pounded into the area.
This was a major planetary event, with craters over 100 km wide sending fragments flying around the world.
“We know that in the early solar systems, seeing the moon is common,” Professor Johnson said.
“To date, the absence of truly ancient craters means they are largely ignored by geologists.
“This study provides an important part of the puzzle of Earth’s impact history and suggests that there may be many other ancient craters that can be discovered over time.”
“The discovery shed new light on the way metstones formed the early environment of the Earth,” said Chris Kirkland, a professor at Curtin University.
“Discovering this impact and finding more from the same period can explain a lot about how life began, as impact craters created an environment that is friendly to microbial life, such as heated pools.”
“It also fundamentally refines our understanding of the formation of the earth’s crust. The enormous amount of energy from this impact may have played a role in shaping the early Earth’s crust by pushing part of the Earth’s crust underneath another or rising from deeper into the Earth’s mantle towards the surface.
“It may have contributed to the formation of the craton, the large, stable land that formed the foundation of the continent.”
Discoveries are reported in a paper In the journal Natural Communication.
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CL Kirkland et al. 2025. The Old Archian Impact Crater in Pyrabara Craton, Western Australia. Nut commune 16, 2224; doi:10.1038/s41467-025-57558-3
Biologists discovered a new species of the tree frog genus and redescribed another Litrea Living on the Australian continent.
Swirling wooden frog (Litrea Reverata). Image credit: Stephen Mahony.
Litrea The large genus of tree frogs native to Australia, including the Bismarck Islands, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, the Lesser Sunda Islands and the Moluccan Islands.
This genus contains approximately 100 species and belongs to the monomorphic subfamily liriinae within the family Perodridae family.
A newly discovered species named Eungella Whirring Frog (Litoria eungellensis) and lives only 20km2 The cool Montertaine temperature forests in Queensland's Enguera Mountains are above 900 m above sea level.
This frog is separated by several hundred km from its nearest relative.Litrea Kolbeni).
These two species survive only in isolated, cool, humid, high altitude environments, with few opportunities to shift their habitat as temperatures rise.
“The 'adapt or corruption' mantra does not apply equally to a species,” said Professor Michael Mahony of Newcastle University.
“The frogs are literally running out of space. They are nowhere to be left because the climate model is isolated on the summit to predict warm, dry conditions.”
Dr. Luke Price, a researcher at the Museum of South Australia, said:
“Wet tree frogs only occur in wet forest habitats, and therefore occupy the wet forest habitats interconnected along a large divisional range from northeastern New South Wales to Tablelands in Atherton. I'm sure he was. Current experience.”
“We're not talking about climate warming related to human influences or greenhouse effects, we're talking about much older changes related to continental movements and global meteorological distribution.”
Researchers have also revealed this Litoria eungellensis and Litrea KolbeniDespite its similar appearance, the bright mustard yellowish body with red spots hidden behind the legs – has evolved separately for at least 1.5 million years.
The subtle differences in mating calls and genetic analysis confirmed their distinct evolutionary pathways.
“Litoria eungellensis Currently, it holds the enviable title of one of Australia's top 10 frogs.
“Species that are limited to such small areas face immeasurable risks, from wildfires to pollution events. One catastrophic event has managed to wipe them out completely.”
“The observation that species are confined to isolated patches of high-altitude cool rainforest habitat suggests that they are already living at biological limits, and due to climate warming, species are in the form of a sinus. There's no place to enlarge or move around.”
“A similar situation occurs Litrea Kolbenibut it is slightly larger. ”
Both species meet the United Nations for conservation standards for listed as Critical at riskmainly due to their limited distribution and the increased threat of climate change.
“These frogs already live at biological limits,” Professor Mahoney said.
“Their survival depends on active conservation efforts, as there is no place to move.”
On the other hand, it's more broad Litrea Reverata It appears to be less threatened when seen in New South Wales and southeast Queensland.
But the obvious stability of Litrea Reverata His assessment of no formal surveillance of this kind and not threatened may be more so because it is based solely on observations from interested biologists and community scientists,” said Dr. Price. I did.
The findings highlight the urgent need to understand and mitigate the impact of climate change on vulnerable species.
“We need to realize that not all species can adapt quickly enough,” Professor Mahoney said.
“Target conservation and habitat protection are essential to prevent these unique frogs from disappearing forever.”
Survey results It will be displayed in the journal Zootaxa.
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Luke C. Price et al. 2025. Systematic evaluation of molecular genetic, morphological and acoustic variation reveals three species Litrea Reverata Complexes (Anal: Perodridae). Zootaxa 5584(3):301-338; doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5584.3.1
According to an analysis of new data from NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, the ejaculation ability that orbits Sagittarius a* emits a constant flow of flares with no period of rest. Some flares are faint flickering for a few seconds, while others are blindly bright eruptions that spit out every day. There is also slight flicker than the surges for several months at a time.
The artist's concept depicts an ultra-high Massive black hole in the heart of the Milky Way galaxy known as Sagittarius a*. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/RALF CRAWFORD, STSCI.
“We expect flares to occur in essentially every super-large black hole, but our black holes are unique,” says Dr. Farhad Yousef Zadeh, an astronomer at Northwestern University. Ta.
“It's always bubbled up with activity and doesn't seem to reach a stable state.”
“We observed Sagittarius A* multiple times throughout 2023 and 2024, and noticed changes in all observations.”
“We saw something different each time, and that's really surprising. It didn't stay the same.”
Dr. Yousefzadeh and his colleagues used it Webb's nircam instrument Observe Sagittarius A* in total of 48 hours, increments of 8-10 hours over a year.
They expected to see the flare, but Sagittarius A* was more active than he had expected.
The accretion disk surrounding the black hole produced 5-6 large flares per day, during which several small subflares were generated.
“Our data showed constantly changing and bubbly brightness,” Dr. Yusef-Zadeh said.
“And boom! A huge explosion of brightness suddenly appeared. Then it settled down again. No patterns were found in this activity. It seems random. The activity profile of the black hole is what we see every time we see it. It was new and exciting.”
“It appears to be caused by two separate processes: short bursts and long flares. If the accretion disk is a river, the short, faint flicker is like a small ripple that fluctuates randomly on the surface of the river. .”
“But longer, brighter flares are like tidal waves caused by more important events.”
“Mild faults in the accretion disk can produce faint flickers. Specifically, turbulent fluctuations within the disk cause plasma (high-temperature charge gas) to be compressed and temporary. It can cause a burst of radiation.”
“This is similar to the way the solar magnetic fields gather together to compress and eject solar flares.”
“Of course, the environment around the black hole is much more energetic and extreme, so the process is more dramatic. But the surface of the sun also bubbles up with activity.”
Astronomers attribute large, bright flares to magnetic reconnection events. This is the process in which two magnetic fields collide and release energy in the form of accelerated particles. These particles, moving at a speed close to the speed of light, emit a burst of bright radiation.
“The magnetic reconnection event is like a static electricity spark, and in some ways it is also an electrical reconnection,” Dr. Yusef-Zadeh said.
The team wants to use Webb to observe Sagittarius A* for a long period of time.
“When you're watching such a weak flare event, you have to compete with the noise,” said Dr. Yousef Zadeh.
“If you can observe 24 hours a day, you can reduce the noise and see features that you didn't see before. That would be great. Also, these flares show periodicity (or repeat yourself) or really You can also check if it is random.”
F. Yusef-Zadeh et al. 2025. Nonstop Variation of SgrA** Uses JWST at wavelengths of 2.1 and 4.8 microns: evidence of clear populations of faint and bright variable emissions. apjlin press; Arxiv: 2501.04096
Paleontologists have identified a new genus and species of small dinophalosaurid archosauromorph from a fossilized skeleton found in China’s Yunnan province.
Holotype of Austronaga Minuta Most of the caudal vertebrae, which were found in looping in Yunnan Province, China, were found, and preserved in the skull, anterior cervical spine, and blocks. Image credit: Wang et al. , doi: 10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.231013.
Austronaga Minuta lived in the Thetis Sea during the Middle Triassic period around 244 million years ago.
This new species is an Archosauromorph, a member of a group that contains all forms more closely related to it (such as Crocodilians and dinosaurs, etc.) than Lepidosaurs.
Ancient reptiles are sister species Dinocephalosaurus orientalis, another amazing marine reptile from the Triassic period in central China.
“The Medium Triassic in southern China has produced a prominent marine vertebrate assembly that dramatically alters the understanding of the Tethys Sea and its coastline biota,” says Vertebrate paleontology and paleontology. A colleague and colleague at the institute said. National Geopark.
“The Triassic non-quadrilateral alxaulmorph group holds an important position in these findings.”
“They were traditionally called prototrosauria or prototrosaurs, but are now considered paraphrasing groups.”
“One species belonging to this group of reptiles, Dinocephalosaurus orientalis one of the most interesting reptiles discovered in recent years from the Triassic period in southern China,” they added.
“Its very elongated neck reminds me of a similar condition as seen in the ausauromorph, another aquatic creature. Tanistrophius. ”
“Both species have more than twice the necks as the trunk.”
“Yunnan’s new non-crocodile Archosauromorph shares many features Dinocephalosaurus And along with the latter, it can be distinguished from other long-necked Archosauromorphs. ”
“However, this new species also exhibits many different anatomical features. Dinocephalosaurus therefore, new genus and species have been proposed. ”
A small but mature skeletal specimen of Austronaga Minuta was recovered from the Guanling Formation in Waina village in Yunnan Province, southwestern China.
“The specimen is very compacted, but contains almost completely completely complete, with the anterior part of the skull joint with the skull, and most of the caudal tail of about 60.” The paleontologist said.
Their phylogenetic analysis shows that Austronaga Minuta With Dinocephalosaurus and Pektden It forms a clade representing the Dinocephalosauridae of the Archosauromorph family.
New marine reptiles probably had an aquatic or semi-aquatic lifestyle.
“The dentition Austronaga It's less specialized than that Tanistrophius and Dinocephalosaurus yet they have enlarged teeth like these species. This corresponds to the food possibilities of small aquatic animals, such as fish and cephalopods,” the researchers said.
“Other potential indicators for aquatic movement are Austronaga. ”
“The elaborate structure of the caudal neural spines and chevrons is only observed in Austronaga and Dinocephalosaurus Among these non-crocopodan alxaulmorphs. ”
“These structures of the tail are not essential for aquatic propulsion, taking into account the absence of other aquatic reptiles and even some aquatic lines.”
“Nevertheless, similar morphology converges in many aquatic reptiles: caudal neural spines like plates have been developed in basal fishy disease. Sclerocormus and Chaohusaurus. ”
“The T-shaped chevron is found in the mysterious Zauroptari horn Atopodentatus and with primitive placedonts Paraplacodos and Placodus. ”
“Therefore, we consider the morphology of the caudal vertebrae. Austronaga Suitable for aquatic or at least semi-aquatic animals. ”
Findings are reported in a paper In the journal Palasiatica spine.
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W. Wang et al. 2024. A small dinophalosaurid archosauromorph from the Triassic period in central Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Palasiatica spine 62(1):13-32; doi:10.19615/j.cnki.2096-9899.231013
Paleontologists explain new specimens of the genus Archeopteryx From the Mercim Formation in Franconia Albus in Bavaria, Germany.
Karlsruhe specimen: (a) Original condition of the slab before preparation. (b) Slab containing the remains of the left arm and fragments of the right arm after initial preparation. Image credit: foth et al. , doi: 10.3897/fr.28.131671.
Archeopteryx It is a genus of dinosaurs, like feathered birds, that lived during the Jurassic period about 150 million years ago.
3 species and over 10 specimens Archeopteryx It is now all known from Bavaria, Germany.
It is considered the first known bird, Archeopteryx It had primitive properties like teeth and long bone tails, and was similar in size to Eurasian magpies.
“Archeopteryx Dr. Christian Foss, a paleontologist at Friborg and Rostock University, and his colleagues, said:
“To date, this taxa is known only from the lower Titonians of Bavaria in Germany. Nine of the 11 specimens currently known as this genus have been excavated from the Altmühltal Formation.”
“Morphological variation, such as dentition and limb proportions – suggestions within the genus Archeopteryx They may experience evolutionary changes and be divided into different species during this period. ”
“For over 150 years, the genus Archeopteryx “It was the only Jurassic representative that could be introduced to the Pareve, the theropod clade, which includes the bird and its closest parents, Doromaosaurid and Trudontid,” they added.
“Discovering diverse communities of Pallavia packaging from slightly older rocks in northeastern China over the past decades, identification of fragmented harem specimens. Archeopteryx As another taxa, Ostromia Classicesand discovery Alcmonavis Poeschlielucidated the previously unexpected complexity of the evolution, diversity and distribution of Pallavia in the late Jurassic period. ”
Reconstruction of Archeopteryx albersdoerferi. Image credit: Zhao Chuang/Martin Kundrát.
new Archeopteryx The specimen – a fragmentary skeleton – was discovered in May 2019 in the Mörnsheim Formation in Mörnsheim, Baibaria, Southern Germany.
“The skeleton is the third Aviala specimen found in the Mörnsheim formation,” the paleontologist said.
“It consists of fragments of both the right forelimb and shoulder, left forelimb and both the hind limb.”
Unofficially called Karlsruhe specimen, the new fossil is about 149 million years old, and is the 12th specimen representing it Archeopteryx Genus.
“The specimens are within the size range of specimens for Dating, Munich, Thermopolis and feather wings and therefore represent one of the medium sizes. Archeopteryx Samples,” the researchers said.
Their paper It was published in the journal in January 2025 Fossil Record.
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C. foth et al. 2025. new Archeopteryx From the Mercim Formation in lower Titonia at Mullheim (Jurassic Evening). Fossil Record 28(1):17-43; doi:10.3897/fr.28.131671
According to a new study published in the journal Plos 1, anti-biologists analyzed the fossilized archaeological sites of Alvaretsu Saurdo Dinosaur, Bonapartenykus, from Patagonia’s Allen formation. Their findings provide new insights into the body plan of Bonapartenykus and other members of the Alvaretsu Sould Dinosaur Group Patagonykinae.
Reconstruction of the personal life of Bonapartenykus in Argentina, Patagonia Allen Solitoritral Ojodea Guo area. Image credit: Abel G. MONTES.
Bonapartenykus lived in Patagonia, Argentina, about 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.
This dinosaur, first described in 2012, belongs to one of the most enigmatic dinosaur groups, Alvarezsauridae.
Together with another genus from Patagonia, Patagonics, Bonapartenykus forms a small group within Alvarez Sauria called Patagonykinae.
“Alvarezsauria is a group of small to medium-sized coelurosaurian theropod dinosaurs that lived from the late Jurassic to the late Cretaceous,” explained Dr. Gustabo Meso, a paleontologist specializing in ancient biologist.
“Originally, the distribution of this group was limited to Asia, with the earliest known member found in China’s Oxford (late Jurassic period).”
“Early fossils of Alvarezsauria were only found in Asia but now include up to three species.”
“By the latter half of the Cretaceous period, Alvarezsauria had diversified and spread globally, with abundant fossils found in Asia, Europe, North America, and the first records in South America from the Gondwana supercontinent.”
“Patagonykinae is a subgroup of Alvarezsaurids, named after the Patagonics and Bonapartenykus.”
In their new study, Dr. Gustabo Meso and his co-author examined numerous Alvarezsaurus fossils from the Patagonia Allen layer of Solitral Ojo de Agua.
“These specimens were collected at various times without precise original locality information but are now all from the same section and layer as the holotype of the alvarezsaurid. We conducted X-ray micro-CT scans of the specimens,” mentioned Dr. Meso.
“Based on this new information and the morphological similarities of the specimens, we provisionally assign them to the genus Bonapartenykus.”
The newly described specimen provides valuable insights into the body plan of Patagonykinae, allowing for a more complete reconstruction of the neck, chest, hindlimbs, and tail.
“Our results support the idea of a single species of Alvaresaurus, but future research in the Solitral Ojo de Agua area may reveal further evidence for testing,” they added.
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JG MESO et al. 2025. New information on Bonapartenykus (Alvares Sauda: Seropododa) from the Allen layer in Rio Negro State, Patagonia, Argentina (Middle Compania Mariana) Plos 1 20 (1): e0308366; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308366
The asteroid Benne is believed to be made of tile BLE fragments from the body 4.5 billion years ago, which contains materials generated beyond Saturn, which is a separate object long ago. Destroyed by a collision. In two new papers, scientists include amino acids (including 14 out of 20 used in land biology), polygan aromatic hydrocarbons, ammonia and other compounds, and sodium carbonate, phosphate. It is reported to detect salt such as sulfate, sulfate, sulfate, and sulfate sulfate. Chloride is a Bennu sample delivered to the earth by NASA's OSIRIS-REX spacecraft in 2023.
This mosaic image of the asteroid Benne consists of 12 images collected by 15 miles (24 km) of OSIRIS-REX on December 2, 2018. Image Credit: NASA / NASA Godaddo Space Flight Center / Arizona University.
Dr. Nicky Fox, a semi -manager of the NASA headquarters science mission director, states:
“Asteroids provide time capsules to the history of our hometown planet, and Bennne's sample is extremely important to understand what our solar components exist before life begins on the earth.”
In the Bennu sample, researchers Found Amino Acid -Life on the Earth Used to produce proteins, 14- and all five nuclear foundations used by life on the earth, including a method of placing amino acids amino acids. Used to save and send genetic instructions to molecules. protein.
In addition, the very high existence of ammonia was detected. This is important for biology because it may react with formaldehyde detected in samples, form complex molecules such as amino acids and react in consideration of proper conditions.
When the amino acid is linked to a long chain, protein is created and almost all biological functions supply power.
These building blocks detected by the Bennu sample have previously been found on the outer rocks.
However, it supports the idea that identifying them with an unbalanced sample collected in the universe may be an important cause for the life of the entire solar system. I am.
Dr. Dany Gravin, a senior sample scientist at NASA's Godde Space Flight Center, states:
“That's why some of these new discoveries are not possible without sample return missions, close pollution control measures, and the precious curation and storage of this precious material from Benne.”
OSIRIS-REX View on the outside of sample collector. The asteroid sample material can be seen in the center of the right. Image credit: NASA / ERIKA Blumenfeld / Joseph AeberSold.
scientist It will be identified The traces of 11 salt minerals in the bene sample, which are formed as water containing dissolved salt, evaporate for a long period of time, leaving salt as solid crystals.
Similar salt water is detected or proposed throughout the solar system, including Dwarf Planet Ceres and Saturn's Moon Enkelladus.
“The discovery of these salt was a break -through in space research,” said Dr. Nick Timms, a researcher at Curtin University.
“I was surprised to identify the mineral haright, which is a sodium chloride. It is exactly the same salt as the salt that may be placed in the chip.”
“The mineral we discovered is formed from the evaporation of salt water, which is a bit similar to the salt sediment formed in Australia and the salt lake around the world.”
“By comparing with the mineral sequence of the salt lake on the earth, we can begin to imagine what the asteroid Bennne was, and provide instructions on ancient universe water activities.”
“OSIRIS-REX was a very successful mission,” said Dr. Jason Dworkin, the scientist of OSIRIS-REX, a researcher of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
“OSIRIS-REX data adds a major brush stroke to photos of the solar system that may have life.”
“Why are we so far, not only to see the life on the earth, but it's a really appetite question.”
The survey results are displayed in two journals Natural astronomy And journal Nature。
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DP gravin et al。 Asteroid (101955) Sil soluble organic matter with abundant ammonia and nitrogen in Benne sample. Nut asronReleased online on January 29, 2025. Doi: 10.1038/S41550-02472-9
TJ McCoy et al。 2025. An evaporated sequence from ancient salt water recorded in Bennne sample. Nature 637, 1072-1077; DOI: 10.1038/S41586-024-08495-6
Labris Portucalensis F11A Strain of Aerobic Bacterium From the Xanthobactereae Family, Can Break Down and Transform at ThreeS of-and PolyFluoroarkyl Substances (PFAS) C Byprodusts, According to New Research.
Labris Portucalensis F11 CAN BE POTENTIALLY USED FOR PFAS BIODEGRADADATION in CONTAMINATED ENVIRONMENTS. Image Credit: Wijayahena et alDOI: 10.1016/J.SCITOTOTENV.2024.178348.
“The Bond Between Carbon and Fluorine Atoms IS IS STRONG, SO MOST MICROBES CANNOT Use IT AN ENERGY SOURCE,” ER at the University at buffalo and suny.
“THE Labris Portucalensis F11 Bacterial Strain Developed The Ability to CHOP AWAY THE FLUORINE AND EAT THE CARBON.
Labris Portucalensis F11 Was Isolated from the SOIL OF ANDUSTRIAL SITE in PORTUGAL AND HAD Utical Contaminants. However, it Had Never BeeN Tested on Pfas.
In The New Study, Professor AGA and HER COLLEAGUES FOUND THAT Labris Portucalensis F11 METABOLIZED OVER 90% of OF Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) Following An Exposit of 100 Days.
PFOS Is ONE OF THE TYQUENTLY DETECTED TYPES OF PFAS AND WAS DESIGNATED HAZARDOUS BY THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCYT Year.
Labris Portucalensis F11 ALSO BROKE down LOMER SULFONATE.
UNLIKE MANY PRIOR STUDIES ON PFAS-DEGRADING BACTERIA, The New Study Accounted for Shorter-Chain Breain Breakdown Products-or Metabolites.
In some case, Labris Portucalensis F11 EVEN REMOVED FLUORINE FROM The Metabolites or Broke Them Down to Minute, Undetector Levels.
“Many Previbility Studies Have Only Degradation of Pfas, But Not the Formation of Metabolites,“ SAID MINDULA WIJAYAHENA E University at Buffalo and Suny.
“WE Not ONLY ACCOUNTED FOR PFAS Byprodusts But Found some of Them Continued to Be Further Degradeded by The Bactteria.”
PFAS ARE A GROUP OF UBIQUITOUS CHEMICALS WIDELY USED SINCE THE THE 1950S in EVERYTHING from Nonstick Pans to Fire-Fighting Materials.
THEY'RE At the Can USE THEIR CARBON as an enERGY SOURCE.
“IF BACTERIA SURVIVE IN A HARSH, POLLUTED ENVIRONMENT, It's Probable Vecause THEY HAVE ADAPTED TO USE SURROUNDING CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS AS AS AS ASO RCE SO THEY DON'T Starve, “Professor AGA SAID.
“Through Evolution, SOME BACTERIA CAN DEVELOP EFFECTIVE MECHANISMS to USE Chemical Contaminants to Help Them Grow.”
THE Findings Were publiced in the journal Science of the total Environment.
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Mindula K. Wijayahena et al2025. PFAS BIODEGRADATION by Labris Portucalensis F11: Evidence of Chain Shortening and Identification of Metabolites of PFOS, 6: 2 FTS, and 5: 3 FTCA. Science of the total Environment 959: 178348; Doi: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2024.178348
Understanding food chains in ancient ecosystems is one of the goals of paleoecology. Direct evidence of these interactions is rare and includes fossils with stomach contents and bite/teeth marks. A rare occurrence of bite marks on the neck vertebrae of a giant azhdarchyd goat larval vertebral column specimen from the Greater Sublineage of Alberta, Canada. was recorded. Approximately 76 million years ago. Based on the size and shape of the tooth marks and comparisons with modern animals, the authors suggest that crocodiles bite pterosaurs, but it is unclear whether this is active predation or scavenging. I couldn’t do it. Signs of giant pterosaurs are rare, so this provides novel details about how they fit into this ancient ecosystem.
Fossilized neck bones of a young boy Cryodrakon Boreas It shows signs (right part of specimens 2 and 8) that do not indicate that it was bitten by a crocodile-like creature 76 million years ago. Image credit: Brown et al. , doi:10.1017/jpa.2024.12.
The 76-million-year-old neck vertebrae were excavated in July 2023 in the Dinosaur Park Formation in Alberta, Canada.
The preserved (i.e. incomplete) length of the specimen is 5.8 cm. The estimated total length of the vertebrae is 9.4 cm.
The specimen has a circular puncture mark 4 mm wide from a crocodile tooth.
“Peterosaurus bones are very delicate, so it's very unusual to find fossils that were clearly chewed by another animal,” said Dr Caleb Brown, a palaeontologist at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. states.
“This specimen is even rarer because it is a juvenile.”
The punctured vertebrae belong to a larva (estimated wingspan 2 m) Cryodrakon Boreasa species of giant azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous in what is now Canada.
Adults of this species will be as tall as a giraffe with a wingspan in an area of 10 m.
“With an estimated wingspan comparable to some of the largest azhdarchids, creedracon And other large azhdarchids were probably significant terrestrial foragers,” said the paleontologist.
“Bite marks, implanted teeth, and stomach contents indicate that the azhdarchid pterosaurs were fed by velociraptrines and crocodiles.”
Cryodrakon Boreas. Image credit: David Maas.
In this study, they used micro-CT scans and comparisons with other pterygoid bones to confirm that they were the result of an actual crocodile bite, rather than fossilization or damage during excavation. I did.
“It helps document species interactions from this time,” said Dr. Brian Pickles, a paleontologist at Reading College.
“While we can't say whether the palace was alive or dead when it was bitten, the specimen is a juvenile that crocodiles sometimes preyed on in prehistoric Alberta more than 700 million years ago, or removed.” It shows that it shows a pterosaur.”
study Published online today Journal of Paleontology.
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Caleb M. Brown et al. Larval vertebral vertebrae with putative crocodile bites from a Campanian in Alberta, Canada. Journal of Paleontologypublished online on January 23, 2025. doi:10.1017/jpa.2024.12
A new genus and species of enantiornithine bird in the family Bohaiornithidae has been identified from a nearly complete, articulated skeleton preserved with feather marks found in northeastern China.
holotype of Neobohyornis ramadongensis. Image credit: Shen others., doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-82869-8.
Enantiornis, or “opposite bird”, is named for the feature of the shoulder joint that is “opposite” to that seen in modern birds.
These birds had toothed and clawed wings and occupied a variety of ecological niches comparable to neonis.
Once the most diverse group of birds, they became extinct 66 million years ago due to a meteorite impact that wiped out most of the dinosaurs.
The newly identified enantiornithine species lived during the Cretaceous period, about 119 million years ago.
with scientific name Neobohyornis ramadongensisthis bird belonged to an early enantiornithine family called . Bohiornithidae.
“The most diverse bird group of the Mesozoic Era was the enantiornithids,” said field museum paleontologist Dr. Jinmai O'Connor and colleagues.
“More than 100 named genera have been described to date, and fossils referable to this group of primarily arboreal birds have been described from nearly every continent, making it the largest known Mesozoic bird species. It accounts for half of the animals.
“Although restricted to smaller body sizes during the Early Cretaceous, by the Late Cretaceous Enantiornis had achieved a considerable size range and occupied diverse ecological niches.”
“The most abundant enantiornithine fossils come from deposits recording the Early Cretaceous Jehol biota in northeastern China, and the known Mesozoic bird diversity (130 to 100 million years) 20 million years ago).
“Bohaiornithids are characterized by a unique robust tooth morphology,” the researchers added.
“The tooth is apically pinched, gently curved apically, and mesiodistally robust near the base.”
“The most rostral teeth are typically smaller in size compared to the rest of the dentition.”
“Like most enantiornithids, Bohaiornithids are arboreal, based on the morphology of the foot, with the toe phalanges extending distally within each digit, ending in a highly recurved ungulate. It is highly likely that
“But compared to other species, their claws were proportionately larger and more curved.”
“The largest member of the clade (bohaiornis) may have approached a similar size to the small extant ascites (200 g). ”
“The largest known bohaiornithid is 167% the size of the smallest specimen yet reported, an unnamed juvenile.”
fossilized skeleton Neobohyornis ramadongensis It was discovered in the Jiufutang Formation near Ramadong, Liaoning Province, China.
“The fossil preserves a ring of feather traces from the caudal margin of the nostril to the underside of the neck, the shoulder and pelvic area, the lower leg feathers, the remige, and a pair of rachis-dominated tail feathers. “,” the paleontologists said.
According to the researchers, Neobohyornis ramadongensis It is estimated to weigh around 50g.
“in contrast, Neobohyornis ramadongensisand all other Bohaiornithids are estimated to have weighed more than 100 g,” they said.
The discovery of Neobohyornis ramadongensis Therefore, the body size range and diversity of Bohaiornithidae increases significantly. ”
“This suggests greater ecological diversity, but no direct evidence exists for the diet or ecological niche of this clade at this time.”
Neobohyornis ramadongensis It also preserves new information about the plumage of Bohaiornithidae birds.
This fossil, along with another specimen, shows that the primary feathers of Bohyornithids were about twice as long as the humerus, had rounded wing edges, and, like most other Early Cretaceous enantiornithids, had broad wings. It shows that he had.
“The new specimen represents a new species that contributes to the considerable recognized diversity of enantiornithines in the Bohaiornithidae of the Jiufudang Formation, especially with regard to body size,” the scientists said.
“This specimen reflects the reduced pinky and big fingers that evolved within this lineage as it evolved more sophisticated flight abilities in parallel with other enantiornithid lineages such as Myrididae. It highlights skeletal adaptations such as the possibility of increased sacral vertebrae.”
“The new specimen preserves the most well-known feathers of the Bohaiornithids, and it is possible that this clade had widespread rachis-centered tail feathers, as well as lower leg feathers. It shows that it has a high sex and there were no feathers on the podium.”
C. Shen others. 2024. A new small species of enantiornithine (Birds: Ornithorax) from the Jehor Formation of the Early Cretaceous period in northern China. science officer 14, 31363; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-82869-8
An archaeologist from Oxford Cotswold Archeology (OCA) has made an exciting discovery of 321 11th-century AD silver coins (319 full pennies and 2 cut halfpence) in mint condition near the site of a future nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast. This finding sheds light on the social and political unrest of the 11th century and suggests that the change of government following the coronation of Edward the Confessor in 1042 caused significant turmoil among the population. This collection may have belonged to a local influential figure who felt threatened by the political changes and chose to bury his wealth as a precaution.
A treasure trove of 1,000-year-old silver coins. Image credit: Oxford Cotswold Archaeology.
The newly discovered cache of coins was carefully wrapped in cloth and lead.
The coins in the hoard were issued during the reigns of Harold I “Rabbit’s Foot” (1036-1040), Harthacnut (1040-2), and Edward the Confessor (1042-1066).
Most of the coins date back to the reign of Harold I, with Harthacnut issuing significantly fewer, and only 24 issued by Edward the Confessor.
While the majority of coins were minted in London, some were also minted in Thetford, Norwich, Ipswich, Lincoln, and Stamford.
A few coins were issued by smaller mints such as Langport and Uxbridge in southwest England, making them extremely rare.
“This hoard of coins offers a valuable glimpse into the historical context of that era, indicating that Edward the Confessor’s ascension to the throne was a time of uncertainty and societal unrest. This further supports the idea that it was a period marked by apprehensions,” said Alexander, a coin expert from OCA.
“The analysis of this coin hoard was a collaborative effort involving experts in numismatics, finds, conservation, and project partners.”
“It is a privilege to contribute to bringing this story to life.”
Despite representing considerable wealth for the time, these coins likely belonged to individuals of moderate status rather than high-ranking individuals.
They were probably a savings pot of a local influencer and were roughly equivalent in value to a small herd of cattle at that time.
“The hoard was affectionately named Masu for obvious reasons, so discovering it was truly an honor,” said OCA archaeologist Andrew Pegg.
“When I unearthed it, I saw the edge of a coin peeking out, and I was amazed!”
“It’s an impeccable archaeological time capsule,” he added.
“The insights we’re gaining from it are remarkable, and I am proud to contribute to the history of my corner of Suffolk.”
The mid-11th century in England was a period of uncertainty and shifting loyalties.
Edward the Confessor’s coronation in 1042 followed over 25 years of rule by Danish kings Canute, Harold, and Harthacnut. This event reinstated the House of Wessex on the English throne.
The change in leadership likely sparked uncertainty and apprehension among the populace.
Specifically, some affluent individuals connected to the previous regime were either exiled or had their assets seized after Edward’s coronation.
The hoard’s owner may have buried his wealth in fear of political changes, hoping to retrieve it later as a safety net.
“We may never fully understand why this treasure was left undiscovered,” concluded the archaeologists.
“The discovery of an 11th-century coin hoard is truly extraordinary,” said Damien Leydon, Site Delivery Director at Sizewell C.
A new genus and species of an ankylosaurid dinosaur has been discovered in China’s Kangdaliang Mountain (1,262 meters above sea level).
There are two Ankylosaurs. Image credit: Stuart Pond.
Tianzenosaurus Chengi roamed the Earth during the Late Cretaceous Period, between 84 and 72 million years ago.
This ancient species belonged to the ankylosaurus group of armored dinosaurs that inhabited the planet from the mid-Jurassic period to the late Cretaceous period.
These intriguing creatures were recognized for their robust armor made of bony plates known as osteoderms.
These plates covered their backs and sides, providing defense against predators.
One distinctive feature of many ankylosaurid species, including Tianzenosaurus Chengi, was a large bony club at the end of its tail, which could be used as a potent weapon against predators.
The fossilized remains of this new species were unearthed in the second layer of the Late Cretaceous Huiquanpu Formation in Shanxi Province, China.
“The skull of the new species is flat and low, adorned with irregular bony plates on the roof, a rounded occipital bone slightly surpassing the skull’s roof, and a short, small, and flat bony projection at the back. These skull features differentiate it from Tianchisaurus from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, during the Middle Jurassic period, Shamosaurus from Mongolia in the early Cretaceous period, Ankylosaurus from the Late Jurassic and Late Cretaceous, and Euoplocephalus not only from North America but also from Pinacosaurus from the Late Cretaceous of China and Mongolia,” as stated by Dr. Qiqing Pang and colleagues from Hebei Geographical University.
Tianzenosaurus Chengi shares its discovery location with another known species of this genus, Tianzenosaurus Yongi.
“The identification of this new species not only offers rare ankylosaurian fossil findings from China but also provides valuable insights for the study of ankylosaurian taxonomy, migration, evolution, and the paleobiogeography of Cretaceous dinosaur fauna. This discovery holds significance,” remarked the paleontologists.
Their published paper can be found in the Hebei Geography University Journal.
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Pan Chi Ching et al. 2024. New species of an ankylosaurid dinosaur — Tianzenosaurus Chengi sp. nov., Late Cretaceous, Tianzhen County, Shanxi Province, China. Hebei Geography University Journal 6; doi: 10.13937/j.cnki.hbdzdxxb.2024.06.006
Paleontologists have discovered two new three-dimensionally preserved aculiferous mollusks from the Silurian period, showing that the earliest molluscs were more complex and adaptable than previously known. It was revealed that there was.
3D model of punk ferox (above) and emo swirl (Bottom) Reconstructed as a digital virtual fossil. Image credit: Mark Sutton, Imperial College London.
The two new Aculifera species are punk ferox and emo swirllived about 430 million years ago.
The specimen was discovered in a Silurian deposit in the county of Herefordshire, England.
These had distinctive spikes and other features that set them apart from the earlier molluscs mentioned above.
Dr Mark Sutton, a paleontologist at Imperial College London, said: “Molluscans are one of the largest and most diverse groups of animals on Earth.
“However, early acripheran molluscs are less well known than their relatives.”
“Information about this group was limited, and for a very long time we thought they were fairly basic, simple, and primitive.”
“It's extremely rare to find fossils that are so well-preserved and have such detailed soft tissues.”
“We were able to create 'virtual fossils', or 3D digital models. This provided us with a treasure trove of information and revealed that the evolutionary branches of molluscs include: It helps you understand that punk ferox and emo swirl It was much more evolutionarily rich and diverse than we expected. similar to other mollusk groups. ”
Sutton and his colleagues used two different methods to obtain clear images of both the interior and exterior of the fossil.
First, an X-ray scan was used to closely observe the internal structure without damaging the exterior.
The fossil is then carefully crushed into very thin layers and photographed at each stage to create 3D images of its external features.
The researchers found that both fossils had smooth undersides, suggesting they lived on the ocean floor, and both had some unique features and unconventional locomotion strategies.
of emo swirl The fossil is preserved in a folded position, suggesting it moved like an inchworm to grasp the vertebrae and push forward.
Meanwhile, how punk ferox Scientists weren't sure if it was still mobile, but it turned out that it had ridge-like legs, unlike any mollusk that exists today.
“The name is punk ferox and emo swirl In fact, our first nicknames for these ancient mollusks were inspired by some of their unique features and personalities,” Dr. Sutton said.
“punk ferox In particular, its spiky appearance clearly resembles a rebellious punk rocker. emo swirl It complemented it nicely. ”
“meanwhile punk ferox They resemble insect-like molluscs with long spines, but also have wide legs and chiton-like gills. ”
“emo swirlIt resembles an earthworm with a similarly long body and spines, but also features a chiton-like shell and compressed body. ”
“Such a combination of features helps us better understand the evolutionary tree of molluscs. This points to a story involving more complexity and diversity than previously thought.”
MD Sutton others. New Silurian aculiferan fossils reveal the mollusk's complex early history. naturepublished online on January 8, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-08312-0
Paleontologists from Western University of Health Sciences, Brigham Young University, Arizona Museum of Natural History, and Auburn University reported on the new specimen. haplocanthosaurus Based on bones excavated from the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry near Delta, Colorado, USA.
Artist's impression Haplocanthosaurus delphis. Image credit: Michael BH / CC BY-SA 3.0.
haplocanthosaurus is a small genus of middle sauropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic Period, 155 to 152 million years ago.
Currently, only members of this genus are known. Haplocanthosaurus delphis and Haplocanthosaurus Priscus.
“haplocanthosaurus is a mysterious sauropod excavated from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of the western United States,” said a paleontologist at Western Health University. Matthew Wedel And my colleagues.
“haplocanthosaurus Far fewer individuals (approximately 11 specimens) are known compared to many of the famous Morrison Formation sauropods, such as Apatosaurus, diplodocusand camarasaurusall of which are known from some of over 100 individuals. ”
“Furthermore, important parts of the skeleton, such as the skull, forelimbs, and manus and pes, have not been recovered or described to date.”
“As a genus, haplocanthosaurus “It occurs in many positions on the phylogeny,” they added.
“Studies have found it just outside of basal diplodocoids, basal megafauna, or possibly neosauropods, indicating a precarious position in the sauropod phylogeny.”
“However, most recent studies have converged towards recovery. haplocanthosaurus as a basal diplodocoid. ”
Block of the three anterior dorsal vertebrae haplocanthosaurus Stored in articulations. Scale bar – 10 cm. Image credit: Boisvert others., doi: 10.1002/ar.25520.
new specimen of haplocanthosaurus It was discovered at the Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry near Delta, Colorado.
It consists of three anterior dorsal vertebrae, four separate posterior dorsal vertebrae, and the right tibia.
“The new individual is haplocanthosaurus “Identified based on the presence of dorsally angled transverse processes, high neural arch crus, and wide distal tibia,” the researchers said.
geologically youngest haplocanthosaurus Specimens from the Colorado Plateau.
“This individual extends the range of this genus into the true Brushy Basin member of the Morrison Formation,” the authors said.
Colin Boisvert others. 2024. New specimen description haplocanthosaurus From Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry. anatomical records 307 (12): 3782-3800;doi: 10.1002/ar.25520
Paleontologists from the New York State Museum and New York University Orange, New York, unearthed the fossilized remains of an adult mastodon near Scotchtown, New York, USA.
A fossilized adult mastodon jaw discovered near Scotchtown, New York, USA. Image credit: New York State Museum.
mastodon any species of extinct proboscis in the genus mammut.
Although often confused with mammoths, they are more distantly related to living elephants.
These animals diverged from their elephant ancestors about 27-25 million years ago (Oligocene epoch).
They roamed widely throughout North America as well as surrounding areas such as the tropics of Honduras and the Arctic coast of Alaska until they finally became extinct about 11,000 years ago.
Currently, eight species are recognized, including the famous American mastodon (mammut americanum), widely distributed in nearly every state in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A well-preserved jaw, part of a toe bone, and rib fragments from an adult mastodon were discovered in the backyard of a home near Scotchtown in Orange County, New York.
The fossils were recovered by a team of paleontologists from the New York State Museum and the State University of New York at Orange.
“The jaw of an adult mastodon was discovered protruding from the topsoil, drawing the attention of homeowners and sparking research that will continue to uncover scientific insights for years to come,” they said. Ta.
“The discovery began when the homeowner found two teeth hidden in the leaves of a plant on the property.”
“Upon further investigation, the homeowner unearthed two more teeth just a few inches underground.”
“This important discovery will deepen our understanding of the region's Ice Age inhabitants and highlight the wealth of prehistoric wonders yet to be discovered.”
“When we found the tooth and held it in our hands to examine it, we knew it was something special and decided to call in the experts,” said the resident, who had a prehistoric treasure guarded in his backyard.
“We are thrilled that our property has led to such important discoveries for the scientific community.”
“Although the jaw is the star, additional fragments of toes and ribs provide valuable context and potential for further study,” said researcher Corey Harris-Chair, Ph.D., of the State University of New York at Orange. Ta.
“We also want to further investigate the nearby area to see if there are any more preserved bones.”
More than 150 mastodon fossils have been discovered across the state, about one-third of them in Orange County, an area that remains home to ancient relatives of modern elephants. is a major hotspot.
“This discovery is evidence of New York's rich paleontological history and our continued efforts to understand its past,” said Robert Ferra, Director of Research and Collections and Curator of Ice Age Animals at the New York State Museum. Dr. Neck said.
“This mastodon jaw provides a unique opportunity to study the ecology of this amazing species and will improve our understanding of the region's ice age ecosystems.”
“Fossils are a resource that provide remarkable snapshots of the past, allowing us to reconstruct ancient ecosystems as well as gain better context and understanding of the world around us today.”
“With each discovery like this, we move one step closer to understanding the full story of New York.”
A new genus and species of Monophenestratan pterosaur has been identified from partial and postcranial fossils discovered in the Chubut province of Patagonia, Argentina. named Mercamtel Pateco an ancient flying reptile that predates the currently oldest members of the Monophenestrata clade by at least 8 million and perhaps 10 million years.
rebuilding the life of Mercamtel Pateco. Image credit: Pedro Andrade.
Mercamtel Pateco They lived in what is now Argentina during the most recent Early Jurassic period, 184 to 174 million years ago.
The ancient species is a member of Monophenestrata a large clade of pterosaurs consisting of Darwinoptera, Anurognatidae, and Pterodactylidae.
“Pterosaurs were the first clade of actively flying tetrapods that achieved great success during the Mesozoic Era, achieving a worldwide distribution from the Triassic to the Cretaceous.” Dr. Alexandra Fernandes researchers from the Bavarian National Institute of Paleontology and Geology and colleagues in Germany and Argentina.
“Meanwhile, the pterosaur Bauplan transitioned from the basal non-monophenestratan ‘non-pterodactyloid’ body shape to a more derived pterodactyloid body shape. ”
“This evolutionary event has become better understood in recent years with the recognition of the Darwinoptera clade. Darwinoptera primarily exhibit a variety of morphological attributes during this transition and are considered to be “non-pterodactyl”. It has been considered to be an “intermediate” monofenid, combining the plesiomorphic features of “.” It has wing-like characteristics. ”
“Records of Mesozoic pterosaurs are abundant in the Northern Hemisphere, but records from the Southern Hemisphere are relatively sparse.”
“Although it is possible that Argentinians may be excluded, all carpNon-pterodactyl monophenestratan pterosaurs have so far been found only in the Northern Hemisphere, namely Britain, Germany, and China, and first appeared during the Batonian period (168 to 165 million years ago). ). ”
“The apparent success of these monofenid forms and their pterodactyl descendants replaced the Rhamphorhynchus body form (which disappeared in the early Cretaceous) and survived until extinction at the end of the Cretaceous.”
“However, there is still a lack of knowledge about monofenestral stratus in nonpterodonts, especially in terrestrial depositional environments.”
discovered by paleontologists Mercamtel PatecoThe fossilized remains of – a portion of the skull, two associated teeth, and some postcranial elements – are located at the Queso Lajad site in the Canadon Asphalt Formation.
They also found an isolated tooth of a ctenochasmatid pterosaur pterosaur at the same location.
“The Canadon Asphalt Formation is widespread in the north-central Chubut province of Argentina,” they said.
“This is part of the deposits of the Canadon Asphalt Basin, a large half-graben structure in central Patagonia that opened with the onset of the South Atlantic during the Early Jurassic.”
“The production area of Queso Laryado is located approximately 5.5 km northwest of the village of Cerro Condor in the middle reaches of the Rio Chubut River.''
“The Fossil Formation is a 0.8 meter thick carbonate, partially silicified mudstone underlying the Canadon Asphalt Formation.”
According to the researchers, Mercamtel Pateco This marks the world's earliest appearance of a monophenestratan pterosaur, predating the current oldest member of this clade by at least 8 million and perhaps 10 million years.
This species is also the first and only non-pterodactyl monophenestratan to inhabit the supercontinent of Gondwana.
“Mercamtel Pateco “This is the most conclusive evidence to date for the existence of Monophenestrata in the Late Late Jurassic, and the novel traits expressed in this new species also contribute to morphological diversity.” The scientists concluded.
“Furthermore, if confirmed by future discoveries, the possible existence of Ctenochasmatidae, currently indicated by a single tooth, would not only place the origin of pterodactyls in the Early Jurassic, but also their early diversification. It may even indicate that it already happened in that era.”
“While our understanding of long-term pterosaur diversity and dispersal has traditionally been dominated by Northern Hemisphere Lagerstätten, high phylogenetic diversity of Early Jurassic pterosaurs also existed in Gondwana. It is now clear that the Canadon Asphalt Formation is the only one that now shows evidence for at least three different species. ”
“This further highlights that we still lack knowledge about the Jurassic pterosaur fauna of Gondwana, and while we await further field sampling and recovery of pterosaur fossils, the southern hemisphere probably someday It is clear that there is an inherent potential to match the abundance of the hemisphere. “
discovery of Mercamtel Pateco is reported in paper in a diary Royal Society Open Science.
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Alexandra E. Fernandez others. 2024. The oldest monophenestratan pterosaur from the Queso Rayado region (Toarcian, Canadon Asphalt Formation), Chubut Province, Patagonia, Argentina. R. Soc. Open Science 11(12):241238;doi: 10.1098/rsos.241238
The orange fur on the underside is Nepenthes The leaves are why this plant is named after an orangutan
Alviana Damit
A newly described species of Nepenthes, one of the largest and furriest species ever discovered, has been identified in the wild mountains of Malaysian Borneo.
The back of the leaf is Nepenthes The team that discovered the plant in May 2023 decided to name it after the native Borneo orangutan because of its thick, rust-colored fur.Pongo Pygmaas) People who share the Meriow Mountains in central Sabah.
“It's certainly not as hairy as an orangutan. It's more like a really hairy-chested human,” he says. alastair robinson At the Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. “But the color is almost the same as orangutan fur.”
He suggests that the plant may have a common name: orangutan pitcher plant. Robinson and his colleagues discovered just 39 plants during their two expeditions, which they say are at high risk of extinction if not protected from poaching by collectors.
Mr Robinson said there was evidence that poachers had entered the area and stolen the specimens even before arriving at the scene, as the plants had been sold online.
Nepenthes A genus of carnivorous plants found throughout the tropics of Southeast Asia and parts of the Pacific Ocean and consisting of more than 160 species. It is very popular in the black market horticulture industry because its leaves form spectacular water containers. In the wild, animals fall into these pitchers and drown before being consumed by the digestive enzymes produced by plants.
Mr Robinson said that because the mountain is “essentially a rock mountain”, there is no running water above 300 meters, so the pickasaw is often the only water source for local wildlife. states.
Their jugs reach 45 centimeters in length and can hold much more than 2 liters of water. They're “like their own little ecosystem,” Robinson says.
This new species was first photographed in 2004, but was mistaken for a known variety. “I've been studying Nepenthes “I have lived in Borneo for many years and this species is the furriest species I have ever come across,” says a team member. Alviana Damit At the Forest Research Center in Sandakan, Malaysia. “Naming it after an orangutan is the perfect tribute.”
These relatives are Pterodactylus. This will allow paleontologists to reconstruct the flying reptile’s life history from hatching to adulthood.
holotype specimen of Pterodactylus antiquus. Image credit: Robert SH Smyth & David M. Unwin, doi: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2421845.
Almost 250 years ago, the first pterosaur fossil was discovered in a quarry in northern Bavaria, Germany.
Dubbing Pterodactylus, this 150-million-year-old fossil provides the first evidence of a group of extraordinary flying reptiles that filled the skies of the Mesozoic Era, soaring above dinosaurs on wings spanning up to 10 meters or more.
This first pterosaur was only about the size of a turtledove, but it completely reshaped our understanding of prehistoric life.
Despite being the original “pterodactyl”, Pterodactylus was soon overshadowed, quite literally, in people’s consciousness by the more dramatic appearance of giant pterosaurs. Pteranodon and Quetzalcoatlus attracted attention. but Pterodactylus remained popular among pterosaur scientists.
For centuries, Pterodactylus and other similar pterosaurs in Bavaria are the focus of ongoing scientific research, and much of what we know about pterosaurs, from the shape of their wings and the way they fly to the way they eat and grow. It helps shape the.
But one question always remains. Among these many pterosaurs, which one is the true pterosaur? Pterodactylus And which belong to completely different species?
This confusion has continued for centuries and continues to this day.
Thanks to a new study that analyzed data from dozens of Pterodactylus The mysteries of specimens displayed in museums around the world have been solved, and the true nature of these fossils has finally been revealed.
Paleontologists Robert Smith and Dave Unwin from the University of Leicester shine an intense UV torch on fossil bones to make them fluoresce, allowing them to distinguish one type of pterosaur from another, almost visually. The researchers succeeded in revealing the details of tiny bones that cannot be seen.
Use Pterodactylus Unique features found in the head, hips, hands, and feet led them to systematically examine other fossils from the same deposits, and to their surprise, they discovered many other fossil examples. Pterodactylus It was “hidden” among what is believed to be another species of pterosaur.
“By examining many fossils in collections across Europe, we were able to re-identify more than 40 specimens. Pterodactylus” said Smith.
“UV-excited fluorescence is amazing in the amount of detail it can reveal. Features that were once hidden are now clearly visible.”
Complete your entire concept in the blink of an eye Pterodactylus It has changed dramatically.
With nearly 50 examples confirmed to date, knowledge about this most important pterosaur is exploding.
“We are now able to construct a complete and detailed skeletal anatomy of this important pterosaur,” Dr. Unwin said.
“The soft tissues of more than 20 specimens have been fossilized, allowing us to reconstruct the top of the head, the shape of the body, the webs of the feet, and even the wings.”
“UV-excited fluorescence is a well-known technique, but the difference in this case is that we were able to combine a new, high-quality light source with a systematic ‘catch-all’ approach, which revolutionized our research and will have a significant impact. Understanding pterosaurs.”
of result Published in Journal of Systematic Paleontology.
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Robert S. H. Smith & David M. Unwin. 2024. Re-evaluation of Pterodactylus antiquus and Diopecephalus flathead: Two troublesome classification concepts. Journal of Systematic Paleontology 22 (1): 2421845;doi: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2421845
The newly described species lived in what is now Europe during the early Eocene, about 55 million years ago.
with scientific name Apachius Madsenithe ancient insect was about 1.9 centimeters (0.75 inches) long.
belongs to the genus Apacius in the family Apacidaeis part of a larger insect order Dermatoptera (commonly known as earwig).
Currently, extant species of this family are found only in south-central Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
They are generally characterized by relatively large, flat bodies and often bright colors.
“Today, the Apaceae family consists of 15 living species in two genera, 13 of which are Apacius And in two Dendroiketes) similarly Apachius Madseni'' said paleontologist Jan Audun Rasmussen of the Mors Museum.
“The current species are distributed in Central Africa (three species) and from India to the Philippines and Australia (the remaining species).”
The discovery of Apachius Madseni Therefore, we show that the range of Apacidae has expanded considerably, indicating that the current distribution of this family is not necessarily indicative of its past distribution or biogeographic origin. ”
almost completed single Apachius Madseni The fossil was discovered in a fur layer in Mors, northwestern Denmark.
“This fossil is the second species of Dermatoptera to be described from the fur layer, and the first representative of the enigmatic Apacidae,” the paleontologists said.
According to the authors, this formation's diatomaceous clay deposits formed the seafloor of northwestern Denmark during the early Eocene, when Denmark was completely covered by sea.
Because modern members of the Apaceae family live under the bark of trees, they believe that: Apachius Madseni It was carried to the sea covered in the bark of a tree trunk that is thought to have drifted ashore from Sweden or Norway about 55 million years ago.
“It's no surprise that we found the ancestor of this tropical and subtropical earwig family so far north as Denmark,” Dr. Rasmussen said.
“55 million years ago, the ocean that covered what is now Denmark was subtropical to almost tropical, as evidenced by the fish, bird, insect, and plant fossils found in ancient seafloor deposits on the islands of Mors and Fir. It is reflected.”
Thomas J. Simonsen others. 2024. Apachius Madseni (Dermoptera: Apacidae) sp. November discovery in the Ypresian fur layer in Denmark: the first fossil record of the mysterious earwig family Apacidae. paleoentomology 007 (5): 638-644;doi: 10.11646/Paleoentomology.7.5.7
A momentous (or more accurately prehistoric) finding was unearthed just below the Earth’s surface on a New York homeowner’s lawn.
A full mastodon jaw was found in the backyard of a house in Scotchtown, a town in Orange County, as confirmed by state officials. The New York State Museum and the State University of New York at Orange researchers retrieved the jaw and additional bone fragments, as announced by the state Department of Education in a press release on Tuesday.
It has been over 11 years since a discovery of this kind has been made in New York.
The mastodon jaw, presumed to belong to an adult, was discovered by researchers after a homeowner noticed it surfacing on his lawn. Initially, the homeowner found two teeth hidden in plants on the property, and after some digging, two more teeth were discovered.
“Upon finding the tooth and examining it closely, we knew it was unique and decided to seek out an expert,” stated the homeowner.
Following this, museum and university staff conducted an excavation that led to the unveiling of the well-preserved jaw of a mastodon, an ancient relative of present-day elephants. Additionally, part of a toe bone and rib fragments were found.
Mastodon jaw unearthed in backyard in Scotchtown, New York new york state museum
“Though the jaw is the highlight, the additional toe and rib fragments provide valuable context and possibilities for further research,” said Dr. Corey Harris, chair of the Department of Behavioral Sciences at New York University at Orange. “We are also keen on exploring the surrounding area to look for more preserved bones.”
The fossil will undergo carbon dating and analysis to determine the mammal’s time of existence in the area, its dietary habits, and habitat details. The discovery will be showcased on public television as of 2025 and is expected to be featured in magazines.
“This finding proves New York’s rich paleontological history and our persistent efforts to understand the past,” said Robert Ferra, Director of Research and Collections and Curator of Ice Age Animals at the New York State Museum. Dr. Neck mentioned, “This mastodon jaw offers a unique chance to study the ecology of this extraordinary species and enhance our comprehension of the ice age ecosystems in the region.”
To date, approximately 150 mastodon fossils have been found in New York, with about one-third of them located in Orange County.
Paleontologists have identified a new species of procolophonid reptile from fossilized skull and jaw fragments found in southwest England.
rebuilding the life of Treodatos casmatos. Image credit: Mark Whitton.
The newly discovered species Treodatos casmatoslived during the Late Triassic period, approximately 220 to 210 million years ago.
The ancient creature is a member of Leptopleuroninaean extinct lizard-like quasi-reptilian subfamily within the clade Procolophonidae.
Luke Mead, a palaeontologist at the University of Birmingham, said: “Procolophoids appeared in the late Permian, persisted until the end-Permian extinction event, and were a notable element of the post-extinction fauna in the Triassic, on the supercontinent. They were small quasi-reptile species that were diverse throughout Pangea.” his colleagues.
“Procolophonid diversity decreased during the Late Triassic and is represented only by the late-divergent clade Leptopleuroninae, known for small occurrences in Brazil, North America, Scotland, England, and possibly Wales. ”
“Leptopleuronin procolophorids typically have a reduced number of laterally expanded bicuspid maxillary teeth and are often characterized by cranial decorations such as enlarged spines of the quadrate zygoma.”
“Leptopleuronins appear to be well adapted to a high-fiber herbivore, omnivore, or entomovore diet, and this group may represent the latest surviving clade of Parareptilia.” There is.”
Fossilized remains are Treodatos casmatos It was discovered at Cromhall Quarry in southern Gloucestershire, south-west England.
“The teeth and jaws of this small reptile exhibit features never before seen in this group,” said Dr. Mead, lead author of the paper. study Published in a magazine Paleontology Papers.
“They probably fed differently than their relatives, raising new questions about how these animals interacted with their environment during the Late Triassic. ”
Reptiles have tricuspid teeth in their upper jaws, each with three distinct points. The lower jaw, on the other hand, has compressed unicuspid teeth with unusual edentulous (toothless) tips.
These adaptations may have facilitated unique methods of food processing.
Dr Mark Jones, curator of fossil reptiles at the Natural History Museum, said: “The interaction between the upper and lower teeth is interesting and there are some mammalian similarities in the shape of the teeth.”
“The mandible was not fused at the jaw area; instead, the connection was held by soft tissue and was probably flexible.”
“This flexibility may have allowed the lower jaws to make contact in a way that made it easier to masticate food.”
“This feature is not seen in closely related species and may indicate a specialized diet or feeding strategy.”
“The Late Triassic was a period of dramatic environmental change when Pangea began to collapse.”
“The unique adaptation of teeth is Treodatos casmatos This suggests that they may have carved out a unique ecological niche in a changing climate, feeding on plants, insects, or other small prey that required specialized oral food processing. ”
“Treodatos casmatos “They lived at a time when solar radiation was much lower than it is today, but there was much more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,” Dr. Jones said.
“It has become generally hotter, global average sea levels have risen, and extreme rainfall events have occurred.”
“therefore, Treodatos casmatos And the communities it lived in may provide perspective on today's threatened ecosystems and the global emergency we face. ”
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Luke E. Mead others. 2024. A new protocolophonid with complex tooth rows that lived in the Late Triassic of southwestern England. paleontology papers 10 (6): e1605;doi: 10.1002/spp2.1605
In 2023, scientists in Southeast Asia’s Greater Mekong River region described an astonishing 234 new species. The discovery was announced in 2023. Report from the nature conservation organization WWF173 species of plants, 26 species of reptiles, 17 species of amphibians, 15 species of fish, and 3 species of mammals.
Since 1997, more than 3,500 new plant and vertebrate species have been identified in the region covered by this report, which includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, with an average of 130 new species per year. I’m going up.
Here, we introduce six new species, including a hairy hedgehog named after a vampire, an almost invisible dragon lizard, and an endangered leafless orchid.
Hiromiz macaron
The furry hedgehog family pictured above is endemic to Vietnam. Hiromiz macaron It may seem innocuous, but its name is Macaron Means vampire in Vietnamese. It gets its name thanks to its long, pointed fangs, which remain hidden in this photo.
Hyposideros Kingston
This small leaf-nosed bat lives from Thailand to Borneo. confirmed by DNA analysis Hyposideros Kingston It was born as a new species in 2023.
It’s not known where these tiny bats, which weigh just 4.9 to 7 grams, roost. It has been seen near large limestone caves, suggesting that it may be hiding there, but it is also possible that it lives far from known caves, hiding in the hollows of trees. It is also possible that they are building a roost.
Laodracon calusticola
You need keen eyesight to spot this small lizard (Laodracon calusticola), which lives high on the tops of rugged karsts in Laos, which may explain why this species has been ignored by scientists until now. One of the earliest known sightings of this lizard was by a zipline tour guide.
Zhangixalus melanoleucus
This lime green tree frog (Zhangixalus melanoleucus) was discovered at an altitude of 2000 meters in the evergreen forest of Mount Phu Samsoon in northern Laos. Although the region is home to many other endemic species, it is one of the least studied regions in Asia.
Palaeospondylus ganniwas a small, eel-like creature that lived during the mid-Devonian period, about 390 million years ago, and is among thousands of similarly preserved fossils from the Achanaras Quarry in Caithness, Scotland. is represented by. Radically different interpretations of its structure had assigned this species to almost all major jawless and jawed vertebrate groups. Paleontologists are currently identifying new and old species. spondylosis From the early Devonian period of Australia.
First described in 1890, spondylosis It is a mysterious fish-like animal with a series of strange morphological features in the fossil record, including a lack of teeth and osteodermal bones.
Until now it was only known as Palaeospondylus ganni From the Middle Devonian Orcadian Basin in Scotland.
Initially interpreted as jawless vertebrates, they were soon classified into their own order and family.
Whereas the Scottish specimen was extremely compressed with all skeletal elements welded together, the new discovery spondylosisis located in a 400-million-year-old limestone in the Georgina Basin of western Queensland, central Australia, and is in a very different state of preservation as a 3D unfractured element.
“This is an amazing addition to Queensland's fossil record and is at the other end of the size scale of prehistoric giants like dinosaurs.” loetosaurus and Australotitan couperensis'' said Carol Barrow, a paleontologist at the Queensland Museum.
“What? Palaeospondylus australis Even more interesting is its relationship with similar species in northern Scotland. Palaeospondylus ganni”
The new fossil's honeycomb-like structure and complex internal features suggest the fish's early evolutionary importance.
The exact relationship is Palaeospondylus australis Although much remains unclear, as its features indicate that it retains many larval features, it is likely to be a distant relative of sharks.
This groundbreaking discovery not only enriches our understanding of ancient Australian ecosystems, but also highlights the global connectivity of early vertebrates across continents.
research Palaeospondylus australis It promises to uncover more mysteries about the evolution of jawed vertebrates.
“Discovery of a mysterious animal” spondylosis The early Devonian discovery in Australia indicates that this form is likely to have been distributed globally, given that Scotland and eastern Australia were then and now on opposite sides of the globe. “, the paleontologists said.
“New evidence regarding neurocranial features… spondylosis Adds important but contradictory information about that affinity. ”
“Until new and better evidence becomes available, spondylosis It is considered a pedunculate gnathostome, possibly a sister group to the cartilaginous fishes, and shows a mosaic of characters exhibited by both the osteoostia and some placoderms, as well as by the cartilaginous and teleost fishes. ”
of result appear in the diary National Science Review.
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Carol J. Barrow others. 3D brain box of early jawed vertebrates spondylosis From Australia. National Science Reviewpublished online on December 3, 2024. Doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwae444
dark comet First Interstellar Object 1I/2017 U1 ‘A small object with no detected coma, similar to ‘Oumuamua, with large accelerations that can be explained by volatile outgassing. These objects represent a potentially widespread class of small objects that lie further in the continuum between asteroids and comets and whose active nature is inferred from their orbital motions. Michigan State University astronomer Darryl Seligman and his colleagues have now detected seven new dark comets, proving that there are two distinct populations of these objects.
This artist’s impression shows ‘Oumuamua, the first interstellar object discovered in the solar system. Recent observations show that the object is moving faster than predicted as it leaves the solar system. Astronomers speculate that the ejection of material from the surface due to solar heating is responsible for this behavior. This release of gas can be seen, in this artist’s impression, as a subtle cloud emitted from the side of the object facing the sun. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / ESO / M. Kohnmesser.
In 2003, astronomers noticed that asteroid 2003 RM’s orbit deviated slightly from its expected orbit. This motion cannot be explained by the acceleration typical of asteroids.
Then, in 2017, the interstellar object ‘Oumuamua passed through our solar system, leaving astronomers perplexed.
Like a typical asteroid or comet, it was moved in part by the gravity of other bodies in the solar system, such as the sun.
But astronomers also discovered that ‘Oumuamua is accelerating beyond that, likely due to the release of previously trapped gas.
The strength of the thrust added by such outgassing defied that of a typical asteroid and rivaled the speed of a comet.
problem? ‘Oumuamua lacked the bright dust tail that is characteristic of comets, so it could not be easily classified as an asteroid or comet.
In 2023, astronomers identified seven objects in our solar system that reflect the same unusual features as ‘Oumuamua.
These objects were classified into an entirely new class of objects: the first seven dark comets.
“One of the most important reasons we study small objects like asteroids and comets is because they tell us about how matter is transported around the solar system,” Seligman said. the doctor said.
“Dark comets are a new type of near-Earth object that may contain water, and could provide a new source of materials needed for the development of life to Earth.”
“The more we learn about them, the more we will understand their role in the origin of the Earth.”
Dr. Seligman and his co-authors not only discovered seven new dark comets, but also compared the total number of known comets and identified two different types.
The first type is called an outer dark comet. These are large objects with eccentric orbits similar to Jovian comets and may have originated outside the solar system.
The second type is called an internal dark comet. These are small celestial bodies with roughly circular orbits that move through the inner solar system close to Earth and may have originated in the asteroid belt.
“What’s interesting about these objects is that although they look like asteroids, their motion is similar to that of comets,” said Dr. David Farnochia, a navigation engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
“This is a puzzle that challenges the way we have always classified objects as either asteroids or comets.”
Dr. Seligman said, “Expanding our knowledge of dark comets will help us understand the context in which ‘Oumuamua was a fortuitous event that has left the solar system and is no longer observable.”
“What many people might not normally think about is that the solar system is a chaotic place.”
“We don’t know where things came from, but with 14 currently known dark comets orbiting within our solar system, we will collect more data in the coming years and hopefully uncover answers. Opportunities are opening up: the formation of our own planet.”
This finding is reported in the following article: paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Darryl Z. Seligman others. 2024. Two distinct populations of dark comets, distinguished by orbit and size. PNAS 121 (51): e2406424121;doi: 10.1073/pnas.2406424121
Homo juruensis Emerging human species, including the mysterious Denisovans and several hominid fossils from Tibet, Taiwan and Laos, lived in East Asia from about 300,000 to 50,000 years ago.
Portrait of a young Denisovan woman based on a skeletal profile reconstructed from ancient DNA methylation maps. Image credit: Maayan Harel.
“Our research uncovered a hominin fossil record that tended to include things that were not easily attributable. homo erectus, homo neanderthalensis or homo sapiens'' said the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Professor Christopher Bay and Dr. Wu Xiujie from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“We started this project several years ago, but we never expected that we would be able to propose a new hominin species, and even classify Asian hominid fossils into different groups. In general, this should be useful for scientific communication.”
“This research is important because it will help scientists better understand the complex story of human evolution in Asia and fill gaps in our understanding of our ancient relatives.”
reconstruction of homo floresiensis. Image credit: Elizabeth Danes.
The authors suggest that there are at least four human species. homo floresiensis, Homo luzonensis, Homolonghiand the newly established Homo juruensis — Existed in East Asia during the late Quaternary period.
Homo juruensis They lived in East Asia about 300,000 years ago, hunted wild horses in small groups, made stone tools and probably processed animal skins to survive, and disappeared about 50,000 years ago. Ta.
“The field of late Quaternary East Asian paleoanthropology is in the midst of significant and important changes, largely due to the growth of the hominin fossil record, as we look to change these evolutionary models. “This is a major contribution to how we understand and refine this approach,” the researchers said.
“This field in particular was shocked 20 years ago with the publication of this little book. homo floresiensis Fossils discovered on Flores Island, Indonesia in 2004. ”
“Just recently, another small species… Homo luzonensisAn individual living on the island of Luzon in the Philippines has been added as a new hominin. ”
“In China, Homo longhi It was published after the analysis of Harbin fossils. ”
“Fossils like Dali and Jinyushan may be tentatively included.” Homolonghi Similarly, we await further comparative analysis. ”
“More recently, after detailed studies of the Xujiayao and Xuchang fossils, we have added: Homo juruensis to these discussions. ”
Reconstruction of Homolonghi In his habitat. Image credit: Chuang Zhao.
Importantly, along with the Xiahe people, scientists have also assigned the mysterious Denisovans. Penghu CountyTam Ngu Hao 2 fossil, Homo juruensis.
Although further research is clearly needed to verify this relationship, it is primarily based on similarities between jaw and tooth fossils from these different locations.
“The East Asian hominin fossil record is a good example of how unilinear evolutionary models, such as traditional multiregionalism, cannot adequately account for the complexity of the paleoanthropological record, especially in the late Quaternary.” the authors concluded.
“Rather, the East Asian record prompts us to recognize how complex human evolution is more generally, and to revise the interpretations of various evolutionary models to better match the growing fossil record.” , it’s really forcing us to reconsider.”
Their paper Published in a magazine nature communications.
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CJ Bae & X. Wu. 2024. Understanding late Quaternary hominin diversity in East Asia. Nat Commune 15, 9479;doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53918-7
Today, the moon is a cold, dead world, but it hasn’t always been that way. Early in its history, the Moon was host to volcanic activity.
Now, the latest results from the first-ever samples returned from the far side of the moon by China’s Chang’e 6 spacecraft reveal this volcanic activity. It may have happened more recently More than previously suspected. But what remains unclear is how these eruptions were able to continue for so long.
The moon is tidally locked to the Earth, meaning the same side is always facing us. Throughout human history, the dark ocean on the moon’s near side (known as Mare) has been clearly visible.
However, the far side of the Moon was hidden from our view and remained a mystery until the advent of the Space Age. In 1959, the Soviet Union’s Luna 3 satellite returned the first-ever images of the far side of the Moon, revealing a completely different surface than the familiar near side. There are only a handful of small oceans on the moon. Instead, much of the opposite side is pocked with impact craters.
Why do we know so little about the far side of the moon?
The Moon is dual-faced, and each side has a markedly different appearance. In recent years, experiments such as NASA’s GRAIL satellite have revealed that this dual personality extends underground as well.
“There is a dichotomy of the crust between the near and far sides, and the crust on the far side is much thicker,” he says. Professor Clive Neal a planetary geologist at the University of Notre Dame in the United States.
The cause of this split is one of the biggest unanswered questions about the moon. To get to the bottom of it, researchers first need to investigate what causes the two different appearances in the first place.
In the ’60s and ’70s, the Luna and Apollo missions returned vast amounts of lunar rock, confirming what geologists had long suspected: that the lunar maria was formed primarily from basalt (cooled lava). We were able to confirm that it is made of minerals.
The moon’s oceans were actually ancient volcanic floodplains that formed between 4.3 billion and 3.1 billion years ago. This conclusively proved that there was volcanic activity on the surface.
A photo of the far side of the Moon taken and transmitted to Earth by the Soviet lunar probe Luna 3 in 1959. – Photo credit: Getty
The absence of maria on the moon may suggest that there are no signs of volcanic activity on the far side, but a closer look at the craters on the far side shows that this may not be the case. Over time, the rocky world develops the patina of impact craters from meteorite impacts.
If the planet is volcanically active, lava flooding the surface will fill these craters and erase them from the surface. This means that the more craters there are on a planet’s surface, the longer it has been volcanic.
Using orbital images of the moon’s surface, scientists have been able to count craters on the moon, and it appears that the far side of the moon has actually been carved clean by volcanic activity on roughly the same time scale as seen on the near side. I discovered that it looks like.
So what did the new mission find?
The only way to confirm this theory was to test for volcanic minerals on samples from the backside. Unfortunately, all early lunar exploration aimed at the easiest place to land: the brightly lit equator in front of the moon.
Things changed on June 1, 2024, when China’s Chang’e 6 lander touched down on the far side of an area known as the Antarctic Aitken Impact Basin. This was China’s second venture into the far side, after landing a spacecraft in 2019. Chang’e 6’s main purpose was to bring samples of the far side back to Earth, ultimately revealing how geologically different this region is from the far side. .
Immediately after landing, Chang’e 6 scooped up some of the moon’s soil, known as regolith. They also used a 2-meter (6.5-foot) long drill to collect samples from underground, where moon rocks are somewhat protected from the sun’s radiation.
In all, the mission collected 1,935 g (4.2 pounds) of lunar material, which was packaged into an ascent vehicle and returned to Earth on June 6.
The return capsule of the Chang’e 6 probe will land in Xiziwangban, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, on June 25, 2024. – Photo credit: Getty
The return capsule was immediately taken to a special facility, where it was opened and subjected to preliminary tests, which revealed that the sample contained grains of basalt, proving that there was indeed a volcanic past behind it. It was done.
To learn more about what this past was like, more than 100 basalt fragments were extracted and sent to two independent teams of researchers who published their findings. science and nature November of this year.
They found that the basalt is about 2.8 billion years old, younger than the samples collected by Luna and Apollo.
How volcanic activity became possible is a “mystery”
The new sample matched a similarly young sample taken by China’s previous sample return mission, Chang’e 5.
Neither sample contained a group of metals called KREEP (potassium, rare earth metals, and phosphorus with the element symbol K) that were abundant in the previous samples. There was also a clear shortage of radioactive metals. Also a sample of Chang’e.
“The mystery is that young basalts, less than 3 billion years old, do not contain large amounts of KREEP radioactive elements either in the foreground or in the background,” said one of the few Western scientists allowed to cooperate in this research. Mr. Neil, one of the Analysis at this time.
“This is a mystery, but it matches the young basalt of Chang’e 5, which is 2 billion years old.”
Heat from the decay of radioactive metals is one of the main mechanisms that sustains volcanic activity on our planet, but their apparent disappearance does not seem to have immediately stopped volcanic activity on the Moon. As it turns out, the samples are very similar in many other ways.
“They are similar in bulk composition to previous samples, which adds to the mystery: What was the heat source that produced such magmas?” says Neal.
Getting to the bottom of the mystery will almost certainly require more samples taken from different parts of the moon, as well as a closer look at what’s happening beneath the surface.
“The absence of creep elements in the basalts on the far side suggests that the Moon’s mantle is also bipartite. To understand the nature of the Moon’s interior, we need to use global geophysical networks to You need to explore what’s inside.”
It appears the other side still wants to keep some of its secrets hidden, at least for now.
About our experts
Professor Clive Neil is an expert in civil and environmental engineering and geosciences at the University of Notre Dame in the United States. His research is natural earth science, science and advances in space research.
Bacteria on a sample of asteroid Ryugu observed using an electron microscope
Matthew J. Genge et al. 2024
Rocks brought back to Earth from the asteroid Ryugu appear to be inhabited by microorganisms. But researchers say these microbes almost certainly came from Earth, not space. The contamination is a wake-up call for future sample-return missions, such as NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance, to search for extraterrestrial life.
In 2020, the Japanese space probe Hayabusa2 returned to Earth carrying 5.4 grams of rock collected from the 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid Ryugu. After landing in Australia, the sample capsule was transported to a custom-built facility in Sagamihara, Japan. There, the capsule itself was first opened in a vacuum chamber inside a clean room and then moved to a room filled with pressurized nitrogen for long-term storage. From there, a portion of the sample can be placed in a container filled with nitrogen and sent to researchers.
One of these samples was sent to the UK for research. Matthew Genge Imperial College London and colleagues. Genge and his team initially scanned the samples using X-rays, but found no evidence of bacteria.
Samples from asteroid Ryugu collected by Hayabusa2
JAXA
After 3 weeks, the samples were transferred to resin and further examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after another week. When Genge and his colleagues first looked at the sample and saw what appeared to be thread-like bacteria, his students “almost fell off their chairs” at the prospect of discovering extraterrestrial life. . “It was an exciting moment, but we also had in the back of our minds from previous research that bacteria tend to colonize rocks,” Genge said.
By tracking bacterial growth with follow-up SEM measurements, they found that bacterial populations varied in a manner similar to known microorganisms. Their familiar shape, combined with their absence in the first X-ray scan, makes it very likely that they were terrestrial in origin, Genge says.
He believes the samples may have become contaminated after being embedded in the resin. The experiment was conducted at a facility on Earth that also handles space rocks. Rock specimens often contain bacteria that are adapted to live within them. “All it takes is one bacterium or one bacterial spore for this to happen,” he says. “For example, when we’re preparing meteorite samples, we don’t usually see this kind of colonization happening, and that’s because the probability of it happening is so low. In this case , one bacterium fell onto the sample and started multiplying.”
But Genge added that this should serve as a warning for future sample return missions. “Finding microbes in samples returned from space should be the gold standard for discovering extraterrestrial life. If we were to do that, we would fly to Mars, collect samples, and bring them back. “If we found microorganisms in it, we would say that was the clincher,” Genge says. “But our findings really show that we have to be very careful in interpreting the samples because they are susceptible to contamination with terrestrial bacteria.”
Javier Martin Torres Researchers at the University of Aberdeen in the UK agree that changes in the microbial filament population suggest a terrestrial origin, but this does not exclude the possibility that they came from elsewhere. . “If you want to be sure that these microorganisms are not of extraterrestrial origin, you need to do DNA sequencing,” he says.
Scientists already knew that bacteria could survive very well in meteorite samples that fell to Earth, but this raises the possibility that bacteria could also survive on materials elsewhere in the solar system. It only strengthens it. “The microorganisms can use organic matter within the meteorite to sustain themselves. They’re feeding on an extraterrestrial snack,” Genge says. “So there may be an ecosystem on Mars. It’s a fairly sparse ecosystem, but it’s an ecosystem that’s supported by manna from the sky and by meteorites that fall on the surface.”
A recent study has identified a new chemical byproduct that may be present in the tap water of approximately one-third of U.S. households. The potential dangers of this byproduct are still unknown.
Researchers are currently investigating the toxicity of this newly discovered chemical due to its similarities to other concerning chemicals.
A study revealed that around one-third of U.S. residents are consuming tap water containing a previously unidentified chemical byproduct. Concerns about the potential toxicity of this chemical have led scientists to closely examine it.
The newly identified substance, known as ‘chloronitramid anion’, is created during the water treatment process involving chloramine, which is produced by combining chlorine and ammonia. Chloramines are commonly used in municipal water treatment to eliminate viruses and bacteria.
Although the existence of this byproduct was discovered four decades ago, recent advancements in analytical techniques have now enabled scientists to determine its structure. It has only recently been identified.
While it may take several years to ascertain the potential dangers of the chlornitramide anion, researchers from the study published their findings in the journal Science to prompt further research on its safety.
Researchers noted that there is currently no conclusive evidence indicating that the compound is harmful, but its widespread detection and structural similarities to other concerning chemicals warrant thorough investigation.
Research showed that the chlornitramide anion is a byproduct formed as chloramine deteriorates over time, indicating that it is likely present in all water treated using this method.
The discovery of potentially hazardous byproducts in tap water underscores the importance of understanding the health implications of water treatment chemicals. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the safety of these substances.
Regulations requiring the monitoring and control of disinfectant byproducts are prompting water utilities to shift towards using chloramines over chlorine, as some chlorine byproducts have been linked to health risks.
While conclusive findings on the toxicity of the newly identified chemical may take years, ongoing research aims to minimize public exposure to potential health risks associated with water treatment chemicals.
Many water utilities in the U.S. disclose information on their treatment processes and potential byproducts, suggesting the use of activated carbon filters in household purifiers to remove disinfectant byproducts.
For decades, paleontologists have hypothesized that a major group of animals called ecdysizoans must be older than the Cambrian, but until now their origins have remained a mystery. discovery of Unkus Zaugishi A research team led by Professor Mary Droser at the University of California, Riverside says that the large gap between predictions based on molecular data and the lack of description of ecdysizoans prior to the rich Cambrian fossil record has been reconciled and animal life This will deepen our understanding of the evolution of .
Digital photography and 3D laser scanning Unkus Zaugishi body fossils. Scale bar – 10 mm. Image credit: Hughes others., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.10.030.
Ecdysids are the largest and most species-rich group of animals on Earth, containing more than half of all animals.
Characterized by a cuticle (a tough external skeleton that is periodically shed), this group consists of three subgroups. Arthropods, including insects, spiders, and crustaceans. and Scaridophora, an eclectic group of small scaly marine creatures.
“Like many modern animal groups, ecdymozoans are prevalent in the Cambrian fossil record, and at the beginning of this era, about 540 million years ago, we see evidence of all three subgroups. We can,” said Ian Hughes, a graduate student in oceanography. Studied biology at Harvard University.
“We know that they didn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere, so the ancestors of all ecdysizoans originated in the preceding Ediacaran period (635 to 539 million years ago). It must have existed.”
“DNA-based analyzes used to predict the age of fauna by comparing it to its closest living relatives supported this hypothesis.”
“However, ecdysozoan fossil animals remain hidden among the large number of animal remains that paleontologists have discovered during the Ediacaran period.”
Newly described Ediacaran ecdysizoan, Unkus Zaugishi was only a few centimeters long.
Gathering of 82 people Unkus Zaugishi The specimen was discovered in Nilpena-Ediakara National Park in South Australia.
Dr. Scott Evans of Florida State University said, “Nilpena is perhaps the best fossil site in the world for understanding the evolution of early animals, because fossils occur during periods of increased diversity, and these “This is because we can excavate extensive rock formations that preserve snapshots of the world.” .
“The layer we found was Unkus Zaugishi It's especially interesting because the grains in the sediment are so small that you can actually see every detail of the fossils preserved there. ”
“We were excited to find evidence for what scientists have long predicted: the presence of ecdymozoans during Ediacaran times,” Hughes said.
“It’s also very important for understanding what these early animal groups looked like and their lifestyles, especially since ecdysizoans really came to dominate the Cambrian marine ecosystem.”
This finding is reported in the following article: paper in a diary current biology.
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Ian V. Hughes others. An Ediacaran bilaterian from South Australia with an affinity for molting animals. current biology published online on November 18, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.10.030
An international research team has described a new, smaller species of gecko. pseudogonad Originally from the Paria Peninsula in northeastern Venezuela.
The newly confirmed species belong to the following: pseudogonada small genus of geckos in the family Sphaerodactylidae, containing fewer than 10 scientifically recognized species.
named Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatusthe new species is only 6.35 cm (2.5 inches) long and has a brown color, a conical head, a long snout, and a specialized skull structure.
“Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus This is unique in craniology, and we used the term “telescope” from the literature to explain the overlap of the nasal bones, especially the premaxilla, which completely separates the nasal bones and contacts the frontal bone. '', said lead author Professor Walter Schergel. The University of Texas at Arlington and colleagues.
“The new species is also the only known species. pseudogonad The parietal bones are fused. ”
Pseudogonatodes fuscofortunatus The Paria Peninsula is a region that juts out into the Caribbean Sea in northeastern Venezuela and is known for its high biodiversity, moderate temperatures, and lush vegetation.It was discovered during fieldwork in the evergreen forests of the mountains of the Paria Peninsula. .
Researchers collected specimens in 2002 and again in 2014, noting the gecko's unique cranial structure, which led to further investigation.
“The Paria Peninsula, part of Venezuela's Coastal Mountains, has been a hotspot for reptile and amphibian discoveries in recent decades,” Professor Shargel said.
“The region's complex geography and climate create a diverse range of habitats that can support a wide range of species.”
“The new gecko species joins the list of reptiles found only in this region, highlighting the need for continued exploration and conservation efforts in this region.”
“This discovery not only deepened our understanding of the biodiversity of this region of Venezuela, but also highlighted the importance of preserving these unique ecosystems,” he added.
“We hope this discovery will lead to stronger conservation measures to protect the habitat of this rare species and other native species in the region.”
of the team paper Published in Zoological journal of the Linnean Society.
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Walter E. Shargel others. 2024. Morphology and molecular phylogenetics support new species of organism. pseudogonad (Squamata: Sublunar: Sphaerodactylidae) from Venezuela, with a prominent telescopic skull. Zoological journal of the Linnean Society 202 (2): zlae120;doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae120
Paleontologists have described a new species of pachypleurosaur that lived during the mid-Triassic period in southwestern China.
holotype of Dianmeisaurus mutaensis From the Guanling Formation, China: (A) Skeleton seen from the back. (B) Equivalent to (A). Scale bar – 1 cm. Image credit: Hu others., doi: 10.1186/s13358-023-00292-4.
Dianmeisaurus mutaensis They lived in what is now China during the Anisian period of the mid-Triassic period, about 245 million years ago.
What is an ancient species? Pachyprourosaurus a group of primitive sauropterygian reptiles of the Triassic period.
These animals resembled aquatic lizards and had small heads, long necks, paddle-like limbs, and long, deep tails.
“Sauropterygia was the most flourishing clade of Mesozoic marine reptiles in terms of species diversity, with the iconic plesiosaurs of the Jurassic and Cretaceous, and the stem-group placodonts and eophytes of the Triassic. sauropterygia,” said Dr. Jun Liu and colleagues at the institute. Hefei University of Technology.
“Eosauropteri were traditionally divided into three groups: pachyprourosaurids, nososaurids, and pistosaurids.”
“In this traditional view, the monophyletic Pachypleurosauria is thought to constitute a sister group to the clade Eusauropterygia, which consists of Nososaurinae and Pistosaurinae.”
complete and articulated skeleton of an immature animal Dianmeisaurus mutaensis It was discovered in an abandoned quarry about 1 km northwest of Muta Village, Luxi County, Yunnan Province, China.
The skeleton was divided into two parts during collection and prepared using pneumatic tools and needles in the paleontology laboratory.
“The skeleton is embedded in dark gray micritic limestone and consists of one segment and its counterpart,” the paleontologists said.
“The specimen is well preserved and has a total length of 99.2 mm (4 inches).”
“Adjacent to the specimen are scattered limb and rib bones from other individuals, but the limited information available makes further identification difficult.”
Artist's impression of Pachypleurosaurus Umengosaurus. Image credit: Nobu Tamura / CC BY-SA 4.0.
The research team's analysis identified this new species as a sister group. Dianmeisaurus gracilis a small pachypleurosaur from the Luoping biota of the Middle Triassic.
“Dianmeisaurus mutaensis Displays several eutoroid features, including a postfrontal region that extends posteriorly to the middle of the parietal table and is excluded from the upper temporal fenestra, a stout last dorsal rib that is shorter than the first sacral rib, and two sacral vertebrae. “There is,” the researchers said.
“Additionally, a new data matrix has been compiled to reassess the interrelationships of neosauropterygians.”
“Phylogenetic analysis indicates monophyletic collapse of Eusauropterygia,” they added.
“Pistosaurinae, Magiasinosaurus and Hanosaurus These constitute a continuous sister group to the monophyletic clade that includes Pachyprosaurinae and Nososaurinae.”
“Furthermore, the monophyly of Pachyprourosauria is supported by six synapomorphies.”
“Our phylogenetic results provide further evidence for the East Tethys origin of pachypleurosaurs,” the researchers said.
“However, to test the biogeographical hypothesis, we need early Anisian pachypleurosaurs from the eastern region of Tethys.”
of findings Published in Swiss Journal of Paleontology.
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YW Hu others. 2024. A new species of Pachypleurosaurid (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) that lived in the Middle Triassic of southwestern China and its phylogenetic and biogeographical significance. Switzerland J Palaeontre 143, 1; doi: 10.1186/s13358-023-00292-4
The fabled “Doomfish” has reappeared in California.
The rare and long ribbon-shaped oarfish, often seen as a sign of impending disaster, has washed ashore on a California coast for the second time this year.
Alison Laferriere, a doctoral candidate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, found the nearly 10-foot-long oarfish on a beach in Encinitas, Southern California, last week.
Oarfish are mysterious creatures that reside in the mesopelagic zone, deep underwater where sunlight cannot reach, often up to 3,300 feet below the surface.
These enigmatic fish, reaching lengths of up to 20 feet, have not been extensively studied by scientists, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Because of their unusual appearance and legendary status, with myths dating back for centuries, oarfish are sometimes referred to as the “fish of the end” due to their supposed ability to predict natural disasters and earthquakes.
The legend of the “earthquake fish” resurfaced in 2011 when 20 oarfish washed up before Japan’s largest recorded earthquake, resulting in a devastating tsunami.
According to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, only 21 oarfish have been documented washing up on California beaches since 1901.
Researchers speculate that changes in ocean conditions and a possible increase in the oarfish population are contributing to the rise in sightings.
This year, a 12-foot-long oarfish was seen by kayakers and snorkelers in La Jolla Cove, north of downtown San Diego, and later taken to NOAA’s Fisheries Science Center for further examination.
Studies are ongoing to unravel the mystery surrounding oarfish sightings and their potential links to seismic events.
A 2019 study found no solid evidence linking oarfish to earthquakes, leaving the interpretation open to speculation.
A new genus and species of Ankylosaurus has been identified from an articulated partial skeleton discovered in southern China in 1986.
artistic reconstruction Huaxiazhou Longshouwen. Image credit: Ye Jianhao.
The newly discovered species was an early member of a family called armored dinosaurs. ankylosauridae.
dubbing Huaxiazhou Longshouwen the ancient animal was about 6 meters (20 feet) long.
In a paper, paleontologist Ziheng Zhu of Yunnan University and colleagues write, “Sclerosaurs were quadrupedal, herbivorous dinosaurs characterized by sagittal osteodermal rows on the dorsolateral surface of their bodies and heavily armored skulls. It is a diverse clade of
“Ankylosaurs lived from the Middle Jurassic to the end of the Late Cretaceous.”
“As a subgroup of the scleractylids, scleractyl dinosaurs are currently found only in Asia and North America. In Asia, they were primarily found in Mongolia and northern China.”
fossilized remains of an adult Huaxiazhou Longshouwen It was discovered in a mineral deposit in 1986. Karabe formation In Longxi Village, Jiangxi Province, southern China.
“This deposit is a series of Late Cretaceous strata, represented by an extensive series of red mudstones, sandstones, and conglomerates,” the researchers wrote.
“This series of strata is locally classified as the Karabe Formation, which belongs to the Katsurabo Formation Group.''
“We got some pieces of dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs.”
This specimen dates from the Late Cretaceous Period, 84 to 72 million years ago.
It was excavated by paleontologists from the Guangchang County Museum and consists of a partial articulated skeleton without a skull and mandible.
“Huaxiazhou Longshouwen “This is the second ankylosaurid species discovered in China's Jiangxi province,” the scientists wrote in their paper.
“According to phylogenetic analysis, Huaxiazhou Longshouwen is a basal member of the ankylosaurid family. ”
“Next discovery Huaxiazhou Longshouwen It adds diversity to the Late Cretaceous of China and helps elucidate the evolution of ankylosaurid dinosaurs in East Asia. ”
of paper Published in this month's magazine historical biology.
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Zhu Zihyung others. A new species of ankylosaurid dinosaur discovered from the late Cretaceous period in Jiangxi Province, southern China. historical biologypublished online on November 8, 2024. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2024.2417208
Farm workers exposed to infected dairy cows found to have avian influenza antibodies
Helen King/Getty Images
There may be more human cases of avian influenza in the United States than previously thought. Health officials in the two states conducted blood tests on workers at dairy farms known to have received infected cattle and found that about 7% of them had antibodies to the disease. This included people who had never experienced any flu symptoms.
Since March, an avian influenza virus known as H5N1 has been circulating among dairy cows across the United States. so far, 446 cows People have tested positive for the virus in 15 states in the United States. From April, 44 people In the United States, people have tested positive for H5, the influenza subtype that includes H5N1. All but one of these cases occurred in poultry or dairy farm workers infected with H5N1.
To better understand how many farmworkers may have been infected with the virus. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborates with state health departments Blood samples were taken from 115 people working on dairy farms raising H5N1-infected cows in Colorado and Michigan. All samples were taken between 15 and 19 days after a cow on the farm tested positive for the virus.
Nirav Shah The CDC and his colleagues then removed seasonal influenza antibodies from the samples before testing them for the presence of H5N1 antibodies. H5N1 antibodies were detected in eight of the samples, or about 7%, suggesting that eight of the workers may have been unknowingly infected with the virus. Furthermore, four of the employees did not remember having symptoms.
“This is very important because by this point, [H5N1] “Testing is primarily focused on symptomatic workers.” Megan Davis at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. “If workers are unaware that they are infected, they may inadvertently expose others in the community to infection.”
H5N1 is poorly adapted to infecting humans and is not known to be transmitted between humans. Still, more than that, 900 people worldwide People have been reported to have been infected with the virus since 2003, and about half of them have died from the virus. Each of these infections gives the virus a chance to mutate, potentially making it more dangerous to people.
“Those of us in public health need to cast a wider net in who we provide testing to,” Shah said at a press conference today. “Going forward, CDC plans to expand testing recommendations to include infected workers.” [to H5N1] And there are no symptoms. ”
The agency also recommends providing antiviral drugs to asymptomatic workers who are at high risk of infection, such as dairy farm workers who may get raw milk on their faces. That way, even if you do get infected with the virus, the amount of virus circulating in your body will be reduced and the risk of spreading the virus to others will be lower. “The less room we give this virus to spread, the less chance it has of changing,” Shah said.
The data also highlights that many H5N1 infections remain undetected, a concern public health officials have long suspected to be true. But until more data is available, “we can't estimate how many unconfirmed cases there are,” Shah said.
The CDC is currently analyzing an additional 150 blood samples taken from veterinarians who work with cattle. Once these results are available, Shah said it should give a clearer picture of how many cases are slipping through the cracks.
Newly discovered tardigrade species using genome, transcriptome and proteome analysis Hypsibius henanensis scientists investigated the molecular basis that contributes to radioresistance in these small invertebrates.
Schematic diagram of the mechanism conferring radiation resistance Hypsibius henanensis. Image credit: Li others., doi: 10.1126/science.adl0799.
Tardigrades, also known as tardigrades or moss piglets, are a diverse group of microscopic invertebrates famous for their ability to withstand extreme conditions.
First discovered in 1773, these organisms can live for up to 60 years, grow up to 0.5 mm in size, and are best seen under a microscope.
They can survive in temperatures as low as -272 degrees Celsius (-457 degrees Fahrenheit) or as hot as 150 degrees Celsius (302 degrees Fahrenheit), and temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius for several minutes, and for up to 30 years without food or water. Masu. Minus 4 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit) continues for decades.
It can withstand pressures from virtually 0 atmospheres in outer space to 1,200 atmospheres at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
They also exhibit excellent resistance to ionizing radiation, withstanding doses of gamma rays as high as 3,000 to 5,000 grays (Gy), approximately 1,000 times the lethal dose for humans.
The mechanism of radioresistance in tardigrades remains largely unknown.
Previous studies investigating how they do this have shown that tardigrades have powerful DNA repair abilities.
They also express tardigrade-specific proteins called damage suppressors (Dsup), when expressed in human cells, protects DNA from radiation damage.
In a new study, Lei Li and colleagues at Qingdao University describe a new species of tardigrade. Hypsibius henanensis.
Through detailed morphological and molecular analyses, they also investigated the basis of radioresistance in this species.
The researchers evaluated how exposure to heavy ion beams changes the molecular profiles of animals. They found that 285 stress-related genes were upregulated.
They further uncovered three molecular mechanisms that contribute to radioresistance in organisms.
First, the horizontally transferred bacterial gene DOPA dioxygenase 1 (Doda 1) enhanced radiation resistance by producing betalains (pigments with powerful free radical scavenging properties commonly found in plants, fungi, and bacteria).
Second, proteins unique to tardigrades, TDP1promotes DNA double-strand break repair.
Finally, mitochondrial chaperone genes BCS1Proliferated during the evolution of tardigrades, it is uniquely upregulated in response to radiation and protects cells from radiation-induced mitochondrial damage.
“The extreme environmental tolerance of extremophiles such as tardigrades provides a treasure trove of unexplored molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance,” the authors write.
“Functional studies of these radioresistance mechanisms may further expand our understanding of cell survival under extreme conditions and provide inspiration for promoting human health and fighting disease.”
of result Published in the Journal on October 25, 2024 science.
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Ray Lee others. 2024. The multi-omic landscape of tardigrades and the molecular basis of radioresistance. science 386 (6720);doi: 10.1126/science.adl0799
Paleontologists have recovered a fossilized jaw fragment and three isolated bones from a relatively large (by Late Cretaceous standards) new species of Metatheria in the Williams Fork Formation of northwestern Colorado, USA. Found a tooth.
artist’s depiction Heleochora piceanus In a Late Cretaceous wetland. Image credit: Brian Engh / LivingRelicProductions.com / Utah Natural History Field House.
” Metatheria “[Marsupials and their closest fossil relatives]consist of about 330 extant species in seven orders, most of which live in the Southern Hemisphere,” said Jaylin Eberle, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. said.
“However, this clade appears to have originated in the Northern Hemisphere during the Early Cretaceous.”
“By the end of the Cretaceous period, Metatheria had dispersed across Europe, Asia, and North America, and were more diverse and numerous than their contemporaneous eutherians.”
“Most of the Late Cretaceous Metatheria species are represented almost exclusively by isolated teeth and jaws recovered from fossil localities in the interior western United States.”
The fossilized remains of a new species of Metatherian have been discovered. williams fork formation It is located in Douglas Creek Arch between the Uintah and Piance Creek basins in northwestern Colorado.
named Heleochora piceanusThis animal lived approximately 70 to 75 million years ago (late Cretaceous period), a time when a vast inland sea covered much of the American West.
Weighing about 1 kg (2 lb), it was larger than most Late Cretaceous mammals.
Based on the tooth, Heleochora piceanus They probably ate plants mixed with insects and other small animals.
It coexisted with creatures such as turtles, duck-billed dinosaurs, and giant crocodiles.
“This area could have been similar to Louisiana,” says Dr. Rebecca Hunt-Foster, a paleontologist at Dinosaur National Monument.
“We see a lot of animals like sharks, rays and guitarfish that are very happy in the water.”
“Colorado is a great place to find fossils, but mammals from this era tend to be quite rare,” Eberle says.
“So it’s really amazing to see this piece of time preserved in Colorado.”
“Compared to much larger dinosaurs that lived at the time, such as Tyrannosaurus and its horned ancestors, triceratopsColorado’s newest fossil addition may seem small and insignificant. However, it was surprisingly large for a mammal of its time. ”
This finding is reported in the following article: paper in a diary PLoS ONE.
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J. Hebert others. 2024. A new Late Cretaceous Metatherian discovered from the Williams Fork Formation in Colorado. PLoS ONE 19 (10): e0310948;doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310948
These forest-dwelling birds live in pairs or small groups, feed on fruits and arthropods, and regularly feed on swarms of army ants.
These are common in the Atlantic Forest and are bold, conspicuous, and easy to observe. However, it is less conspicuous in the Andes Mountains, since its main habitat is drier forests than in the Atlantic region.
“Trichotraupis is a single-species genus found in two separate populations, one in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil (from southern Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul), northeastern Argentina, and eastern Paraguay, at an altitude of 1,200 m above sea level. In the range of up to meters. ” Dr. Wagner Cavalzel from Paulista University and its colleagues.
“It is usually associated with the Atlantic Forest, but some isolated populations also exist in the Gallery Forest of the southern Pantanal and eastern Chaco.”
“The second population is found on the eastern slopes of the Andes from northern Peru to extreme northwestern Argentina, primarily at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,700 meters.”
recent research proven The people of the Atlantic Ocean and the Andes Trichotraupis melanops Because they are genetically isolated, their current classification as monotypic species should be reconsidered.
In the new study, Cavalzere and his co-authors evaluated the morphology, plumage, and vocalizations of Atlantic and Andean populations.
The researchers examined a total of 581 skin specimens housed in museums around the world.
“Our feather studies revealed full diagnostic potential between the two populations. Trichotraupis” they said.
“Both populations are also differentiated by tarsal length, with the Atlantic population having longer tarsals on average.”
“Furthermore, the taxa live in different types of vegetation (Atlantic Forest and Tucumano-Boliviano Forest and Yungas Mountain Forest).”
named Trichotraupis griseonota (common name: Andean black swan), this new species is found on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina, at altitudes ranging from 400 meters to 1,700 meters.
“Trichotraupis griseonota “It is restricted to the eastern slopes of the Andes in south-central Peru, Bolivia and northwestern Argentina,” the scientists said.
“It inhabits the seasonally dry Tucumano-Boliviano forest, which is restricted to the Andean forests of northwestern Argentina and the foothills of north-central Bolivia.”
“This species also occurs in the narrow Yungas woodlands at the foothills of the Andes in northern Bolivia and Peru.”
“These montane forests exhibit higher moisture levels compared to the Tucumano-Boliviano forests.”
According to the research team, the fact that these different lineages were previously unrecognized is somewhat interesting, given that: Trichotraupis It is a common species and is abundant in collections.
“Given that museum specimens have played the most important role since their birth several centuries ago, in addition to being a very important and relatively new paradigm in describing new species discovered in museum cabinets. “We emphasize that it is particularly important in the era of genomes and supercomputers; it is fundamental to avian taxonomy,” the authors concluded.
“By documenting and organizing variations and enabling these insights, Trichotraupis griseonota This should serve as a reminder for ornithologists to never underestimate the potential for exciting new discoveries in a seemingly common set of bird skin specimens. ”
Wagner Cavalzere others. 2024. A new species of golden butterfly (species: Traupidae) that lives on the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains. zoo animals 5468 (3): 541-556;doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5468.3.7
K. Miller, R. Hart/California Institute of Technology/IPAC
A strange star that has confused researchers for decades now makes sense. It turns out that it is not a single star, but two companion stars.
“Previously, it was thought that this brown dwarf was meaningless. We wondered if we were doing something horribly wrong, or if our models were horribly wrong. I was worried. But no, everything is fine. I just have friends.” timothy blunt at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland.
Now, two research teams have used instruments from the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii and the Very Large Telescope in Chile to solve the mystery of the first brown dwarf.
Brown dwarfs are “failed stars” in that they have too little material and are too hot to sustain nuclear fusion. Instead of shining brightly for thousands of years, they dim in the night sky like planets. The first brown dwarf, called Gliese 229B, was discovered in 1995 and had an inexplicably large mass. Jerry Xuan I worked on one of the studies at the California Institute of Technology.
Gliese 229B is estimated to have about 71 times the mass of Jupiter, and a star born at that size, even if it were as old as the universe, would cool down and become faint enough to see us. That would have never happened, said participant Brandt. One of the research team. This has led some researchers to suggest that Gliese 22B is a very faint pair of stars, but until now there has been no conclusive evidence.
Xuan said this was because two fellow brown dwarfs, Gliese 229Ba and Bb, were unusually close together, and very precise observations were needed to see them both. However, observations by both teams confirmed that they exist separately, orbiting each other every 12 days, and are always about 16 times the distance between Earth and the Moon.
He says that revealing the dual identity of Gliese 229B may be the start of a trend. samuel white book He was part of a research team at the California Institute of Technology. “There are probably a lot of binary systems that have been hiding in front of us all this time,” he says.
Xuan said he has already selected several other brown dwarfs to study more precisely. Brown dwarfs resemble both exoplanets and stars, so understanding how many of them are actually twins could shed light on the formation of these other objects as well. Maybe.
Marine biologists have discovered adult tubeworms and other extrusive animals beneath the ocean floor of the East Pacific Ridge, a volcanically active and rapidly spreading ridge with numerous hydrothermal vents.
East Pacific Rise, subseafloor vents on the seafloor surface and crust on the outskirts of Fava Flow. Image credit: Bright others., doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52631-9.
The East Pacific Rise is a volcanically active ridge located where two plates meet at the floor of the Pacific Ocean.
It contains many hydrothermal vents, which are openings in the ocean floor that form where ocean water and magma meet beneath the Earth's crust.
“It was once thought that the ocean-floor crust beneath hydrothermal vents was inhabited only by microorganisms and viruses,” says researcher Monika Breit of the University of Vienna and colleagues.
“But there are animals on the ocean floor that look like giant tube worms. Liftia Pachyputira Thrive. “
“The larvae are thought to disperse into the water column, even though they have never been observed there.”
“We hypothesized that these larvae migrate beneath the ocean floor via vent fluids.”
Dr. Bright and his co-authors sailing on the Schmidt Oceanographic Research Vessel Falcor (also)used the remotely operated vehicle SuB-astian to undertake a series of dives into a hydrothermal vent site located at a depth of 2,515 meters in the East Pacific Ridge.
The vehicle's arm was used to expose part of the ocean's crust, which revealed a warm, warm habitat that is home to a variety of species previously found only on the ocean floor, including giant tube worms and migratory animals such as earthworms and snails. A fluid-filled cavity was revealed.
Larvae from seafloor communities can colonize these subseafloor habitats, demonstrating the complex connectivity between seafloor and subseafloor ecosystems.
An animal habitat has been discovered beneath the ocean floor of the Earth's crust, but its extent is currently unknown, raising the urgency of its protection against potential future environmental changes.
“The presence of adult tubeworms suggests that the larvae dispersed through the recharge zone of the hydrothermal circulation system,” the authors said.
“Given that many of these animals are hosts to dense bacterial communities that oxidize reduced chemicals and fix carbon, subseafloor expansion of animal habitats may be localized. and regional geochemical flux measurements.”
“These findings highlight the need to protect vents, as the extent of these habitats has not yet been fully determined.”
team's work appear in the diary nature communications.
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M. Bright others. 2024. Animals that live in the crust beneath the shallow ocean floor of deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Nat Commune 15, 8466; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52631-9
Paleontologists have described a new genus and species of long-nosed notothids from fragmentary remains found in Brazil's Adamantina Formation.
Epoidesuccus tavaresae is a new species of pyrosauridae from the Cretaceous Adamantina Formation of Brazil. Image credit: Lewis others., doi: 10.1002/ar.25559.
Epoidesuccus tavaresae They lived on the ancient supercontinent Gondwana during the late Cretaceous period, about 72 million years ago.
This ancient reptile was about 4 meters (13 feet) long, had a long, almost tubular snout, and probably lived a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
belongs to pyrosauridaeGondwanidae, a group of crocodilians belonging to the suborder Gondwanana. Notostia.
“Notoschia are an extremely diverse group of extinct crocodylidae found especially in the Cretaceous deposits of Gondwana, with more than 80 species described to date,” said lead author Juan of FEIS-UNESP. Dr. Lewis and colleagues said.
“Such taxonomic richness is also reflected in unexpected ecological diversity, including fully terrestrial and semi-aquatic morphologies, different feeding strategies, and perhaps occupation of many different ecological niches. It has been.”
“The Notothian fossil record is mostly confined to the Cretaceous Gondwana landmass, which included North Africa, Central Africa, Madagascar, and the Indian subcontinent, but the group reached its peak of diversity in South America. It was the late Cretaceous period.
Paleontologists say the pyrosauridae was first described in 1982.
“Despite the description of several species of pyrosauridae over the past 25 years and advances in our knowledge of the group's morphological and unique features, pyrosaurids have largely been excluded from broader phylogenetic studies.” said the researchers.
In the study, the researchers examined a fragment of the skull and one of the elements at the back of the skull. Epoidesuccus tavaresae.
This fossil was discovered in 2011 in an outcrop of the Adamantina Formation (Bauru Group) in the city of Catanduba in northwestern São Paulo state, Brazil.
“Our results provide further evidence for the existence of a two-lineage pyrosaurinae, the oleinilostrinae Peirosaurinae and the longilostrinae Pepestinae,” the scientists said. Ta.
“Furthermore, the results of our morphospatial analysis indicate that pyrosaurids are ecomorphologically diverse, with species exhibiting more putative terrestrial ecosystems or a more semi-aquatic habit, compared to other notothids and neoscidians. This indicates that the morphospace had a wide range of morphospace occupancy, including unexplored spaces.”
“Pepeschinae was widespread in Africa and South America during the Cretaceous period,” the researchers noted.
“This lineage is notable among the notothids in that it has a longer rostra, similar to common extant crocodilians. crocodile There's also a caiman. ”
“Pepeshushiinae have been recorded from strata where semi-aquatic Neosushiinae are absent or rare.”
“In Africa, Strochrosuchus occurred simultaneously with SarcosuchusOn the other hand, in the Bauru group of Brazil, which represents the greatest extreme of pepestinid diversity, only one putative neostinid has been described so far, a large predatory quadruped with a semi-aquatic habit. There are no other records. ”
“In this scenario, pepestinids would have occupied vacant freshwater systems in western Gondwana during the Late Cretaceous.”
team's paper Published on August 29th anatomical record.
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Juan V. Ruiz others. A new pyrosauridae (Crocodiformes, Notostia) from the Adamantina Formation (Late Cretaceous, Bauru Group). The phylogenetic analysis of Sevesia has been revised. anatomical recordspublished online on August 29, 2024. doi: 10.1002/ar.25559
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