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Archaeologists Discover Evidence of Blue Pigments in 13,000-Year-Old Stone Artifacts in Germany

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No blue pigments have been found in Paleolithic art. This absence is attributed to the scarcity of naturally occurring blue pigments and the subtlety of these colors. However, archaeologists employed various methods to uncover traces of the lively blue mineral pigment azurite in Paleolithic adhesive stone artifacts from Mühlheim-Dietesheim, Germany, marking the earliest known use of blue pigments in Europe.

Three areas of blue residues found in the sandstone formations of stone artifacts at Muhlheim Dieschetim, Germany. Image credit: Wisher et al., doi: 10.15184/aqy.2025.10184.

Both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens utilized mineral and organic colors; however, their palette seems confined to black and red-yellow pigments sourced from charcoal, manganese dioxide, and various iron oxides.

These pigments are well documented across continents for numerous applications.

During the Paleolithic Age (300,000-40,000 years ago) in central Europe, Neanderthals are thought to have employed ochres and manganese dioxide, likely for purposes ranging from cave art to functional applications like adhesive compounds and fire extinguishing agents, as well as for symbolic practices.

In Homo sapiens, the use of pigments correlates with the onset of “behavioral modernity,” which emerged over 100,000 years ago and is acknowledged as a hallmark of cognitive complexity.

The prevalence of pigment use in the Upper Paleolithic raises intriguing questions about the absence of blue pigments in their artistic practices.

So far, only one instance of a copper-based turquolithic pigment has been documented, originating from decorated anthropomorphic figurines in parts of Malta, dating back 19,000-23,000 years.

The presence of blue pigments has not been recognized in the Paleolithic period in Europe until now.

“Our findings challenge the conventional understanding of the use of Paleolithic pigments,” stated Izzy Wisher, an archaeologist at Aarhus University.

In their investigation, Dr. Wisher and colleagues discovered blue pigments in stone artifacts with concave bowl-like features dating from 14,000 to 11,700 years ago on Mullheim Dieche Island, Germany.

This discovery signifies the first known utilization of blue pigments during the Upper Paleolithic in Europe.

“The detection of azurite suggests that Paleolithic individuals possessed a profound understanding of mineral pigments and had access to a broader color spectrum than previously recognized.

“Stones previously thought to be open circuit lamps now appear to have served as a mixed surface or palette for preparing blue pigments. This indicates an artistic or cosmetic practice that has largely gone unnoticed.”

These findings prompt a reconsideration of Paleolithic art and color usage, paving the way for exploring how early humans articulated their identities, status, and beliefs through a far more diverse and vibrant array of materials than was once imagined.

“We hypothesize that azurite was likely used more extensively than we had anticipated, based on its presence in Muhlheim Dietesheim and its potential availability within the landscape,” the researchers noted.

“The use of azurite might have been confined to activities that are not well-preserved in the archaeological record.”

“Blue pigments were evidently not employed to adorn Paleolithic cave walls or portable art objects in Europe, but they may have been utilized for body decoration instead.”

“Our results invite a critical examination of color usage in the Upper Paleolithic to ascertain why certain hues were favored or neglected in different artistic endeavors.”

The results were published this week in the journal Ancient.

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Izzy Wisher et al. The earliest evidence of the use of blue pigments in Europe. Ancient Published online on September 29th, 2025. doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.10184

Source: www.sci.news

Newly Discovered Species of Uoshima Found in Germany

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Paleontologists have identified a new species, Eurhinosaurus—a genus of Longirostrin Ikchosaurus from Europe, notable for its remarkable overbite found in Bavaria, southern Germany.

Eurhinosaurus Mistelgauensis. Image credit: Andrey Atuchin.

“Iktiosauria is a varied group of reptiles excellently adapted to marine environments, thriving from the early Triassic to the early Cretaceous,” stated Dr. Gael Spicher, a researcher at the Jurassica Museum, Fribourg University, and Reinish Friedrich Willells-un Universetita Bonn and Kokog.

“Fishes show morphological traits like fin-modified limbs, elongated snouts, deep bisexual spines, and developed caudal fins, confirming their complete adaptation to aquatic life.”

“Uoshima had a widespread distribution during its existence.”

“Particularly, southern Germany is renowned for its rich fossil record of Uoshima from the Lower Jurassic, specifically the Posidonianscifer formation, which has yielded thousands of specimens.”

“In these Lower Jurassic ichthyosaurs, Eurhinosaurus is a relatively scarce creature,” they noted.

“Its paleogeographical range is confined to modern-day Europe, with fossil records from Germany, the UK, France, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.”

“This genus is distinguished by its unique, elongated, slender snout with pronounced overbites, resulting from significantly shorter mandibles compared to the upper jaw (over 60%).”

The newly identified species Eurhinosaurus exhibits a typical maxillary extension characteristic of its genus.

It has been named Eurhinosaurus Mistelgauensis, which existed during the Jurassic period approximately 180 million years ago.

Three specimens of the new species were unearthed at the Mistelgau Clay Pit, part of the Jurensismismergel Formation in southwestern Bailos in northern Bavaria, Germany.

“The fossil includes two nearly complete skeletons and a partial snout, preserved in three dimensions in a semi-articulated state, showcasing elements from multiple angles,” explained the paleontologist.

“Their preservation is exceptional, displaying bones in three dimensions, which is a remarkable find and highlights the significance of documenting such specimens.”

According to the author, these specimens belong to the Eurhinosaurus genus.

“The well-preserved fossils from Mistelgau offer invaluable insights into Eurhinosaurus and significantly enhance our understanding of this historically important Uoshima,” they concluded.

Survey results were published this week in the journal Fossil Record.

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Ge Spicher et al. 2025. New Eurhinosaurus (Ichthyosauria) species from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) in Mistelgau (Bavaria, southern Germany). Fossil Record 28(2): 249-291; doi: 10.3897/fr.28.154203

Source: www.sci.news

Remarkable Discovery: Two Fossils of Young Individuals Tragically Lost to a Catastrophic Storm in Germany

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Paleontologists from the University of Leicester studied two immature fossilized skeletal remains of Pterodactylus antiquus, individuals whose wings were damaged and were discovered in Solnhofen limestone, southern Germany. Their findings reveal that these creatures were sadly victims of a powerful Jurassic storm, which created the perfect conditions for fossilization, leading to the preservation of hundreds of similar specimens.

Artistic representation of the hatchling Pterodactylus antiquus, inspired by fossil discoveries, struggling through a tumultuous tropical storm. Image credit: Rudolf Hima.

“Dating back 153-148 million years, the Jurassic Solnhofen limestone deposits in Bavaria, southern Germany, are renowned for their remarkably preserved fossils, including many examples of various pterosaurs, flying reptiles from the Mesozoic era.”

“A puzzling aspect of this site is that while Solnhofen is home to hundreds of pterosaur fossils, almost all are small, immature specimens that are remarkably intact.”

“In stark contrast, larger adult pterosaurs are infrequently found and typically represented by isolated fragments, such as skulls or limbs.”

“This trend contradicts expectations, as larger, more resilient animals should theoretically have a greater chance of fossilization than fragile juveniles.”

In their latest study, the researchers examined the fossilized remains of two immature pterosaurs from the Solnhofen limestone.

These individuals belong to Pterodactylus antiquus, a species that inhabited Germany during the late Jurassic period.

With a wingspan of under 20 cm (8 inches), these hatchlings represent the smallest known pterosaurs.

Both specimens exhibit identical injuries: a clean, sloping fracture in the humerus.

Newborn specimens of Pterodactylus antiquus from Solnhofen limestone, Germany. Scale bar – 20 mm. Image credit: Smyth et al., doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.08.006.

One specimen’s left wing and another’s right wing appear broken in a manner consistent with a strong twist, likely caused by a sudden gust of wind rather than impact with a hard object.

The unfortunate pterosaur was likely submerged beneath the lagoon’s surface, overwhelmed by storm waves, and swiftly sank to the seabed, where it was quickly buried by a fine layer of mud stirred up by the tempest.

This rapid entombment facilitated the exceptional preservation observed in the fossils.

It’s reminiscent of a scene only days or weeks after the animals’ demise, with preservation so remarkable that while no significant skeletal trauma is evident, many other small, very young pterosaurs are found within the Solnhofen limestone.

These juvenile pterosaurs, unable to withstand the storm’s ferocity, were also drawn into the lagoon.

This discovery clarifies why smaller fossils are so well preserved—due to the direct aftermath of the storm, which was a common cause of death for pterosaurs in the region.

“For centuries, scientists believed the Solnhofen lagoon ecosystem was primarily composed of small pterosaurs,” stated Dr. Smith.

“However, we now recognize that this perspective was quite skewed; many of these pterosaurs were not lagoon dwellers.”

“Most were likely immature individuals that lived on nearby islands, inadvertently caught in a powerful storm.”

A study detailing these findings was published today in the journal Current Biology.

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Robert S. Smith et al. Fatal incidents in juvenile pterosaurs and selective sampling within fossil Solnhofen communities. Current Biology, published online September 5th, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.08.006

Source: www.sci.news

Unique Fossil of a Boy’s Chest Dragon Unearthed in Germany

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Rhynchocephalians – These are members of the sister group to squamates (which include lizards, snakes, and worm lizards) and encompass living Tuataras (Sphenodon punctatus), dating back to the late Jurassic period in the Solnhofen Archipelago. They have been recognized for nearly two centuries, with an increasing number of specimens and species, yet their evolutionary development remains poorly understood. A well-documented marine rhynchocephalian genus, Plerosaurus, existed during the late Jurassic period about 150 million years ago, but clear juvenile specimens have yet to be identified among more than 15 known specimens (with several unlisted).

Plerosaurus is a remarkable long-swimming Rhynchocephalian that lived around 150 million years ago in what is now Germany during the late Jurassic period. Image credit: Roberto Ochoa.

“Genuine Plerosaurus is the most common rhynchocephalian found in the Late Jurassic deposits of Canjuers and Cerin, France, as well as in the Solnhofen Archipelago, Germany,” stated Dr. Victor Beccari from the SNSB-Bayerische Staatsammlung für Paläontologie and the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, along with his colleagues.

“This genus is characterized by an elongated triangular skull, a reshaped anterior jaw, an absence of a low anterior flange in the front part of the teeth, and reduced forelimbs.”

“Currently, there are two species within this genus: Pleurosaurus goldfussi and Pleurosaurus ginsburgi.”

“The specific distinctions are based on the count of anterior sacral vertebrae (50 and 57, respectively), the ratio of skull to appendix, and more advanced pelvic development in Pleurosaurus goldfussi.”

“Extensive research has been undertaken; however, in the more than 15 published specimens of Plerosaurus, no clear juvenile specimens have been recorded as of yet.”

Plerosaurus cf. P. ginsburgi: (a) Standard light photographs. (b) Photo under UV light. (c) Interpretation diagram of the specimen. Image credit: Beccari et al., doi: 10.1002/ar.25545.

In a recent study, researchers described a juvenile specimen of Plerosaurus.

The fossils were sourced from the Mörnsheim Formation near Müllheim, close to Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany.

“This fossil is especially intriguing as it distinctly exhibits characteristics typical of young animals,” commented the paleontologist.

“Its teeth are small, show no signs of wear, its bones remain underdeveloped, and the vertebrae are still forming.”

“This small size, along with other features, makes it the first clearly identified juvenile Plerosaurus. These specimens bridge crucial gaps in understanding the growth and development of these extinct reptiles.”

Findings of juvenile Plerosaurus have significant implications for classifying another genus, Acrosaurus.

“Historically, some paleontologists have posited that Acrosaurus might represent a juvenile form of Plerosaurus, but until now, there was no substantial evidence to support this theory,” the researchers noted.

“These new fossils exhibit numerous similarities to previously identified Acrosaurus, suggesting that it is not a separate genus, but rather a hatchling form of Plerosaurus.”

“For years, I have sought to comprehend how these animals grew and developed, but I had never encountered such a young, well-preserved specimen,” remarked Dr. Andrea Villa from the Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont Institute.

The team’s paper was published in the March 2025 issue of Anatomical Records.

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Victor Beccari et al. 2025. Young Pleurosauride (Rhynchocephalia) from the Titonians of the Mörnsheim Formation, Germany. Anatomical Records 308(3):844-867; doi:10.1002/ar.25545

Source: www.sci.news

Tesla’s Massive Factory in Germany: Shadows Cast on Local Lives

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when Elon Musk encouraged Germans to support the far-right Alternative for Germany (AFD) in last year’s election, Manu Heuer, a resident of the small town where the billionaire established Tesla’s European production center, expressed her concerns.

“How can you engage in business with individuals who endorse right-wing extremism?” she questioned Dietimar Wudike, the Social Democrat leader in Brandenburg, who backed the creation of the Tesla Giga Factory in Grunheide.

Heuer described Woidke’s “unfortunate, yet predictable” response, where he dismissed the claim. “He claimed he didn’t know Musk personally, as if that were a valid excuse,” she noted.




Manu Heuer has sought to question local politicians regarding Elon Musk’s backing of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Photo: Imago/Alamy

She co-founded Citizens’ Initiatives to develop a vibrant community on a sandy plain southwest of Berlin to oppose plans announced in 2019. At the time, there was significant concern regarding the potential environmental effects of factories on the local pine forests and groundwater.

Recently, it is Musk’s politics that have raised alarms. Not only did he notably endorse far-right European parties, but he also appeared to make a Nazi salute at a rally following Donald Trump’s inauguration.




Elon Musk will inspect the vehicle when production commences at the Tesla facility in Grunheide. Photo: Patrick Pleul/AFP/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Tesla’s sales have declined, particularly in Europe, where new vehicle sales have dropped for the fifth consecutive month, despite overall growth in the electric vehicle market.

Heiko Basin, another member of the civic initiative, expressed a sense of schadenfreude. “We had placed our hopes in this,” the carpenter shared during a recent walk in the shadows of the expansive Grunheide factory.

As sales continue to drop, factories face challenges. Production shifts for the Y model have decreased from 3-2 units per day. IG Metal, which has recruited hundreds of workers despite Tesla’s resistance, urged the company to consider placing employees in “Kurzarbeit.”

Regional media has reported that Tesla is relocating to carriers at a former East German airport, approximately 60 km (37 miles) away.

Musk’s apparent Nazi salute elicited shock and horror in Germany, but it went largely unnoticed in Grunheide until the campaign group projected an image on the facade of the Tesla factory with the Nazi-related word “heil” provocatively placed in front of the Tesla logo.

The outcry from the incident was palpable on the factory floor, as workers told tabloid Berlin Klier. “In Tesla Germany, they tried to maintain distance from (Musk) and remained silent,” one worker noted. Now, they could no longer ignore their ties.

Workers are hard to reach and are often compelled to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Yet, on Khunnu, a work portal allowing employees to express their thoughts anonymously, a Tesla worker shared:

Almut, a local resident, remarked that politicians tout the benefits Tesla has brought to the area, yet “fail to acknowledge the troubling reality that it subsidizes the wealthiest individual in the world who bears no social responsibility for what occurs here.”

She said locals often joke about what might replace the factory if Tesla were to fail. “Ammunition factories? Prisons? In a way, those seem like decent alternatives,” she quipped. The only positive contribution she could recall from Tesla was the robotic lawnmower it donated to a local soccer club.




While local politicians in Grunheide were keen to highlight the advantages of the factory, some residents voiced concerns about the environmental effects of light pollution and excessive water consumption. Photo: Michele Tantussi/Getty Images

Just two weeks prior to the salute, Musk publicly supported the AFD during an hour-long discussion with co-leader Alice Weidel, touching on topics like Hitler, solar energy, and German bureaucracy. Musk mentioned that Tesla had to submit a staggering 25,000-page form to establish the Grunheide factory. Notably, the AFD has vehemently opposed the Tesla facility, citing concerns over US-led turbo-capitalism and the erosion of workers’ rights. “People need to get behind the AFD,” Musk stated.

For Grunheide residents who oppose Musk, their concerns are compounded by the factory’s impact on rural areas characterized by forests, lakes, and rivers.

New bike lanes and roads necessitate the clearing of large swaths of pine forests, threatening the area’s already precarious drinking water resources and officially declared drought zones.




Tesla Giga Factory with forests in the backdrop. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The expansive factory complex, covering 300 hectares (740 acres), is set for expansion by another 100 hectares under a plan submitted by the Mayor of Grunheide, despite a local referendum where 62% of voters voiced opposition.

Supporters highlight the 11,000 jobs created by the factories and the positive impact on the local economy in a region previously governed by the Communist Party. Many young residents look forward to more frequent train services to Berlin, improved supermarket stocks, and the elevation of their hometowns alongside Tesla’s other locations in Shanghai, Nevada, and Austin as examples of “green capitalism.” It is said that an invitation to the “Rave Cave” Technodance Space Mask was sought within the factory complex.

For job openings, the Tesla recruitment page emphasizes that diversity is central to its business model, listing numerous positions available from shift managers to maintenance technicians.

Nevertheless, even among those who have previously expressed enthusiasm for Tesla, sentiments have turned cold. Formerly, a group of local teenagers routinely flew drones over the construction site and proudly shared their videos on YouTube. “Even though I’m no longer anonymous about Tesla/Elon, I’m happy to discuss publicly about them,” one teen texted to the Guardian.

There has been no response from the company regarding interview requests or access to the factory.

Arne Christani, the Mayor of Grunheide and a steadfast Musk supporter, expressed confidence that Tesla will thrive in Grunheide. He mentioned he was unfazed by Musk’s statements or actions. “We must differentiate between what happens in the United States and here in Grunheide,” he stated.

Heuer, living 9 km from the factory, remains hopeful of seeing a starry sky from her garden once again. “Since the factory was built, it’s been challenging due to light pollution from the round-the-clock operation,” she remarked, sharing before and after photos on her phone.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Newly Discovered Pterosaur Unearthed in Germany

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Paleontologists have identified a new genus and species of Gnathosaurine Pterosaur named Spathagnathus roeperi from a fossilized specimen discovered in the Solnhofen limestone of southern Germany.

Artistic reconstruction of Spathagnathus roeperi. Image credit: Alessio Ciaffi.

Spathagnathus roeperi lived in the Solnhofen Archipelago during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago.

“The Solnhofen limestone in southern Germany is renowned as one of the most productive fossil sites ever discovered,” states Dr. Alexandra Fernandez, a museum colleague and co-researcher at the Associate Historians Museum at the Statzmurung für Paläontologie und Geologie in Bayern.

“The regions and layers found between Solnhofen and Regensburg have been explored for over 200 years and have produced exceptional specimens, offering unique insights into the paleoenvironment of the subtropical shallow seas.”

“The rich paleobiotic diversity of fauna in the Solnhofen area is attributed to its original sedimentary environment, located in a depression within a shallow marine reef on the north coast of the Thetis Sea, which has been referred to in recent literature as the Solnhofen Archipelago fossil community.”

Fragments of Spathagnathus roeperi were uncovered during a systematic excavation at the Blanc Quarry near Regensburg, Germany.

“The Blanc area represents the oldest section of the Solnhofen complex, and only one Pterosaur has ever been documented from this region,” the paleontologist noted.

Based on their phylogenetic analysis, Spathagnathus roeperi is categorized within Gnathosaurinae, a small subgroup of the Pterosaur family Ctenochasmatidae.

This newly identified flying reptile is also a sister species to the ctenochasmatid pterosaur Tacuadactylus luciae from Uruguay.

“The limestone of Solnhofen is rich in late Jurassic fossil vertebrates, and Pterosaurs are no exception,” the researchers concluded.

“Within this extensive collection, while Ctenochasmatid remains are relatively abundant, Gnathosaurines are quite rare.”

Spathagnathus roeperi marks the earliest representation of Gnathosaurine and extends the paleoenvironmental stratigraphic range of Gnathosaurinae within the broader fossil community of the Solnhofen Islands.

“Additionally, this new species contributes to the known diversity of ctenochasmatids from the late Jurassic, emphasizing the significance of this early radiation within the pterosaur lineage during this period,” the scientists concluded.

Their paper was published this month in the journal Palz.

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AE Fernandez et al. A new species and early appearance of Gnathosaurinae (Pterosauria) from the late Kimmeridgian of Brun, Germany. Palz, published online on June 6th, 2025. doi:10.1007/s12542-025-00725-0

Source: www.sci.news

CICADA: A Newly Discovered Fossil Song Species from Germany

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The Cicadidae family is among the most diverse insect families today. However, the fossil record of Cicadidae is notably sparse compared to the number of extant species. The recently discovered species, Eoplatypleura Messelensis, is not only one of the earliest Cicadidae fossils found on the Eurasian continent, but it also represents the oldest record of the subfamily CICADINAE globally.

Reconstruction of Eoplatypleura Messelensis. Image credit: Dinghua Yang.

Eoplatypleura Messelensis thrived in Europe approximately 47 million years ago during the Eocene period.

“The Cicada family is one of the most diverse groups of insects today,” states Dr. Sonja Wedmann, a paleontologist at the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt/Main.

“Despite this, the fossil record is quite limited compared to the many modern species.”

“The Platypleurini group within this family is particularly noteworthy, containing numerous species with wide distributions and unique traits.”

“For the first time, we have described a fossil from this Cicada group.”

Two fossil specimens of Eoplatypleura Messelensis were found at Messelpit, an open-cast oil shale mine located 10 km northeast of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany.

“The new Messel fossil showcases a compact head with a subtle composite eye and a broad forewing featuring a distinctly curved tip,” notes Dr. Hui Jang, a paleontologist at the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut and a doctoral researcher at the University of Maine and Nanjing University.

“The fossils are female, but their classification implies that males in this group may produce loud mating calls.”

Eoplatypleura Messelensis, an adult female. Image credit: Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum Frankfurt/Main.

These ancient insects measure 2.65 cm in body length and have a wingspan of 6.82 cm, notable for their expansive, intricately patterned wings.

“These patterns resemble those of contemporary Cicada species in the Platypleurini group, which inhabit wooded and scrub areas,” explains Dr. Jang.

“Considering the subtropical vegetation of the Messel region approximately 47 million years ago, these color patterns may have served important ecological functions, such as camouflage.”

Eoplatypleura Messelensis is one of the oldest known representatives of today’s true cicadas in Eurasia and signifies the earliest records of the subfamily Cicadinae worldwide,” Dr. Wedmann remarks.

“This is also the Cicada that has been first described from the Messel Pit.”

“This discovery not only enhances our understanding of the fauna at Messelpit but also fills a crucial gap in the history of Eocene cicadas.”

“In the future, Eoplatypleura Messelensis may serve as a reference point for significant time series in genetic research regarding the evolutionary history of these insects, providing new insights into the origins and dispersal of Platypleurini.”

The team’s paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports on April 29, 2025.

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H. Jiang et al. 2025. Sound from the Eocene: The first singing Cicada from Messelpit, Germany. Sci Rep 15, 12826; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-94099-7

Source: www.sci.news

New Archeopteryx specimens discovered in Germany

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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

Source: www.sci.news

Elon Musk unexpectedly attends AfD event in eastern Germany

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Elon Musk surprised many by appearing at an Alternative for Germany (AfD) election campaign event in Halle, eastern Germany, on Saturday. This marked his second public declaration of support for the far-right party in recent weeks.

During the event, Musk, alongside party co-leader Alice Weidel, addressed an audience of 4,500 people via video link. They spoke about the importance of preserving German culture and protecting the German people.

“It’s important to take pride in German culture and values, and not let them be diluted by multiculturalism,” Musk stated.

Just a week prior, Musk sparked controversy at President Donald Trump’s inauguration with a gesture that some interpreted as a Nazi salute.

Reacting to the criticism, Musk addressed the crowd on Saturday, emphasizing, “Children should not be held accountable for the actions of their ancestors, let alone their great-grandparents.”

He added, “There’s too much emphasis on past guilt; it’s time to move forward.”

Musk, known for his concerns about free speech limitations under the German government, has previously criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Expressing his support for the far-right, Musk declared to the audience, “I am enthusiastic about the AfD. I believe you are Germany’s best hope for a prosperous future.”

Weidel thanked Musk, drew parallels between the AfD and the Republican Party’s efforts to “make America great again,” and urged supporters to work towards “making Germany great again.”

Earlier in the month, Musk interviewed Weidel on X, raising concerns about potential election interference.

Despite the chilly conditions, anti-far-right activists gathered in large numbers on Saturday. Around 100,000 people assembled near Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and up to 20,000 in Cologne, some carrying colorful umbrellas, representing diverse age groups.

Source: www.theguardian.com

AI-Generated Satirical Tune about Immigrants Climbs the Charts in Germany | AI

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A song about immigration, whose music, vocals, and artwork were all created using artificial intelligence, has entered the top 50 most-listened-to songs in Germany, possibly a first in a major music market.

“Verknallt in einen Talahon” is a parody song that blends ’60s schlager pop with modern lyrics based on racial stereotypes about immigrants.

The song reached the 48th spot in Germany, the world’s fourth-largest music market. Within a month of its release, it garnered 3.5 million streams on Spotify, ranking third on the platform’s charts in the Global Viral Charts.

The songwriter of the song, Joshua Wagbinger, known as Butterbro, mentioned that he composed the song’s chorus by inputting his lyrics into Udio, an AI tool that generates vocals and instruments from text prompts.

He then added the verses using music tools after the chorus gained popularity on TikTok. In an interview with German podcast Die Klangküche (Sound Kitchen), the IT specialist and amateur musician expressed his aim to turn the song into a creative project.

The song has garnered attention in the German media not only for its production methods but also for its lyrical content. Translated as “In Love with Tarahon,” the song references the German version of the Arabic phrase “taeal huna,” commonly used in Germany to describe groups of young men with immigrant backgrounds.

The lyrics satirize the classic “good girl falls for the bad boy” narrative from ’60s songs like “Leader of the Pack” by The Shangri-Las, portraying the AI-generated love interest as someone who wears luxury brands and gives off a strong perfume scent.

Waghubinger aimed to create a song that humorously addressed macho behavior without discrimination and set out to make it viral on social media, as he revealed in an interview with Die Klangküche magazine.

However, Marie-Louise Goldman, culture editor at the conservative tabloid Die Welt, raised concerns about the song potentially straddling the line between parody and discrimination.

Felicia Agaye, a writer for the music magazine Diffus, expressed concerns about the song’s popularity and how the term “Tarahon” had turned into an insult against immigrants among young people in Germany and Austria.

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Numerous AI-generated songs in a similar style have been circulating on German social media, blending ’60s MOR schlager pop with suggestive lyrics.

Music producers are increasingly utilizing AI to create vocals resembling those of famous artists. In 2023, The Beatles released “Now and Then,” featuring an AI-assisted rendition of John Lennon’s vocals.

A song using Tupac Shakur’s voice generated by AI was briefly posted on Canadian rapper Drake’s Instagram account in April but was taken down after legal threats from the late rapper’s estate.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ancient Marine Crocodile Species Unearthed in Germany

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Paleontologists have described a new genus and species of metriorhynchid crocodyloform from the Stadthagen Formation in northwestern Germany.

Artist image Enarioetes schroederi. Image credit: Joschua Knüppe.

The newly discovered crocodyloforme lived in shallow seas off Germany during the Early Cretaceous period, between 140 and 132 million years ago.

dubbing Enarioetes schroederi Ancient reptiles belonged to the family Metriorhynchidae.

“Metriorhynchid fishes had smooth skin without scales, fins and a tail,” explained Dr Sven Sachs from the Natural Sciences Museum in Bielefeld and his colleagues.

“They Feeding Metriorhynchid reptiles fed on a variety of prey, including fast-moving animals such as squid and fish, although some metriorhynchid species have large serrated teeth, suggesting that they may have eaten other marine reptiles.”

“The Jurassic period is the best known, and fossils become rarer as we move into the Cretaceous period.”

Perfectly preserved skull Enarioetes schroederi. It was discovered over 100 years ago in a quarry in Sachsenhagen near Hanover by the German architect D. Hapke.

This specimen is the best-preserved metriorhynchid crocodyloform known from the Cretaceous.

“This specimen is remarkable as it is one of the very few metriorhynchids known to have a three-dimensionally preserved skull,” Dr Sacks said.

“This allowed us to perform CT scans of the specimens, which allowed us to learn a lot about the internal structure of these marine crocodiles.”

“The incredible state of preservation has even allowed us to reconstruct the animal’s internal cavity and inner ear.”

Enarioetes schroederi gives paleontologists new insight into how metriorhynchidae evolved during the Cretaceous period.

“During the Jurassic period, metriorhynchids evolved a body plan that was radically different to other crocodiles, with fins, tails, loss of bony armour and smooth skin without scales,” said Dr Mark Young, a palaeontologist at the University of Edinburgh.

“These changes were increasingly adapted to a marine life.”

“Enarioetes schroederi This trend continues into the Cretaceous. Enarioetes schroederi It has larger eyes than other metriorhynchids (which are already large by crocodile standards) and its bony inner ear is more compact than other metriorhynchids. Enarioetes schroederi I probably could have swum faster.”

Discovery Enarioetes schroederi has been reported paper of Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.

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Sven Sachs others 2024. A new genus of metriorhynchid crocodile from the Lower Cretaceous of Germany. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 22 (1): 2359946; doi: 10.1080/14772019.2024.2359946

Source: www.sci.news

A diminutive individual from Germany

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The newly discovered species, estimated to weigh about 10 kg, Bronius Manfredschmidyis the smallest known hominid.

Danubius GuggenmosThis ape lived in what is now Germany about 12 million years ago (Miocene epoch). Image courtesy of Velizar Simeonovski.

Bronius Manfredschmidy It lived 11.6 million years ago during the Late Miocene in what is now Bavaria, Germany.

This primate fossil is Hammerschmiedewhich is best known for the exceptional fossils of a previously known species, the hominidae. Danubius Guggenmos.

“Miocene hominoid remains became increasingly common in Europe from the Late Miocene onwards, shortly after becoming rare in Africa,” said Dr Madeleine Boehme from the University of Tübingen and her colleagues.

“Despite their frequency, abundance and, in three cases (Can Lobatelles, Hammerschmiede and Rudabánya), the exceptional abundance of well-preserved hominoid fossils, no European site has ever yielded more than one hominoid taxon.”

Bronius Manfredschmidy It is represented by the partial remains of two teeth and a patella, which differ from the others in size and shape. Danubius Guggenmos and all other known apes.

“The teeth and patella Bronius Manfredschmidy “Its size is close to that of a thylacine, so its weight is estimated to be around 10 kilograms,” the paleontologist said.

“in contrast, Danubius Guggemossi Regression analysis from multiple measurements of the femur and tibia allows for a calculated weight range of 17-31 kg, and using alternative reconstruction methods, 14.5-46.3 kg.”

Based on the fossil structure, the researchers speculate: Bronius Manfredschmidy They fed on soft foods such as leaves and were expert climbers.

These characteristics suggest that the new species had a lifestyle distinct from other species. Danubius Guggenmosare larger bodied species that feed on tougher foods.

“Enamel is Bronius Manfredschmidy “It is thinner than other European apes and more comparable to gorillas,” Dr Boehme said.

“Enamel is Danubius GuggenmosOn the other hand, the teeth are thicker than those of all related extinct species, nearly reaching the thickness of human enamel.”

“Variations in enamel thickness correspond to the shape of the chewing surface.”

” Bronius Manfredschmidy The enamel is smoother and has a stronger cutting edge. Danubius Guggenmos The teeth are jagged and have blunt tips.”

“this is, Bronius Manfredschmidy Eat the leaves Danubius Guggenmos He was an omnivore.”

These differences may have allowed the two species to share habitat without competing for resources, similar to modern gibbons and orangutans that share the same habitat in Borneo and Sumatra.

This is the first known example of a Miocene fossil site in Europe containing multiple ancient ape species, but the scientists suggest that further examples of this coexistence behaviour may be discovered by re-examining other similar sites.

“A new great ape from Hammerschmiede, Bronius Manfredschmidy“Weighting approximately 10 kg, this dinosaur is not only the smallest known crowned ape but also provides the first example of human symbiosis in Europe,” the authors say.

“Eat the leaves Bronius Manfredschmidy They shared their habitat with omnivorous, bipedal apes Danubius Guggenmos. “

Discovery Bronius Manfredschmidy It has been reported paper In the journal PLoS One.

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M. Boehme others. 2024. Bronius Manfredschmidy – A new miniature hominoid discovered from the early Late Miocene of Hammerschmiede (Bavaria, Germany). PLoS One 19(6):e0301002; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0301002

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of a new species of plesiosaur in Germany

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A new genus and species of plesiosaur that lived near the beginning of the Epoch Epoch. Early to mid-Jurassic sales It was identified from two elaborate three-dimensionally preserved skeletons discovered in Bavaria, Germany.

rebuilding the life of Franconiasaurus brevispinus. Image credit: Joschua Knüppe.

Franconiasaurus brevispinus It lived in the early Jurassic seas about 175 million years ago.

The ancient reptile was a member of plesiosaurinaea group of plesiosaurs known from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

“Plesiosaurs are Mesozoic reptiles perfectly adapted to aquatic life.” sven sachs From the Bielefeld Nature Museum and colleagues.

“Throughout an evolutionary history of more than 140 million years, plesiosaurs have dispersed throughout the world, acquired substantial diversity, occupied a variety of ecological niches, and experienced multiple faunal shifts. did.”

“Of these, the Early/Middle Jurassic transition event (175 to 171 million years ago) has received increased interest recently, as it apparently had a profound impact on all three major lineages of plesiosaurs. I am. Romareosauridae, Pliosauridae and plesiosaurinae. ”

“This event clearly had a significant impact on several clades of marine tetrapods, including the 'fish-like' ichthyosaurs, which are relatives of marine crocodiles.Taratoskian), as well as all three major lineages of plesiosaurs. ”

“The predatory plesiosaur clade Romareosauridae, which was dominant in the Early Jurassic seas, began to disappear and reached its final demise around 161.5 million years ago (late Middle Jurassic), while the pliosaurids and chief… The dragon family has become more diverse.”

“Pliosaurs established a successful clade of large predators that controlled the upper layers of marine ecosystems from 171 million years ago to 90 million years ago, making them one of the largest aquatic predators to ever live. It consisted of a predatory quadrupedal animal that was over 10 meters long.

“Plesiosaurs were then derived from the rich assemblages of microclades common in the European euoceanic waters of Toarchia to the cryptocliids, which represented the globally dominant plesiosaur component of the Middle and Late Jurassic. Switched to fauna. Leptocraidian and elasmosaurids Close to the transition period from the Jurassic to the Cretaceous. ”

Diagnostic skeletal elements of type specimens Franconiasaurus brevispinus.Image credit: Sax other., doi: 10.3389/feart.2024.1341470.

two fossilized skeletons Franconiasaurus brevispinus It was discovered in a now abandoned clay pit in a part of the eurensis melgel layerlocated in Mistelgau, Bavaria, Germany.

“Franconiasaurus brevispinus has been established on the basis of two exquisite three-dimensionally preserved specimens,” said the paleontologist.

“The holotype contains a nearly complete skeleton, but a large portion of the skull is missing.”

“The specimen mentioned represents a larger individual and consists of vertebrae, ribs, and some girdle and limb elements.”

Franconiasaurus brevispinus shows a mixture of characters that combines features that are almost uniformly distributed in early plesiosaurs with features that are typically observed in later members of the clade.

“Through systematic analysis, we can reliably Franconiasaurus brevispinus as a sister taxon of Cryptocridiabridging the evolutionary gap between early plesiosaurs such as plesiosaurus“They are representative forms of later-divergent clades such as cryptocliids, leptochleidians, elasmosaurids, and microclades,” the researchers concluded.

their paper Published in an online journal Frontiers of Earth Science.

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sven sachs other. 2024. Elaborate skeleton of new transitional plesiosaur fills a gap in plesiosaur evolutionary history. front.earth science 12; doi: 10.3389/feart.2024.1341470

Source: www.sci.news

Google Addressing Antitrust Concerns in Germany Regarding Bundled Car Services

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The move follows a competitive objection filed against Google in Germany this summer over the bundling of Google Maps and other services through its Android-based in-vehicle infotainment system software, known as Google Automotive Services (GAS). The tech giant will eliminate some service bundling and contractual restrictions that apply to automakers to resolve regulatory intervention.

Google’s proposed remedies will be applied to the automaker in a market test by Germany’s competition regulator, which will then determine whether it resolves the problems it has identified.

Back in June, this country’s Federal Cartel Office (FCO) sends statement of objection He spoke to tech giants about how to operate GAS, specifically referring to the Google Maps, Google Play, and Google Assistant bundles that Google offers automakers.

The statement also highlighted Google’s practice of giving a portion of its advertising revenue to automakers only if they refrain from pre-installing other voice assistants next to their voice AI. Another concern raised by the FCO is that Google requires GAS license holders to set bundled services as default or prominently display them. It also took issue with Google’s refusal to restrict or allow interoperability of services included in GAS with third-party services.

At the time, the FCO said its preliminary view of Google’s practices around GAS was that they did not comply with German competition rules for large digital companies. This would give the FCO greater freedom to intervene where it suspects competition is being undermined.

“In particular, we are critical of Google’s ability to offer its services for infotainment systems only as a bundle. This reduces the opportunity for competitors to sell competing services as individual services. body,” the FCO said in the summer.

Regulators said they will now carefully consider Google’s proposal to determine whether an appropriate level of separation of its services from in-vehicle infotainment platforms would address competition concerns.

“We are particularly concerned about the forced bundling of the reach of services with significant market power with those with less power. “This is particularly problematic as a way to ‘infiltrate’ the market,” said FCO Chairman Andreas Mundt. press release Google is expected to announce its proposal on Wednesday. “It may reduce the opportunity for our competitors to sell competing services. We will now look very closely at whether Google’s proposal can effectively eliminate the practices that raised our concerns.” ”

Google’s proposed remedy to address the FCO’s competition concerns provides three products separately in addition to the GAS product bundle: Google Maps OEM Software Development Kit, Google Play Store, and Cloud Custom Assistant. This means that automakers will be able to: Develop mapping and navigation services with functionality comparable to Google Maps.

The addition of Google Play Store also allows end users to download a wider selection of third-party apps, alleviating concerns that they will be steered toward using Google’s own apps. Cloud Custom Assistant is described as a “proprietary AI voice assistant solution” for use in vehicles to enable automakers to offer competitive assistants.

The tech giant is also proposing to remove contractual clauses it imposes on advertising revenue sharing provided its proprietary Google Assistant voice AI is exclusively pre-installed on the GAS infotainment platform. .

“Google is also prepared to remove contractual provisions relating to setting Google services as a default application or displaying them prominently on infotainment platforms,” ​​the FCO said. “Finally, Google stands ready to enable licensees to combine the Google Assistant service with other mapping and navigation services and provide the technical prerequisites to create the necessary interoperability.”

“Based on the results of market testing, federal cartel ramt [FCO] It will be determined whether Google’s proposal generally addresses concerns that have been addressed to date. The question of whether Google’s proposal amounts to a bundled offering of Google’s services in the automotive sector will become decisive in this context.”

Google was asked for comment on the proposal.

The technology giant’s business was placed under Germany’s Special Competition Abuse Regulation Regime in January 2022. Since then, the FCO has extracted a number of concessions from the company over how it operates, including securing an agreement on Google’s data reform this autumn. Under the terms, users will be able to gives you more choice in how you can use your information. Last year, Google also proposed limiting how news content it licenses from third-party publishers appears in search results to address regulators’ concerns about self-preference.

Germany’s digital competition restart applies only to designated high-tech giants within the market, but companies may choose to apply product changes globally to manage operational complexity (For example, by launching a new account center, as Meta did this summer, users are opting out of cross-site tracking after the FCO intervened, and the company plans to roll this out globally.) announced).

The European Union has also recently implemented its own pre-competition reforms in the form of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) targeting so-called internet gatekeepers. The FCO’s enforcement against Big Tech therefore raises the possibility of what action will be taken across the bloc next year, when compliance deadlines for the six targeted his DMA gatekeepers and their 22 core platform services begin next year. You can get a glimpse of what’s going on. This list includes Google Maps, Google Play, Google Shopping, Google Ads, Google Chrome, Google Android, Google Search, and YouTube, the Google-owned video sharing platform.

Notably, the EU has not designated GAS as a core platform service. This may partly explain the FCO’s focus on GAS here, as competition regulators across the region seek to avoid duplication of intervention. (Germany’s status as a major automaker may also facilitate scrutiny of Google’s automotive software and services.)

The FCO also began proceedings on Google Maps in June 2022, some time before the DMA was approved by the bloc’s co-members.

On the other hand, the pan-EU regulation began to be applied in May 2023. However, the deadline for DMA gatekeepers to comply is March 2, 2024, so a full restart of Big Tech competition across the EU will not occur until then. next year. This may be enough reason for the FCO to continue monitoring Google Maps for some time. (In this regard, the German regulatory authorities also Said The EU will continue to “cooperate closely” with EU competition authorities on regulating the digital economy.

As of June 2023, the FCO has announced that it will continue to investigate Google’s terms of use for the Google Maps Platform (GMP), and in a preliminary assessment, the tech giant will end restrictions on combining its own GMP mapping services. Use a third party map service that you mentioned you need to type.

“These restrictions could hinder competition between applications relating to mapping services used by, for example, logistics, transport and delivery service providers,” the FCO said at the time. “It could also negatively impact competition among services for vehicle infotainment systems by making it more difficult for map service providers to develop effective alternatives to Google Maps.”

Ex-ante competition law reforms in Germany and across the EU are aimed at curbing fraudulent practices by digital giants that could further consolidate their vast market power, and European regulators are looking to move ahead with these more aggressive reforms. We hope that such interventions will have a better effect on correcting the imbalances in the digital economy. The implementation of a classic competition could be achieved. (A related example of classic enforcement is the 123 million fine that Italy’s competition watchdog imposed on Google in May 2021 over restrictions it applied to third-party app makers via its Android Auto in-car software.) There is a dollar fine.)

Source: techcrunch.com