Tag Archives: spikes

Armored Dinosaur’s “Crazy” Spikes: Beyond Just Defense

Posted on by
Reply

Reconstructing the life of Spicomellus Afer – Fossils of ankylosaurus discovered in Morocco

Matthew Dempsey

The dinosaur fossils unearthed in Morocco may represent some of the most bizarre and intricately armored vertebrates to have roamed the Earth.

The initial discover of Spicomellus Afer in Morocco was reported in 2021. This suggests that it comprises only rib bone fragments, adorned with fused spikes, from a group of dinosaurs categorized as Ankylosaurs. These herbivorous dinosaurs with stout bodies are known for their protective plates and spiked coverings.

In October 2022, farmers in the Badlands of the Middle Atlas Mountains began to uncover a much more complete Spicomellus skeleton. This fossil has been dated back to approximately 165 million years ago during the Jurassic period, suggesting that the creature may have reached lengths of about 4 meters and weighed as much as 2 tons.

Like modern crocodiles, armored dinosaurs such as Stegosaurs and Ankylosaurs possessed osteoderms—bony plates embedded within their skin. However, in the case of Spicomellus, its fossil reveals two distinct types of bone structures: the bony skin and spikes are fused together.

“This is unprecedented among armored dinosaurs, and indeed among any species with bony skin, making it totally astonishing,” remarked Susanna Maidment, a member of the team analyzing these fossils at the Natural History Museum in London.

Overall, the Spicomellus specimen boasts numerous armored spikes that cover nearly its entire body. Spikes attached to the neck region can measure around 1 meter in length. Additionally, fused vertebrae in the tail suggest it could serve as a potent weapon.

The creature’s peculiar attributes led Maidment to conclude that extreme descriptors were warranted in their explanations. “In scientific literature, phrases like ‘crazy’ are not acceptable. I opted for more elaborate language,” she noted. “One of my colleagues suggested that referring to its anomaly as ‘baroque’ could also be fitting for our research.”

This extreme form of armor would likely hinder the species’ movement through various environments, leading it to inhabit areas dense with vegetation, according to Maidment. “It would have been quite cumbersome,” she added.

Given the complexity of its armor, researchers speculate it served purposes beyond mere defense, potentially playing a role in mate attraction. “Elements that seem entirely extraordinary in the fossil record are often connected to reproduction, and I believe this complex armor was likely some form of display,” she concluded.

Dinosaur hunting in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia

Join an exhilarating and unique expedition that explores the fossil remains of dinosaurs amidst the vast wilderness of the Gobi Desert, one of the world’s most renowned paleontological sites.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

After Spike’s Review: A Controversial New Book Argues for Persuading People to Increase Birth Rates

Posted on by
Reply
Stadium crowd

A large population can drive innovation and economies of scale

Philippe Montigny/Istockphoto/Getty Images


After the Spikes

Dean Spears and Michael Geruso (Bodley Head (UK); Simon & Schuster (US))

Current estimates suggest that four-fifths of all humans who will ever be born have already come into existence. The global number of births peaked at 146 million in 2012 and has been on a decline ever since, indicating that the world population is set to peak and decrease by the 2080s.

This decrease won’t be gradual. Fertility rates are already below replacement level in several nations, including China and India, leading to a rapid decline in population as quickly as it rose. This new controversial book argues that the planet could hold fewer than two billion people in the coming centuries.

“There’s no scenario where individuals worldwide are likely to opt for fewer children than required to replace themselves, leading to a drastic population reduction,” assert economists Dean Spears and Michael Geruso in After the Spike: Risks of Global Depopulation and Cases for People.

You might consider this a positive development. Could it help alleviate pressing environmental challenges? Not according to the authors. They assert that while population size does hold significance, adjusting other factors, such as the speed of global warming, is even more critical. The chance to lessen our carbon footprint through population reduction has mostly passed.

Spears and Geruso highlight numerous advantages of a large population. More individuals can lead to greater innovation and economies of scale, making technologies like smartphones feasible. “The abundance of neighbors enhances our potential,” they state.

Thus, their perspective is not about reducing the global population but rather stabilizing it. The challenge lies in the fact that even with the right political determination, the path to achieve this is unclear.

As we become more affluent, we are increasingly hesitant to give up career and leisure opportunities for parenthood.

The authors contend that while some government strategies may yield short-term results, no country has sustainably altered long-term demographic trends. Consider China’s one-child policy—it is often credited with curtailing population growth but did it genuinely do so? Spears and Geruso present ambiguous data on China’s population in relation to its neighbors before, during, and after these policies were enacted, raising the question of discernible differences based on their observations.

Efforts to reverse the declining fertility rates have also faced failure, they argue. In Romania, after the ban on abortion in 1966, birth rates surged but soon declined again. Sweden’s approach has been to incentivize through subsidies for childcare, yet its fertility rates remain below replacement level.

Attempts to boost fertility with financial incentives are likely doomed to fail, according to Spears and Geruso. While some claim that they would have more children if financial means allowed, the reality is that as people gain wealth, the tendency to have fewer children increases.

The focus should be on addressing what individuals need to balance rather than simply financial capability, according to the authors. As affluence grows, there is a reluctance to sacrifice careers and leisure for childbearing. Even technological advancements are not expected to change this trajectory, they conclude.

This book presents an unwaveringly optimistic viewpoint regarding many issues, but it acknowledges the complexity of stabilizing population levels. It effectively demonstrates that dire predictions of widespread famine with population growth have proven incorrect and suggests long-term trends toward healthier, longer lives remain possible. “Fears of a depleted, overpopulated future are outdated,” they argue.

But is that truly the case? Spears and Geruso also emphasize that food prices play a key role in determining hunger levels, yet it’s worth noting that food prices are presently rising as a consequence of escalating climate change. For a substantial portion of the population, uncertainty persists regarding whether conditions will continue to improve.

This book is undoubtedly provocative and may not provide an easy read, as Spears and Geruso delve into their primary assertions. However, if you believe that understanding the impact of a declining population is simple, and if you consider it a positive trend, this book is essential reading.

New Scientist Book Club

Do you enjoy reading? Join a welcoming community of fellow book enthusiasts. Every six weeks, we explore exciting new titles, with members receiving exclusive access to book excerpts, author insights, and video interviews.

Topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Research Reveals That 14,350 Years Ago, the Most Powerful Known Solar Storm Triggered Radiocarbon Spikes

Posted on by
Reply

Solar particle events from the sun are infrequent but powerful, significantly influencing the creation of cosmic genic isotopes. For instance, radiocarbon (14c) in the terrestrial environment leaves a distinct mark on natural archives, such as dating artifacts. Over the last 12,000 years, eight such events have been identified, the most notable occurring in 775 AD. Recently, a candidate for a new extreme solar particle event was discovered, marked by the largest known radiocarbon peak dating back to 12350 BC. A recent study indicates this event was 18% more intense than the 775 CE event and likely transpired between January and April of that year, with early March being the most probable time frame.

Illustration of the artist of Solar Storm. Image credit: NASA.

“Solar particle storms significantly enhance the natural production of cosmic isotopes, such as radiocarbon, in the atmosphere due to cosmic rays from galaxies,” stated Kseniia Golubenko, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oulu, along with her colleagues.

“Such enhancements, preserved in annual tree rings, act as clear timestamps in the universe, enabling absolute dating of tree samples.”

“These dramatic spikes, referred to as Miyake Events, are named after the Japanese researcher who first identified them. They provide crucial data for scientists examining solar activity, ancient Earth systems, and space climate.”

“Miyake events help us pinpoint the exact calendar year of floating archaeological timelines,” added Professor Ilya Usoskin from Oulu University.

“The radiocarbon signals from such events have enabled researchers to accurately date Viking settlements in Newfoundland and Neolithic communities in Greece.”

For the reconstruction of solar particle storms under ancient glacial climate conditions, the authors developed and utilized a new chemical climate model called SOCOL:14C-EX.

This model was successfully validated using tree ring data from the 775 CE event and applied to ice age conditions to analyze the event from 12350 BC.

“The ancient events of 12350 BC are the only known extreme solar particle occurrences aside from the stable warm climate of the last 12,000 years,” Dr. Golubenko stated.

“Our estimates reveal that, compared to the largest events of the modern satellite era, the Particle Storm of 2005 was over 500 times weaker.”

“Other documented solar particle storms took place in 994 BC, 663 BC, 5259 BC, and 7176 BC, with several more candidates currently under investigation.”

“The 12350 BCE occurrence also establishes new worst-case scenarios,” she added.

“Understanding its magnitude is vital for assessing the risks posed by future solar storms.”

The team’s paper was published in the journal Earth and Planet Science Letters.

____

Kseniia Golubenko et al. 2025. The new SOCOL:14C-EX model reveals that radiocarbon spikes from the late glacial age of 12350 BC were caused by record extreme solar storms. Earth and Planet Science Letters 661:119383; doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2025.119383

Source: www.sci.news