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2025-05-14 01:56:23 ·

Could Earth Develop Its Own Consciousness? The Gaia Hypothesis Offers an Unorthodox Answer
Earth has been home to life for billions of years, but could the planet itself be considered a living thing? Most people simply think of Earth as a giant rock — one with the perfect conditions to nurture life as we know it today, from animals and plants to microscopic bacteria.
But English environmental scientist James Lovelock thought differently. Departing from traditional scholarly views, Lovelock collaborated with American evolutionary biologist Lynn Margulis in the 1970s to develop a new perspective called the Gaia hypothesis.
This idea frames Earth as a living system in which all organisms influence the surrounding environment to maintain homeostasis (in other words, stability).
Although the hypothesis remains highly controversial to this day, it has broadened scientific dialogue about the identity of our planet. The Gaia HypothesisIn formulating the Gaia hypothesis, Lovelock took inspiration from ancient Greek mythology.
Gaia, the Greek goddess of Earth, was worshipped as the mother of all creation. In a chapter of the 1988 book “Biodiversity,” Lovelock insinuates that the idea of a living Earth is deep-rooted in humankind, but was largely lost in the scientific community after the 19th century. The Gaia hypothesis revived this buried idea, proposing that Earth is a whole living entity, essentially a superorganism composed of many parts acting in synergy (much like an ant or bee colony).
Earth lives and breathes, Lovelock suggested, by way of closed feedback loops that balance the planet’s conditions and keep them favorable for life. By this hypothesis, organisms are said to facilitate processes that regulate things like atmospheric temperature and ocean salinity, for example.
Criticisms Against the Gaia HypothesisMost criticisms that initially surfaced from opponents of the hypothesis asserted that Earth and living organisms could not be acting to support the planet consciously, with an intentional goal in mind.
Staunch proponents of Darwinism didn’t believe that organisms could “reach a common good by natural selection and that natural selection cannot act on the whole planet,” in the words of a 2021 EarthArXiv preprint paper.Others argued that the hypothesis was more of a metaphor, since it couldn’t be tested for validity.
Scientists debated the Gaia hypothesis over the course of four Gaia conferences, trying to resolve disagreements. In the second Gaia conference, held in 1988, Lovelock responded to criticism by developing a mathematical model called Daisyworld.
Here, a hypothetical planet modeled after Earth contains two types of daisies: black daisies that absorb light and warm the planet, and white daisies that reflect light and cool the planet.
The model suggests that the daisies stabilize the climate in a way that allows the planet to maintain an optimal temperature for both types to live. Daisyworld would not silence critics entirely, as they would continue to find issues with the lack of additional contributing factors that could affect life and cause the system to become unstable.
For example, a system could have “cheaters” — selfish organisms that don’t work toward a planet’s stability. Making Our Planet More IntelligentEarth may not be alive in the traditional sense, but does it have a mind of its own? Scientists pondered this question in a 2022 study published in the International Journal of Astrobiology.Partially inspired by the Gaia hypothesis, researchers presented the concept of planetary intelligence, explaining how collective activity can create a self-sustaining system on Earth.
The study states that the planet is currently in a stage called the “immature technosphere,” in which technology has not yet been fully implemented to drive Earth’s systems.
Right now, we’re still exhausting natural resources like fossil fuels without benefiting the planet in return. Eventually, though, we may unlock the next stage of planetary intelligence, what the researchers call the “mature technosphere." This would require technology to directly support Earth’s well-being without inflicting negative impacts.
Although there is no telling when we would reach this point, the researchers say making Earth more intelligent with technology could help in the fight against climate change.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards.
Review the sources used below for this article:Biodiversity.
The Earth as a Living OrganismEncyclopedia of Ecology.
Gaia HypothesisReview of Geophysics.
Daisyworld: A reviewInternational Journal of Astrobiology.
Intelligence as a planetary scale processJack Knudson is an assistant editor at Discover with a strong interest in environmental science and history.
Before joining Discover in 2023, he studied journalism at the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University and previously interned at Recycling Today magazine.
Source: https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/could-earth-develop-its-own-consciousness-the-gaia-hypothesis-offers-an" style="color: #0066cc;">https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/could-earth-develop-its-own-consciousness-the-gaia-hypothesis-offers-an
#could #earth #develop #its #own #consciousness #the #gaia #hypothesis #offers #unorthodox #answer

Could Earth Develop Its Own Consciousness? The Gaia Hypothesis Offers an Unorthodox Answer
Earth has been home to life for billions of years, but could the planet itself be considered a living thing? Most people simply think of Earth as a giant rock — one with the perfect conditions to nurture life as we know it today, from animals and plants to microscopic bacteria. But English environmental scientist James Lovelock thought differently. Departing from traditional scholarly views, Lovelock collaborated with American evolutionary biologist Lynn Margulis in the 1970s to develop a new perspective called the Gaia hypothesis. This idea frames Earth as a living system in which all organisms influence the surrounding environment to maintain homeostasis (in other words, stability). Although the hypothesis remains highly controversial to this day, it has broadened scientific dialogue about the identity of our planet. The Gaia HypothesisIn formulating the Gaia hypothesis, Lovelock took inspiration from ancient Greek mythology. Gaia, the Greek goddess of Earth, was worshipped as the mother of all creation. In a chapter of the 1988 book “Biodiversity,” Lovelock insinuates that the idea of a living Earth is deep-rooted in humankind, but was largely lost in the scientific community after the 19th century. The Gaia hypothesis revived this buried idea, proposing that Earth is a whole living entity, essentially a superorganism composed of many parts acting in synergy (much like an ant or bee colony). Earth lives and breathes, Lovelock suggested, by way of closed feedback loops that balance the planet’s conditions and keep them favorable for life. By this hypothesis, organisms are said to facilitate processes that regulate things like atmospheric temperature and ocean salinity, for example. Criticisms Against the Gaia HypothesisMost criticisms that initially surfaced from opponents of the hypothesis asserted that Earth and living organisms could not be acting to support the planet consciously, with an intentional goal in mind. Staunch proponents of Darwinism didn’t believe that organisms could “reach a common good by natural selection and that natural selection cannot act on the whole planet,” in the words of a 2021 EarthArXiv preprint paper.Others argued that the hypothesis was more of a metaphor, since it couldn’t be tested for validity. Scientists debated the Gaia hypothesis over the course of four Gaia conferences, trying to resolve disagreements. In the second Gaia conference, held in 1988, Lovelock responded to criticism by developing a mathematical model called Daisyworld. Here, a hypothetical planet modeled after Earth contains two types of daisies: black daisies that absorb light and warm the planet, and white daisies that reflect light and cool the planet. The model suggests that the daisies stabilize the climate in a way that allows the planet to maintain an optimal temperature for both types to live. Daisyworld would not silence critics entirely, as they would continue to find issues with the lack of additional contributing factors that could affect life and cause the system to become unstable. For example, a system could have “cheaters” — selfish organisms that don’t work toward a planet’s stability. Making Our Planet More IntelligentEarth may not be alive in the traditional sense, but does it have a mind of its own? Scientists pondered this question in a 2022 study published in the International Journal of Astrobiology.Partially inspired by the Gaia hypothesis, researchers presented the concept of planetary intelligence, explaining how collective activity can create a self-sustaining system on Earth. The study states that the planet is currently in a stage called the “immature technosphere,” in which technology has not yet been fully implemented to drive Earth’s systems. Right now, we’re still exhausting natural resources like fossil fuels without benefiting the planet in return. Eventually, though, we may unlock the next stage of planetary intelligence, what the researchers call the “mature technosphere." This would require technology to directly support Earth’s well-being without inflicting negative impacts. Although there is no telling when we would reach this point, the researchers say making Earth more intelligent with technology could help in the fight against climate change.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Biodiversity. The Earth as a Living OrganismEncyclopedia of Ecology. Gaia HypothesisReview of Geophysics. Daisyworld: A reviewInternational Journal of Astrobiology. Intelligence as a planetary scale processJack Knudson is an assistant editor at Discover with a strong interest in environmental science and history. Before joining Discover in 2023, he studied journalism at the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University and previously interned at Recycling Today magazine. Source: https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/could-earth-develop-its-own-consciousness-the-gaia-hypothesis-offers-an #could #earth #develop #its #own #consciousness #the #gaia #hypothesis #offers #unorthodox #answer

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Could Earth Develop Its Own Consciousness? The Gaia Hypothesis Offers an Unorthodox Answer

Earth has been home to life for billions of years, but could the planet itself be considered a living thing? Most people simply think of Earth as a giant rock — one with the perfect conditions to nurture life as we know it today, from animals and plants to microscopic bacteria. But English environmental scientist James Lovelock thought differently. Departing from traditional scholarly views, Lovelock collaborated with American evolutionary biologist Lynn Margulis in the 1970s to develop a new perspective called the Gaia hypothesis. This idea frames Earth as a living system in which all organisms influence the surrounding environment to maintain homeostasis (in other words, stability). Although the hypothesis remains highly controversial to this day, it has broadened scientific dialogue about the identity of our planet. The Gaia HypothesisIn formulating the Gaia hypothesis, Lovelock took inspiration from ancient Greek mythology. Gaia, the Greek goddess of Earth, was worshipped as the mother of all creation. In a chapter of the 1988 book “Biodiversity,” Lovelock insinuates that the idea of a living Earth is deep-rooted in humankind, but was largely lost in the scientific community after the 19th century. The Gaia hypothesis revived this buried idea, proposing that Earth is a whole living entity, essentially a superorganism composed of many parts acting in synergy (much like an ant or bee colony). Earth lives and breathes, Lovelock suggested, by way of closed feedback loops that balance the planet’s conditions and keep them favorable for life. By this hypothesis, organisms are said to facilitate processes that regulate things like atmospheric temperature and ocean salinity, for example. Criticisms Against the Gaia HypothesisMost criticisms that initially surfaced from opponents of the hypothesis asserted that Earth and living organisms could not be acting to support the planet consciously, with an intentional goal in mind. Staunch proponents of Darwinism didn’t believe that organisms could “reach a common good by natural selection and that natural selection cannot act on the whole planet,” in the words of a 2021 EarthArXiv preprint paper.Others argued that the hypothesis was more of a metaphor, since it couldn’t be tested for validity. Scientists debated the Gaia hypothesis over the course of four Gaia conferences, trying to resolve disagreements. In the second Gaia conference, held in 1988, Lovelock responded to criticism by developing a mathematical model called Daisyworld. Here, a hypothetical planet modeled after Earth contains two types of daisies: black daisies that absorb light and warm the planet, and white daisies that reflect light and cool the planet. The model suggests that the daisies stabilize the climate in a way that allows the planet to maintain an optimal temperature for both types to live. Daisyworld would not silence critics entirely, as they would continue to find issues with the lack of additional contributing factors that could affect life and cause the system to become unstable. For example, a system could have “cheaters” — selfish organisms that don’t work toward a planet’s stability. Making Our Planet More IntelligentEarth may not be alive in the traditional sense, but does it have a mind of its own? Scientists pondered this question in a 2022 study published in the International Journal of Astrobiology.Partially inspired by the Gaia hypothesis, researchers presented the concept of planetary intelligence, explaining how collective activity can create a self-sustaining system on Earth. The study states that the planet is currently in a stage called the “immature technosphere,” in which technology has not yet been fully implemented to drive Earth’s systems. Right now, we’re still exhausting natural resources like fossil fuels without benefiting the planet in return. Eventually, though, we may unlock the next stage of planetary intelligence, what the researchers call the “mature technosphere." This would require technology to directly support Earth’s well-being without inflicting negative impacts. Although there is no telling when we would reach this point, the researchers say making Earth more intelligent with technology could help in the fight against climate change.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Biodiversity. The Earth as a Living OrganismEncyclopedia of Ecology. Gaia HypothesisReview of Geophysics. Daisyworld: A reviewInternational Journal of Astrobiology. Intelligence as a planetary scale processJack Knudson is an assistant editor at Discover with a strong interest in environmental science and history. Before joining Discover in 2023, he studied journalism at the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University and previously interned at Recycling Today magazine.

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2025-05-13 22:56:38 ·

The Largest Mountain Range No One Has Seen Lives Under Antarctica's Ice Sheets
Underneath miles-deep ice sheets covering Antarctica lies the largest mountain range no one on Earth has ever seen.
Even though a few of its tallest points peek through in some places, relatively few people know of the entire range’s existence.However, geologists studying it have long argued about how and when these buried peaks were formed.
A team of geologists propose a new explanation in an article in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.“The ice conceals some of Earth’s most enigmatic features,” according to the paper.
One such feature is the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, which rises over 9,000 feet above sea level and is covered by about 10,000 feet of ice.
Its highest point is considered the coldest place on Earth.
The range is equivalent in size and shape to the Swiss alps.Creation of the Antarctica MountainsMany geologists think these features were created when multiple tectonic plates that include what is now known as Africa, South America, Australia, India, and Antarctica collided to create a supercontinent called Gondwana.
However, beyond that event, there is less agreement.“...the timing and three-dimensional structure of the collisional zone, known as the Kuunga Orogen, remain highly controversial,” according to the paper.The new study provides a bit more detail.
The authors propose that the tectonic plates collision first uplifted the Gamburtsev Mountains when they had ground together.
The tectonic collision then unleashed a flow of molten rock beneath the mountains.
As that molten layer became hotter and thicker, the mountains above it collapsed under their own weight.
The base of the mountains now rest upon the Earth’s mantle, the layer beneath the planet’s crust.Rock Beneath the Ice SheetThe geologists tracked this massive activity by looking at tiny objects — zircon grains deposited by rivers flowing from the mountains more than 250 million years ago.
These grains act as geologic timers, because they contain uranium, which decays at a rate scientists can use to measure their age.According to the grains found at various points of the range, the mountains begin their rise about 650 million years ago, reached Himalayan heights by 580 million years ago, then completed their sinking by about 500 million years ago.
A massive layer of ice has covered them since, making them one of the best preserved mountain ranges on the planet, because the ice shields them from the erosion that wears down more exposed mountains.The scientists could learn more about the range’s composition by drilling through the ice to extract rock samples.
However, that is a long and expensive process.
They are now looking at exposed rocks from Antarctica’s east coast to get a hint of what kinds of rock might lie beneath the massive ice sheet.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards.
Review the sources used below for this article:Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
Gondwanan continental collision drives gravitational spreading and collapse of the ancestral East Antarctic mountainsBefore joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S.
life science policy and global scientific career issues.
He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines.
His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.
Source: https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-largest-mountain-range-no-one-has-seen-lives-under-antarcticas-ice" style="color: #0066cc;">https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-largest-mountain-range-no-one-has-seen-lives-under-antarcticas-ice
#the #largest #mountain #range #one #has #seen #lives #under #antarctica039s #ice #sheets

The Largest Mountain Range No One Has Seen Lives Under Antarctica's Ice Sheets
Underneath miles-deep ice sheets covering Antarctica lies the largest mountain range no one on Earth has ever seen. Even though a few of its tallest points peek through in some places, relatively few people know of the entire range’s existence.However, geologists studying it have long argued about how and when these buried peaks were formed. A team of geologists propose a new explanation in an article in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.“The ice conceals some of Earth’s most enigmatic features,” according to the paper. One such feature is the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, which rises over 9,000 feet above sea level and is covered by about 10,000 feet of ice. Its highest point is considered the coldest place on Earth. The range is equivalent in size and shape to the Swiss alps.Creation of the Antarctica MountainsMany geologists think these features were created when multiple tectonic plates that include what is now known as Africa, South America, Australia, India, and Antarctica collided to create a supercontinent called Gondwana. However, beyond that event, there is less agreement.“...the timing and three-dimensional structure of the collisional zone, known as the Kuunga Orogen, remain highly controversial,” according to the paper.The new study provides a bit more detail. The authors propose that the tectonic plates collision first uplifted the Gamburtsev Mountains when they had ground together. The tectonic collision then unleashed a flow of molten rock beneath the mountains. As that molten layer became hotter and thicker, the mountains above it collapsed under their own weight. The base of the mountains now rest upon the Earth’s mantle, the layer beneath the planet’s crust.Rock Beneath the Ice SheetThe geologists tracked this massive activity by looking at tiny objects — zircon grains deposited by rivers flowing from the mountains more than 250 million years ago. These grains act as geologic timers, because they contain uranium, which decays at a rate scientists can use to measure their age.According to the grains found at various points of the range, the mountains begin their rise about 650 million years ago, reached Himalayan heights by 580 million years ago, then completed their sinking by about 500 million years ago. A massive layer of ice has covered them since, making them one of the best preserved mountain ranges on the planet, because the ice shields them from the erosion that wears down more exposed mountains.The scientists could learn more about the range’s composition by drilling through the ice to extract rock samples. However, that is a long and expensive process. They are now looking at exposed rocks from Antarctica’s east coast to get a hint of what kinds of rock might lie beneath the massive ice sheet.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Earth and Planetary Science Letters. Gondwanan continental collision drives gravitational spreading and collapse of the ancestral East Antarctic mountainsBefore joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines. His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American. Source: https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-largest-mountain-range-no-one-has-seen-lives-under-antarcticas-ice #the #largest #mountain #range #one #has #seen #lives #under #antarctica039s #ice #sheets

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The Largest Mountain Range No One Has Seen Lives Under Antarctica's Ice Sheets

Underneath miles-deep ice sheets covering Antarctica lies the largest mountain range no one on Earth has ever seen. Even though a few of its tallest points peek through in some places, relatively few people know of the entire range’s existence.However, geologists studying it have long argued about how and when these buried peaks were formed. A team of geologists propose a new explanation in an article in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.“The ice conceals some of Earth’s most enigmatic features,” according to the paper. One such feature is the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains, which rises over 9,000 feet above sea level and is covered by about 10,000 feet of ice. Its highest point is considered the coldest place on Earth. The range is equivalent in size and shape to the Swiss alps.Creation of the Antarctica MountainsMany geologists think these features were created when multiple tectonic plates that include what is now known as Africa, South America, Australia, India, and Antarctica collided to create a supercontinent called Gondwana. However, beyond that event, there is less agreement.“...the timing and three-dimensional structure of the collisional zone, known as the Kuunga Orogen, remain highly controversial,” according to the paper.The new study provides a bit more detail. The authors propose that the tectonic plates collision first uplifted the Gamburtsev Mountains when they had ground together. The tectonic collision then unleashed a flow of molten rock beneath the mountains. As that molten layer became hotter and thicker, the mountains above it collapsed under their own weight. The base of the mountains now rest upon the Earth’s mantle, the layer beneath the planet’s crust.Rock Beneath the Ice SheetThe geologists tracked this massive activity by looking at tiny objects — zircon grains deposited by rivers flowing from the mountains more than 250 million years ago. These grains act as geologic timers, because they contain uranium, which decays at a rate scientists can use to measure their age.According to the grains found at various points of the range, the mountains begin their rise about 650 million years ago, reached Himalayan heights by 580 million years ago, then completed their sinking by about 500 million years ago. A massive layer of ice has covered them since, making them one of the best preserved mountain ranges on the planet, because the ice shields them from the erosion that wears down more exposed mountains.The scientists could learn more about the range’s composition by drilling through the ice to extract rock samples. However, that is a long and expensive process. They are now looking at exposed rocks from Antarctica’s east coast to get a hint of what kinds of rock might lie beneath the massive ice sheet.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Earth and Planetary Science Letters. Gondwanan continental collision drives gravitational spreading and collapse of the ancestral East Antarctic mountainsBefore joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines. His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.

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2025-05-13 14:55:16 ·

#333;">Ancient 300-foot-tall mud waves gave rise to Atlantic Ocean

Researchers reviewed ocean floor samples collected during the Deep Sea Drilling Project in 1975.
Credit: Deposit Photos / Oleg Dorokhin
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There was a time long ago when the Atlantic Ocean didn’t exist.
The general understanding among geologists is that the body of water originated between 83 to 113 million years ago, when South America and Africa split into their two respective continents to form the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway.
However, Earth’s marine history appears to require a multimillion-year revision thanks to a recent discovery roughly half a mile beneath the ocean floor.
The evidence is explored in a study published in the June edition of the journal Global and Planetary Change.
According to geologists at the UK’s Heriot Watt University, gigantic waves of mud and sand sediment about 250 miles off the coast of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa indicate the Atlantic Ocean actually formed around four million years earlier than previous estimates.
To understand just how intense all of this movement was, imagine waves that are about half a mile long and over 300 feet high.
“A whole field formed in one particular location to the west of the Guinea Plateau, just at the final ‘pinch-point’ of the separating continents of South America and Africa,” study co-author Uisdean Nicholson explained in a statement.
Nicholson and their colleagues initially came across these layers of mud waves after comparing seismic data with core samples collected from wells during the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) of 1975.
Five layers in particular were utilized to recreate the tectonic processes that broke apart the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana during the Mesozoic Era.
“One layer was particularly striking: it included vast fields of sediment waves and ‘contourite drifts’—mud mounds that form under strong bottom currents,” said Nicholson.
These waves initially formed as dense, salty water poured out from the newly created Equatorial Atlantic Gateway, “like a giant waterfall that formed below the ocean surface,” he added.
Just before the geologic event, huge salt deposits formed at the bottom of what is now the South Atlantic.
After the gateway opened, the underground mudfall occurred when dense, relatively fresh Central Atlantic water in the north combined with very salty waters in the south.
The resulting sedimentary evidence examined by the study’s authors now indicates this opening seems to have started closer to 117 million years ago.
“This was a really important time in Earth’s history when the climate went through some major changes,” explained study co-author Débora Duarte.
“Up until 117 million years ago, the Earth had been cooling for some time, with huge amounts of carbon being stored in the emerging basins, likely lakes, of the Equatorial Atlantic.
But then the climate warmed significantly from 117 to 110 million years ago.”
Duarte and Nicholson believe part of that major climatic change helped from the Atlantic Ocean, as seawater inundated the newly formed basins.
“As the gateway gradually opened, this initially reduced the efficiency of carbon burial, which would have had an important warming effect,” said Duarte.
“And eventually, a full Atlantic circulation system emerged as the gateway grew deeper and wider, and the climate began a period of long-term cooling during the Late Cretaceous period.”
The ramifications go beyond revising Earth’s geological timeline or the gateway’s role in Mesozoic climate change.
Better understanding the influence of oceanic evolutionary journeys on ancient climate patterns can help to predict what the future holds for the planet.
“Today’s ocean currents play a key role in regulating global temperatures,” explained Nicholson.
“Disruptions, such as those caused by melting ice caps, could have profound consequences.”

#666;">المصدر: https://www.popsci.com/environment/how-old-is-atlantic-ocean/" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration: none;">www.popsci.com
#0066cc;">#ancient #300foottall #mud #waves #gave #rise #atlantic #ocean #researchers #reviewed #floor #samples #collected #during #the #deep #sea #drilling #project #1975credit #deposit #photos #oleg #dorokhinget #popular #science #daily #newsletter #breakthroughs #discoveries #and #diy #tips #sent #every #weekdaythere #was #time #long #ago #when #didnt #existthe #general #understanding #among #geologists #that #body #water #originated #between #million #years #south #america #africa #split #into #their #two #respective #continents #form #equatorial #gatewayhowever #earths #marine #history #appears #require #multimillionyear #revision #thanks #recent #discovery #roughly #half #mile #beneath #floorthe #evidence #explored #study #published #june #edition #journal #global #planetary #changeaccording #uks #heriot #watt #university #gigantic #sand #sediment #about #miles #off #coast #guineabissau #west #indicate #actually #formed #around #four #earlier #than #previous #estimatesto #understand #just #how #intense #all #this #movement #imagine #are #over #feet #higha #whole #field #one #particular #location #guinea #plateau #final #pinchpoint #separating #coauthor #uisdean #nicholson #explained #statementnicholson #colleagues #initially #came #across #these #layers #after #comparing #seismic #data #with #core #from #wells #dsdp #1975five #were #utilized #recreate #tectonic #processes #broke #apart #supercontinent #gondwana #mesozoic #eraone #layer #particularly #striking #included #vast #fields #contourite #driftsmud #mounds #under #strong #bottom #currents #said #nicholsonthese #dense #salty #poured #out #newly #created #gateway #like #giant #waterfall #below #surface #addedjust #before #geologic #event #huge #salt #deposits #what #now #atlanticafter #opened #underground #mudfall #occurred #relatively #fresh #central #north #combined #very #waters #souththe #resulting #sedimentary #examined #studys #authors #indicates #opening #seems #have #started #closer #agothis #really #important #climate #went #through #some #major #changes #débora #duarteup #until #earth #had #been #cooling #for #amounts #carbon #being #stored #emerging #basins #likely #lakes #atlanticbut #then #warmed #significantly #agoduarte #believe #part #climatic #change #helped #seawater #inundated #basinsas #gradually #reduced #efficiency #burial #which #would #warming #effect #duarteand #eventually #full #circulation #system #emerged #grew #deeper #wider #began #period #longterm #late #cretaceous #periodthe #ramifications #beyond #revising #geological #timeline #gateways #role #changebetter #influence #oceanic #evolutionary #journeys #patterns #can #help #predict #future #holds #planettodays #play #key #regulating #temperatures #nicholsondisruptions #such #those #caused #melting #ice #caps #could #profound #consequences

Ancient 300-foot-tall mud waves gave rise to Atlantic Ocean
Researchers reviewed ocean floor samples collected during the Deep Sea Drilling Project in 1975. Credit: Deposit Photos / Oleg Dorokhin Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. There was a time long ago when the Atlantic Ocean didn’t exist. The general understanding among geologists is that the body of water originated between 83 to 113 million years ago, when South America and Africa split into their two respective continents to form the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway. However, Earth’s marine history appears to require a multimillion-year revision thanks to a recent discovery roughly half a mile beneath the ocean floor. The evidence is explored in a study published in the June edition of the journal Global and Planetary Change. According to geologists at the UK’s Heriot Watt University, gigantic waves of mud and sand sediment about 250 miles off the coast of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa indicate the Atlantic Ocean actually formed around four million years earlier than previous estimates. To understand just how intense all of this movement was, imagine waves that are about half a mile long and over 300 feet high. “A whole field formed in one particular location to the west of the Guinea Plateau, just at the final ‘pinch-point’ of the separating continents of South America and Africa,” study co-author Uisdean Nicholson explained in a statement. Nicholson and their colleagues initially came across these layers of mud waves after comparing seismic data with core samples collected from wells during the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) of 1975. Five layers in particular were utilized to recreate the tectonic processes that broke apart the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana during the Mesozoic Era. “One layer was particularly striking: it included vast fields of sediment waves and ‘contourite drifts’—mud mounds that form under strong bottom currents,” said Nicholson. These waves initially formed as dense, salty water poured out from the newly created Equatorial Atlantic Gateway, “like a giant waterfall that formed below the ocean surface,” he added. Just before the geologic event, huge salt deposits formed at the bottom of what is now the South Atlantic. After the gateway opened, the underground mudfall occurred when dense, relatively fresh Central Atlantic water in the north combined with very salty waters in the south. The resulting sedimentary evidence examined by the study’s authors now indicates this opening seems to have started closer to 117 million years ago. “This was a really important time in Earth’s history when the climate went through some major changes,” explained study co-author Débora Duarte. “Up until 117 million years ago, the Earth had been cooling for some time, with huge amounts of carbon being stored in the emerging basins, likely lakes, of the Equatorial Atlantic. But then the climate warmed significantly from 117 to 110 million years ago.” Duarte and Nicholson believe part of that major climatic change helped from the Atlantic Ocean, as seawater inundated the newly formed basins. “As the gateway gradually opened, this initially reduced the efficiency of carbon burial, which would have had an important warming effect,” said Duarte. “And eventually, a full Atlantic circulation system emerged as the gateway grew deeper and wider, and the climate began a period of long-term cooling during the Late Cretaceous period.” The ramifications go beyond revising Earth’s geological timeline or the gateway’s role in Mesozoic climate change. Better understanding the influence of oceanic evolutionary journeys on ancient climate patterns can help to predict what the future holds for the planet. “Today’s ocean currents play a key role in regulating global temperatures,” explained Nicholson. “Disruptions, such as those caused by melting ice caps, could have profound consequences.”
المصدر: www.popsci.com
#ancient #300foottall #mud #waves #gave #rise #atlantic #ocean #researchers #reviewed #floor #samples #collected #during #the #deep #sea #drilling #project #1975credit #deposit #photos #oleg #dorokhinget #popular #science #daily #newsletter #breakthroughs #discoveries #and #diy #tips #sent #every #weekdaythere #was #time #long #ago #when #didnt #existthe #general #understanding #among #geologists #that #body #water #originated #between #million #years #south #america #africa #split #into #their #two #respective #continents #form #equatorial #gatewayhowever #earths #marine #history #appears #require #multimillionyear #revision #thanks #recent #discovery #roughly #half #mile #beneath #floorthe #evidence #explored #study #published #june #edition #journal #global #planetary #changeaccording #uks #heriot #watt #university #gigantic #sand #sediment #about #miles #off #coast #guineabissau #west #indicate #actually #formed #around #four #earlier #than #previous #estimatesto #understand #just #how #intense #all #this #movement #imagine #are #over #feet #higha #whole #field #one #particular #location #guinea #plateau #final #pinchpoint #separating #coauthor #uisdean #nicholson #explained #statementnicholson #colleagues #initially #came #across #these #layers #after #comparing #seismic #data #with #core #from #wells #dsdp #1975five #were #utilized #recreate #tectonic #processes #broke #apart #supercontinent #gondwana #mesozoic #eraone #layer #particularly #striking #included #vast #fields #contourite #driftsmud #mounds #under #strong #bottom #currents #said #nicholsonthese #dense #salty #poured #out #newly #created #gateway #like #giant #waterfall #below #surface #addedjust #before #geologic #event #huge #salt #deposits #what #now #atlanticafter #opened #underground #mudfall #occurred #relatively #fresh #central #north #combined #very #waters #souththe #resulting #sedimentary #examined #studys #authors #indicates #opening #seems #have #started #closer #agothis #really #important #climate #went #through #some #major #changes #débora #duarteup #until #earth #had #been #cooling #for #amounts #carbon #being #stored #emerging #basins #likely #lakes #atlanticbut #then #warmed #significantly #agoduarte #believe #part #climatic #change #helped #seawater #inundated #basinsas #gradually #reduced #efficiency #burial #which #would #warming #effect #duarteand #eventually #full #circulation #system #emerged #grew #deeper #wider #began #period #longterm #late #cretaceous #periodthe #ramifications #beyond #revising #geological #timeline #gateways #role #changebetter #influence #oceanic #evolutionary #journeys #patterns #can #help #predict #future #holds #planettodays #play #key #regulating #temperatures #nicholsondisruptions #such #those #caused #melting #ice #caps #could #profound #consequences

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Ancient 300-foot-tall mud waves gave rise to Atlantic Ocean

Researchers reviewed ocean floor samples collected during the Deep Sea Drilling Project in 1975. Credit: Deposit Photos / Oleg Dorokhin Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. There was a time long ago when the Atlantic Ocean didn’t exist. The general understanding among geologists is that the body of water originated between 83 to 113 million years ago, when South America and Africa split into their two respective continents to form the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway. However, Earth’s marine history appears to require a multimillion-year revision thanks to a recent discovery roughly half a mile beneath the ocean floor. The evidence is explored in a study published in the June edition of the journal Global and Planetary Change. According to geologists at the UK’s Heriot Watt University, gigantic waves of mud and sand sediment about 250 miles off the coast of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa indicate the Atlantic Ocean actually formed around four million years earlier than previous estimates. To understand just how intense all of this movement was, imagine waves that are about half a mile long and over 300 feet high. “A whole field formed in one particular location to the west of the Guinea Plateau, just at the final ‘pinch-point’ of the separating continents of South America and Africa,” study co-author Uisdean Nicholson explained in a statement. Nicholson and their colleagues initially came across these layers of mud waves after comparing seismic data with core samples collected from wells during the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) of 1975. Five layers in particular were utilized to recreate the tectonic processes that broke apart the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana during the Mesozoic Era. “One layer was particularly striking: it included vast fields of sediment waves and ‘contourite drifts’—mud mounds that form under strong bottom currents,” said Nicholson. These waves initially formed as dense, salty water poured out from the newly created Equatorial Atlantic Gateway, “like a giant waterfall that formed below the ocean surface,” he added. Just before the geologic event, huge salt deposits formed at the bottom of what is now the South Atlantic. After the gateway opened, the underground mudfall occurred when dense, relatively fresh Central Atlantic water in the north combined with very salty waters in the south. The resulting sedimentary evidence examined by the study’s authors now indicates this opening seems to have started closer to 117 million years ago. “This was a really important time in Earth’s history when the climate went through some major changes,” explained study co-author Débora Duarte. “Up until 117 million years ago, the Earth had been cooling for some time, with huge amounts of carbon being stored in the emerging basins, likely lakes, of the Equatorial Atlantic. But then the climate warmed significantly from 117 to 110 million years ago.” Duarte and Nicholson believe part of that major climatic change helped from the Atlantic Ocean, as seawater inundated the newly formed basins. “As the gateway gradually opened, this initially reduced the efficiency of carbon burial, which would have had an important warming effect,” said Duarte. “And eventually, a full Atlantic circulation system emerged as the gateway grew deeper and wider, and the climate began a period of long-term cooling during the Late Cretaceous period.” The ramifications go beyond revising Earth’s geological timeline or the gateway’s role in Mesozoic climate change. Better understanding the influence of oceanic evolutionary journeys on ancient climate patterns can help to predict what the future holds for the planet. “Today’s ocean currents play a key role in regulating global temperatures,” explained Nicholson. “Disruptions, such as those caused by melting ice caps, could have profound consequences.”

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2025-05-13 14:55:01 ·

#333;">First Ever Pregnant Ichthyosaur from the Early Cretaceous Reveals Life in Prehistoric Seas
During an excavation, amidst the Patagonian winds and hard rock, a fossil began to turn green.
It was an unexpected reaction: the adhesive applied to protect the bones, fragile after millions of years beneath the ice, had interacted with plant matter trapped in the rock’s cracks.
This greenish hue earned the fossil the nickname Fiona, like the ogre from Shrek.But Fionais much more than a ogre-themed name.
It is the first complete ichthyosaur ever excavated in Chile and, even more remarkably, the only known pregnant female from the Hauterivian — a stage of the Early Cretaceous dating back 131 million years.
Her skeleton, discovered at the edge of the Tyndall Glacier in Torres del Paine National Park — an area increasingly exposed by glacial retreat — belongs to the species Myobradypterygius hauthali, originally described in Argentina from fragmentary remains.The discovery, led by Judith Pardo-Pérez, a researcher at the University of Magallanes and the Cabo de Hornos International Center (CHIC), and published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, offers an unprecedented glimpse into ancient marine life — from how these majestic reptiles reproduced to how they adapted to oceans vastly different from those of today.An Ichthyosaur Maternity Ward in Patagonia(Image Courtesy of Irene Viscor)So far, 88 ichthyosaurs have been found on the Tyndall Glacier.
Most of them are adults and newborns.
Two key facts stand out: food was abundant, and no other predators were competing with them.Fiona, who measures nearly 13 feet long, is still encased in five blocks of rock.
Despite the challenge, she was transported to a local clinic, where CT scans allowed researchers to study her skull and body.
Her species was identified thanks to one of her fins.
“There’s no other like it in the world,” says Pardo-Pérez.
The limbs were remarkably elongated, suggesting this animal was built for long-distance swimming.Inside her, there were more surprises.
One of them was her stomach contents, which revealed what may have been her last meal: tiny fish vertebrae.
But the most striking find was a fetus, about 20 inches long, already in a position to be born.“We believe these animals came to Magallanes — the southern tip of Chilean Patagonia — from time to time to give birth, because it was a safe refuge,” Pardo-Pérez says.
“We don't know how long they stayed, but we do know that mortality was high during the first few days of life.”One of the big unanswered questions is where they went next, as there are no records of Myobradypterygius hauthali, apart from a piece of fin found in Argentina.
The most abundant remains come from southern Germany, but those date back to the Jurassic period, meaning they’re older.Palaeontologist Erin Maxwell suggests, “In many modern ecosystems, species migrate to higher latitudes during the summer to take advantage of seasonally abundant resources and then move to lower latitudes in winter to avoid harsh conditions,” she explains.
“We believe Mesozoic marine reptiles may have followed similar seasonal patterns.”Sea Dragon GraveyardThe environment where Fiona was discovered — dubbed the "sea dragon graveyard" — also has much to reveal.According to geologist Matthew Malkowski of the University of Texas at Austin, the Hauterivian age is particularly intriguing because it coincided with major planetary changes: the breakup of continents, intense volcanic episodes, and phenomena known as "oceanic anoxic events," during which vast areas of the ocean were depleted of dissolved oxygen for hundreds of thousands of years.One such poorly understood event, the Pharaonic Anoxic Event, occurred around 131 million years ago, near the end of the Hauterivian, and still raises questions about its true impact on marine life.
“We don't have a firm grasp of how significant these events were for marine vertebrates, and geological records like that of the Tyndall Glacier allow us to explore the relationship between life, the environment, and Earth’s past conditions,” Malkowski notes.Evolution of IchthyosaursReconstruction of Fiona.
(Image Courtesy of Mauricio Álvarez)Don't be misled by their body shape.
“Ichthyosaurs are not related to dolphins,” clarifies Pardo-Pérez.
Although their hydrodynamic silhouettes may look nearly identical, the former were marine reptiles, while the latter are mammals.
This resemblance results from a phenomenon known as convergent evolution: when species from different lineages develop similar anatomical features to adapt to the same environment.Ichthyosaurs evolved from terrestrial reptiles that, in response to ecological and climatic changes, began spending more time in the water until they fully adapted to a marine lifestyle.
However, they retained traces of their land-dwelling ancestry, such as a pair of hind flippers — absent in dolphins — passed down from their walking forebears.
They lived and thrived in prehistoric oceans for about 180 million years, giving them ample time to refine a highly specialized body: their forelimbs and hindlimbs transformed into flippers; they developed a crescent-shaped tail for propulsion, a dorsal fin for stability, and a streamlined body to reduce drag in the water.
Remarkably, like whales and dolphins, “ichthyosaurs had a thick layer of blubber as insulation to maintain a higher body temperature than the surrounding seawater and gave birth to live young, which meant they didn’t need to leave the water to reproduce,” explains Maxwell.Whales and dolphins also descend from land-dwelling ancestors, but their transition happened over a comparatively short evolutionary timespan, especially when measured against the long reign of the ichthyosaurs.
“Their evolution hasn't had as much time as that of ichthyosaurs,” notes Pardo-Pérez.
“And yet, they look so similar.
That’s the wonderful thing about evolution.”Read More: Did a Swimming Reptile Predate the Dinosaurs?Fossils on the Verge of DisappearanceOne of the key factors behind the remarkable preservation of the fossils found in the Tyndall Glacier is the way they were buried.
According to Malkowski, Fiona and her contemporaries were either trapped or swiftly covered by underwater landslides and turbidity currents — geological processes that led to their sudden entombment.But the good fortune that protected them for millions of years may now be running out.
As the glacier retreats, exposing fossils that were once unreachable, those same remains are now vulnerable to wind, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles, which crack the surrounding rock.
As vegetation takes hold, roots accelerate erosion and eventually conceal the fossils once again.“While climate change has allowed these fossils to be studied, continued warming will also eventually lead to their loss,” Maxwell warns.
In Fiona’s story, scientists find not only a record of ancient life, but also a warning etched in stone and bone: what time reveals, climate can reclaim.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards.
Review the sources used below for this article:María de los Ángeles Orfila is a science journalist based in Montevideo, Uruguay, focusing on long-form storytelling.
Her work has appeared in Discover Magazine, Science, National Geographic, among other outlets, and in leading Uruguayan publications such as El País and El Observador.
She was a fellow in the 2023 Sharon Dunwoody Mentoring Program by The Open Notebook and often explores the intersections of science, culture, and Latin American identity.
#666;">المصدر: https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/first-ever-pregnant-ichthyosaur-from-the-early-cretaceous-reveals-life-in" style="color: #0066cc; text-decoration: none;">www.discovermagazine.com
#0066cc;">#first #ever #pregnant #ichthyosaur #from #the #early #cretaceous #reveals #life #prehistoric #seas #during #excavation #amidst #patagonian #winds #and #hard #rock #fossil #began #turn #greenit #was #unexpected #reaction #adhesive #applied #protect #bones #fragile #after #millions #years #beneath #ice #had #interacted #with #plant #matter #trapped #rocks #cracksthis #greenish #hue #earned #nickname #fiona #like #ogre #shrekbut #fionais #much #more #than #ogrethemed #nameit #complete #excavated #chile #even #remarkably #only #known #female #hauterivian #stage #dating #back #million #yearsher #skeleton #discovered #edge #tyndall #glacier #torres #del #paine #national #park #area #increasingly #exposed #glacial #retreat #belongs #species #myobradypterygius #hauthali #originally #described #argentina #fragmentary #remainsthe #discovery #led #judith #pardopérez #researcher #university #magallanes #cabo #hornos #international #center #chic #published #journal #vertebrate #paleontology #offers #unprecedented #glimpse #into #ancient #marine #how #these #majestic #reptiles #reproduced #they #adapted #oceans #vastly #different #those #todayan #maternity #ward #patagoniaimage #courtesy #irene #viscorso #far #ichthyosaurs #have #been #found #glaciermost #them #are #adults #newbornstwo #key #facts #stand #out #food #abundant #other #predators #were #competing #themfiona #who #measures #nearly #feet #long #still #encased #five #blocks #rockdespite #challenge #she #transported #local #clinic #where #scans #allowed #researchers #study #her #skull #bodyher #identified #thanks #one #finstheres #world #says #pardopérezthe #limbs #elongated #suggesting #this #animal #built #for #longdistance #swimminginside #there #surprisesone #stomach #contents #which #revealed #what #may #last #meal #tiny #fish #vertebraebut #most #striking #find #fetus #about #inches #already #position #bornwe #believe #animals #came #southern #tip #chilean #patagonia #time #give #birth #because #safe #refuge #sayswe #don039t #know #stayed #but #that #mortality #high #few #days #lifeone #big #unanswered #questions #went #next #records #apart #piece #fin #argentinathe #remains #come #germany #date #jurassic #period #meaning #theyre #olderpalaeontologist #erin #maxwell #suggests #many #modern #ecosystems #migrate #higher #latitudes #summer #take #advantage #seasonally #resources #then #move #lower #winter #avoid #harsh #conditions #explainswe #mesozoic #followed #similar #seasonal #patternssea #dragon #graveyardthe #environment #dubbed #quotsea #graveyardquot #also #has #revealaccording #geologist #matthew #malkowski #texas #austin #age #particularly #intriguing #coincided #major #planetary #changes #breakup #continents #intense #volcanic #episodes #phenomena #quotoceanic #anoxic #eventsquot #vast #areas #ocean #depleted #dissolved #oxygen #hundreds #thousands #yearsone #such #poorly #understood #event #pharaonic #occurred #around #ago #near #end #raises #its #true #impact #lifewe #firm #grasp #significant #events #vertebrates #geological #allow #explore #relationship #between #earths #past #notesevolution #ichthyosaursreconstruction #fionaimage #mauricio #Álvarezdon039t #misled #their #body #shapeichthyosaurs #not #related #dolphins #clarifies #pardopérezalthough #hydrodynamic #silhouettes #look #identical #former #while #latter #mammalsthis #resemblance #results #phenomenon #convergent #evolution #when #lineages #develop #anatomical #features #adapt #same #environmentichthyosaurs #evolved #terrestrial #response #ecological #climatic #spending #water #until #fully #lifestylehowever #retained #traces #landdwelling #ancestry #pair #hind #flippers #absent #passed #down #walking #forebearsthey #lived #thrived #giving #ample #refine #highly #specialized #forelimbs #hindlimbs #transformed #developed #crescentshaped #tail #propulsion #dorsal #stability #streamlined #reduce #drag #waterremarkably #whales #thick #layer #blubber #insulation #maintain #temperature #surrounding #seawater #gave #live #young #meant #didnt #need #leave #reproduce #explains #maxwellwhales #descend #ancestors #transition #happened #over #comparatively #short #evolutionary #timespan #especially #measured #against #reign #ichthyosaurstheir #hasn039t #notes #pardopérezand #yet #similarthats #wonderful #thing #evolutionread #did #swimming #reptile #predate #dinosaursfossils #verge #disappearanceone #factors #behind #remarkable #preservation #fossils #way #buriedaccording #contemporaries #either #swiftly #covered #underwater #landslides #turbidity #currents #processes #sudden #entombmentbut #good #fortune #protected #now #running #outas #retreats #exposing #once #unreachable #vulnerable #wind #rain #freezethaw #cycles #crack #rockas #vegetation #takes #hold #roots #accelerate #erosion #eventually #conceal #againwhile #climate #change #studied #continued #warming #will #lead #loss #warnsin #fionas #story #scientists #record #warning #etched #stone #bone #can #reclaimarticle #sourcesour #writers #discovermagazinecom #use #peerreviewed #studies #highquality #sources #our #articles #editors #review #scientific #accuracy #editorial #standardsreview #used #below #articlemaría #los #Ángeles #orfila #science #journalist #based #montevideo #uruguay #focusing #longform #storytellingher #work #appeared #discover #magazine #geographic #among #outlets #leading #uruguayan #publications #país #observadorshe #fellow #sharon #dunwoody #mentoring #program #open #notebook #often #explores #intersections #culture #latin #american #identity

First Ever Pregnant Ichthyosaur from the Early Cretaceous Reveals Life in Prehistoric Seas
During an excavation, amidst the Patagonian winds and hard rock, a fossil began to turn green. It was an unexpected reaction: the adhesive applied to protect the bones, fragile after millions of years beneath the ice, had interacted with plant matter trapped in the rock’s cracks. This greenish hue earned the fossil the nickname Fiona, like the ogre from Shrek.But Fionais much more than a ogre-themed name. It is the first complete ichthyosaur ever excavated in Chile and, even more remarkably, the only known pregnant female from the Hauterivian — a stage of the Early Cretaceous dating back 131 million years. Her skeleton, discovered at the edge of the Tyndall Glacier in Torres del Paine National Park — an area increasingly exposed by glacial retreat — belongs to the species Myobradypterygius hauthali, originally described in Argentina from fragmentary remains.The discovery, led by Judith Pardo-Pérez, a researcher at the University of Magallanes and the Cabo de Hornos International Center (CHIC), and published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, offers an unprecedented glimpse into ancient marine life — from how these majestic reptiles reproduced to how they adapted to oceans vastly different from those of today.An Ichthyosaur Maternity Ward in Patagonia(Image Courtesy of Irene Viscor)So far, 88 ichthyosaurs have been found on the Tyndall Glacier. Most of them are adults and newborns. Two key facts stand out: food was abundant, and no other predators were competing with them.Fiona, who measures nearly 13 feet long, is still encased in five blocks of rock. Despite the challenge, she was transported to a local clinic, where CT scans allowed researchers to study her skull and body. Her species was identified thanks to one of her fins. “There’s no other like it in the world,” says Pardo-Pérez. The limbs were remarkably elongated, suggesting this animal was built for long-distance swimming.Inside her, there were more surprises. One of them was her stomach contents, which revealed what may have been her last meal: tiny fish vertebrae. But the most striking find was a fetus, about 20 inches long, already in a position to be born.“We believe these animals came to Magallanes — the southern tip of Chilean Patagonia — from time to time to give birth, because it was a safe refuge,” Pardo-Pérez says. “We don't know how long they stayed, but we do know that mortality was high during the first few days of life.”One of the big unanswered questions is where they went next, as there are no records of Myobradypterygius hauthali, apart from a piece of fin found in Argentina. The most abundant remains come from southern Germany, but those date back to the Jurassic period, meaning they’re older.Palaeontologist Erin Maxwell suggests, “In many modern ecosystems, species migrate to higher latitudes during the summer to take advantage of seasonally abundant resources and then move to lower latitudes in winter to avoid harsh conditions,” she explains. “We believe Mesozoic marine reptiles may have followed similar seasonal patterns.”Sea Dragon GraveyardThe environment where Fiona was discovered — dubbed the "sea dragon graveyard" — also has much to reveal.According to geologist Matthew Malkowski of the University of Texas at Austin, the Hauterivian age is particularly intriguing because it coincided with major planetary changes: the breakup of continents, intense volcanic episodes, and phenomena known as "oceanic anoxic events," during which vast areas of the ocean were depleted of dissolved oxygen for hundreds of thousands of years.One such poorly understood event, the Pharaonic Anoxic Event, occurred around 131 million years ago, near the end of the Hauterivian, and still raises questions about its true impact on marine life. “We don't have a firm grasp of how significant these events were for marine vertebrates, and geological records like that of the Tyndall Glacier allow us to explore the relationship between life, the environment, and Earth’s past conditions,” Malkowski notes.Evolution of IchthyosaursReconstruction of Fiona. (Image Courtesy of Mauricio Álvarez)Don't be misled by their body shape. “Ichthyosaurs are not related to dolphins,” clarifies Pardo-Pérez. Although their hydrodynamic silhouettes may look nearly identical, the former were marine reptiles, while the latter are mammals. This resemblance results from a phenomenon known as convergent evolution: when species from different lineages develop similar anatomical features to adapt to the same environment.Ichthyosaurs evolved from terrestrial reptiles that, in response to ecological and climatic changes, began spending more time in the water until they fully adapted to a marine lifestyle. However, they retained traces of their land-dwelling ancestry, such as a pair of hind flippers — absent in dolphins — passed down from their walking forebears. They lived and thrived in prehistoric oceans for about 180 million years, giving them ample time to refine a highly specialized body: their forelimbs and hindlimbs transformed into flippers; they developed a crescent-shaped tail for propulsion, a dorsal fin for stability, and a streamlined body to reduce drag in the water. Remarkably, like whales and dolphins, “ichthyosaurs had a thick layer of blubber as insulation to maintain a higher body temperature than the surrounding seawater and gave birth to live young, which meant they didn’t need to leave the water to reproduce,” explains Maxwell.Whales and dolphins also descend from land-dwelling ancestors, but their transition happened over a comparatively short evolutionary timespan, especially when measured against the long reign of the ichthyosaurs. “Their evolution hasn't had as much time as that of ichthyosaurs,” notes Pardo-Pérez. “And yet, they look so similar. That’s the wonderful thing about evolution.”Read More: Did a Swimming Reptile Predate the Dinosaurs?Fossils on the Verge of DisappearanceOne of the key factors behind the remarkable preservation of the fossils found in the Tyndall Glacier is the way they were buried. According to Malkowski, Fiona and her contemporaries were either trapped or swiftly covered by underwater landslides and turbidity currents — geological processes that led to their sudden entombment.But the good fortune that protected them for millions of years may now be running out. As the glacier retreats, exposing fossils that were once unreachable, those same remains are now vulnerable to wind, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles, which crack the surrounding rock. As vegetation takes hold, roots accelerate erosion and eventually conceal the fossils once again.“While climate change has allowed these fossils to be studied, continued warming will also eventually lead to their loss,” Maxwell warns. In Fiona’s story, scientists find not only a record of ancient life, but also a warning etched in stone and bone: what time reveals, climate can reclaim.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:María de los Ángeles Orfila is a science journalist based in Montevideo, Uruguay, focusing on long-form storytelling. Her work has appeared in Discover Magazine, Science, National Geographic, among other outlets, and in leading Uruguayan publications such as El País and El Observador. She was a fellow in the 2023 Sharon Dunwoody Mentoring Program by The Open Notebook and often explores the intersections of science, culture, and Latin American identity.
المصدر: www.discovermagazine.com
#first #ever #pregnant #ichthyosaur #from #the #early #cretaceous #reveals #life #prehistoric #seas #during #excavation #amidst #patagonian #winds #and #hard #rock #fossil #began #turn #greenit #was #unexpected #reaction #adhesive #applied #protect #bones #fragile #after #millions #years #beneath #ice #had #interacted #with #plant #matter #trapped #rocks #cracksthis #greenish #hue #earned #nickname #fiona #like #ogre #shrekbut #fionais #much #more #than #ogrethemed #nameit #complete #excavated #chile #even #remarkably #only #known #female #hauterivian #stage #dating #back #million #yearsher #skeleton #discovered #edge #tyndall #glacier #torres #del #paine #national #park #area #increasingly #exposed #glacial #retreat #belongs #species #myobradypterygius #hauthali #originally #described #argentina #fragmentary #remainsthe #discovery #led #judith #pardopérez #researcher #university #magallanes #cabo #hornos #international #center #chic #published #journal #vertebrate #paleontology 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First Ever Pregnant Ichthyosaur from the Early Cretaceous Reveals Life in Prehistoric Seas

During an excavation, amidst the Patagonian winds and hard rock, a fossil began to turn green. It was an unexpected reaction: the adhesive applied to protect the bones, fragile after millions of years beneath the ice, had interacted with plant matter trapped in the rock’s cracks. This greenish hue earned the fossil the nickname Fiona, like the ogre from Shrek.But Fionais much more than a ogre-themed name. It is the first complete ichthyosaur ever excavated in Chile and, even more remarkably, the only known pregnant female from the Hauterivian — a stage of the Early Cretaceous dating back 131 million years. Her skeleton, discovered at the edge of the Tyndall Glacier in Torres del Paine National Park — an area increasingly exposed by glacial retreat — belongs to the species Myobradypterygius hauthali, originally described in Argentina from fragmentary remains.The discovery, led by Judith Pardo-Pérez, a researcher at the University of Magallanes and the Cabo de Hornos International Center (CHIC), and published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, offers an unprecedented glimpse into ancient marine life — from how these majestic reptiles reproduced to how they adapted to oceans vastly different from those of today.An Ichthyosaur Maternity Ward in Patagonia(Image Courtesy of Irene Viscor)So far, 88 ichthyosaurs have been found on the Tyndall Glacier. Most of them are adults and newborns. Two key facts stand out: food was abundant, and no other predators were competing with them.Fiona, who measures nearly 13 feet long, is still encased in five blocks of rock. Despite the challenge, she was transported to a local clinic, where CT scans allowed researchers to study her skull and body. Her species was identified thanks to one of her fins. “There’s no other like it in the world,” says Pardo-Pérez. The limbs were remarkably elongated, suggesting this animal was built for long-distance swimming.Inside her, there were more surprises. One of them was her stomach contents, which revealed what may have been her last meal: tiny fish vertebrae. But the most striking find was a fetus, about 20 inches long, already in a position to be born.“We believe these animals came to Magallanes — the southern tip of Chilean Patagonia — from time to time to give birth, because it was a safe refuge,” Pardo-Pérez says. “We don't know how long they stayed, but we do know that mortality was high during the first few days of life.”One of the big unanswered questions is where they went next, as there are no records of Myobradypterygius hauthali, apart from a piece of fin found in Argentina. The most abundant remains come from southern Germany, but those date back to the Jurassic period, meaning they’re older.Palaeontologist Erin Maxwell suggests, “In many modern ecosystems, species migrate to higher latitudes during the summer to take advantage of seasonally abundant resources and then move to lower latitudes in winter to avoid harsh conditions,” she explains. “We believe Mesozoic marine reptiles may have followed similar seasonal patterns.”Sea Dragon GraveyardThe environment where Fiona was discovered — dubbed the "sea dragon graveyard" — also has much to reveal.According to geologist Matthew Malkowski of the University of Texas at Austin, the Hauterivian age is particularly intriguing because it coincided with major planetary changes: the breakup of continents, intense volcanic episodes, and phenomena known as "oceanic anoxic events," during which vast areas of the ocean were depleted of dissolved oxygen for hundreds of thousands of years.One such poorly understood event, the Pharaonic Anoxic Event, occurred around 131 million years ago, near the end of the Hauterivian, and still raises questions about its true impact on marine life. “We don't have a firm grasp of how significant these events were for marine vertebrates, and geological records like that of the Tyndall Glacier allow us to explore the relationship between life, the environment, and Earth’s past conditions,” Malkowski notes.Evolution of IchthyosaursReconstruction of Fiona. (Image Courtesy of Mauricio Álvarez)Don't be misled by their body shape. “Ichthyosaurs are not related to dolphins,” clarifies Pardo-Pérez. Although their hydrodynamic silhouettes may look nearly identical, the former were marine reptiles, while the latter are mammals. This resemblance results from a phenomenon known as convergent evolution: when species from different lineages develop similar anatomical features to adapt to the same environment.Ichthyosaurs evolved from terrestrial reptiles that, in response to ecological and climatic changes, began spending more time in the water until they fully adapted to a marine lifestyle. However, they retained traces of their land-dwelling ancestry, such as a pair of hind flippers — absent in dolphins — passed down from their walking forebears. They lived and thrived in prehistoric oceans for about 180 million years, giving them ample time to refine a highly specialized body: their forelimbs and hindlimbs transformed into flippers; they developed a crescent-shaped tail for propulsion, a dorsal fin for stability, and a streamlined body to reduce drag in the water. Remarkably, like whales and dolphins, “ichthyosaurs had a thick layer of blubber as insulation to maintain a higher body temperature than the surrounding seawater and gave birth to live young, which meant they didn’t need to leave the water to reproduce,” explains Maxwell.Whales and dolphins also descend from land-dwelling ancestors, but their transition happened over a comparatively short evolutionary timespan, especially when measured against the long reign of the ichthyosaurs. “Their evolution hasn't had as much time as that of ichthyosaurs,” notes Pardo-Pérez. “And yet, they look so similar. That’s the wonderful thing about evolution.”Read More: Did a Swimming Reptile Predate the Dinosaurs?Fossils on the Verge of DisappearanceOne of the key factors behind the remarkable preservation of the fossils found in the Tyndall Glacier is the way they were buried. According to Malkowski, Fiona and her contemporaries were either trapped or swiftly covered by underwater landslides and turbidity currents — geological processes that led to their sudden entombment.But the good fortune that protected them for millions of years may now be running out. As the glacier retreats, exposing fossils that were once unreachable, those same remains are now vulnerable to wind, rain, and freeze-thaw cycles, which crack the surrounding rock. As vegetation takes hold, roots accelerate erosion and eventually conceal the fossils once again.“While climate change has allowed these fossils to be studied, continued warming will also eventually lead to their loss,” Maxwell warns. In Fiona’s story, scientists find not only a record of ancient life, but also a warning etched in stone and bone: what time reveals, climate can reclaim.Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:María de los Ángeles Orfila is a science journalist based in Montevideo, Uruguay, focusing on long-form storytelling. Her work has appeared in Discover Magazine, Science, National Geographic, among other outlets, and in leading Uruguayan publications such as El País and El Observador. She was a fellow in the 2023 Sharon Dunwoody Mentoring Program by The Open Notebook and often explores the intersections of science, culture, and Latin American identity.

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2025-05-13 12:32:30 ·

Helldivers 2 leak reveals “the invasion of Super Earth” with “various new missions” and more

You can trust VideoGamer.
Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible.
Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original.
Check out how we test and review games here
A lot is happening in the world of Helldivers 2.
We are just a couple of days away from the new Warbond, Masters of Ceremony, and Arrowhead has just released the update 01.003.000 patch notes, adding weapon customization and more.
However, more importantly, there are new Illuminate enemies with the squids attacking Widow’s Harbor.
Arrowhead has warned that the invasion of Super Earth is inevitable, and a Helldivers 2 leaker has revealed “various new missions” that will be included as part of the attack.
Helldivers 2 leaker reveals “the invasion of Super Earth” missions and more
On X, Arrowhead has warned that the invasion of Super Earth is inevitable.
Per the developer, “Three planets lie between the Illuminate and Super Earth: Widow’s Harbor, Pilen V, and New Haven,” and “All 3 planets will fall” as “Cross-Ministry defense projections indicate that preventing this force [the Illuminate] from reaching Super Earth is not possible”.
Image credit: @helldivers 2 on X
Ahead of the inevitable, prominent Helldivers 2 leaker, Iron_S1ghts, has provided a glimpse into the future with what “the invasion of Super Earth” looks like.
Per a screenshot shared by the leaker, the description of the “battle for Super Earth” reads as follows: “So long as even one Mega City stands, so does Super Earth.
Illuminate fleet strength must be depleted before the last one falls.”.
Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on X
There will be Mega Cities to defend, with one called Equality-On-Sea. This Mega City is “Named for the historic conference where Humanity was found to be the most equal species in the galaxy”.
Completing the city operation will “hold this city,” and “Successfully holding cities significantly contributes to the planet’s defense”.
Another Mega City name seen in the screenshot is Port Mercy.
Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on X
Per Iron_S1ghts, there will be “various new missions”.
The example seen in the screenshot is “City Mission Take Down Overship”.
It’s listed for 40-minutes, and it says players must “Activate the Planetary Defense Cannon and use it to bring down the Illuminate Overship”.
Lastly, Iron_S1ghts has revealed that SEAF Troops will be “deployed on Super Earth”.
The screenshot says “SEAF Units and loyal civilians are both on the battlefield,” possibly meaning they will act as NPCs fighting with you.
Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on X
Remember that these are all leaks rather than anything official as of writing.
While the invasion of Super Earth is deemed inevitable, right now the action is taking place on Widow’s Harbor.
For more Helldivers 2, check out our guide to the best warbonds ranked, along with the best stratagems and best throwables.
We have also a guide to the best weapons, and, if you’re coming back to HD2 for the first time in a long while, we have a bunch of tips and tricks to help you get reaccustomed to the battlefield.
Helldivers 2
Platform(s):
PC, PlayStation 5
Genre(s):
Action, Shooter, Third Person
8
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Helldivers 2 leak reveals “the invasion of Super Earth” with “various new missions” and more
You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here A lot is happening in the world of Helldivers 2. We are just a couple of days away from the new Warbond, Masters of Ceremony, and Arrowhead has just released the update 01.003.000 patch notes, adding weapon customization and more. However, more importantly, there are new Illuminate enemies with the squids attacking Widow’s Harbor. Arrowhead has warned that the invasion of Super Earth is inevitable, and a Helldivers 2 leaker has revealed “various new missions” that will be included as part of the attack. Helldivers 2 leaker reveals “the invasion of Super Earth” missions and more On X, Arrowhead has warned that the invasion of Super Earth is inevitable. Per the developer, “Three planets lie between the Illuminate and Super Earth: Widow’s Harbor, Pilen V, and New Haven,” and “All 3 planets will fall” as “Cross-Ministry defense projections indicate that preventing this force [the Illuminate] from reaching Super Earth is not possible”. Image credit: @helldivers 2 on X Ahead of the inevitable, prominent Helldivers 2 leaker, Iron_S1ghts, has provided a glimpse into the future with what “the invasion of Super Earth” looks like. Per a screenshot shared by the leaker, the description of the “battle for Super Earth” reads as follows: “So long as even one Mega City stands, so does Super Earth. Illuminate fleet strength must be depleted before the last one falls.”. Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on X There will be Mega Cities to defend, with one called Equality-On-Sea. This Mega City is “Named for the historic conference where Humanity was found to be the most equal species in the galaxy”. Completing the city operation will “hold this city,” and “Successfully holding cities significantly contributes to the planet’s defense”. Another Mega City name seen in the screenshot is Port Mercy. Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on X Per Iron_S1ghts, there will be “various new missions”. The example seen in the screenshot is “City Mission Take Down Overship”. It’s listed for 40-minutes, and it says players must “Activate the Planetary Defense Cannon and use it to bring down the Illuminate Overship”. Lastly, Iron_S1ghts has revealed that SEAF Troops will be “deployed on Super Earth”. The screenshot says “SEAF Units and loyal civilians are both on the battlefield,” possibly meaning they will act as NPCs fighting with you. Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on X Remember that these are all leaks rather than anything official as of writing. While the invasion of Super Earth is deemed inevitable, right now the action is taking place on Widow’s Harbor. For more Helldivers 2, check out our guide to the best warbonds ranked, along with the best stratagems and best throwables. We have also a guide to the best weapons, and, if you’re coming back to HD2 for the first time in a long while, we have a bunch of tips and tricks to help you get reaccustomed to the battlefield. Helldivers 2 Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5 Genre(s): Action, Shooter, Third Person 8 VideoGamer Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share Source: https://www.videogamer.com/news/helldivers-2-leak-invasion-of-super-earth-various-new-missions-and-more/ #helldivers #leak #reveals #the #invasion #super #earth #with #various #new #missions #and #more

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Helldivers 2 leak reveals “the invasion of Super Earth” with “various new missions” and more

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here A lot is happening in the world of Helldivers 2. We are just a couple of days away from the new Warbond, Masters of Ceremony, and Arrowhead has just released the update 01.003.000 patch notes, adding weapon customization and more. However, more importantly, there are new Illuminate enemies with the squids attacking Widow’s Harbor. Arrowhead has warned that the invasion of Super Earth is inevitable, and a Helldivers 2 leaker has revealed “various new missions” that will be included as part of the attack. Helldivers 2 leaker reveals “the invasion of Super Earth” missions and more On X, Arrowhead has warned that the invasion of Super Earth is inevitable. Per the developer, “Three planets lie between the Illuminate and Super Earth: Widow’s Harbor, Pilen V, and New Haven,” and “All 3 planets will fall” as “Cross-Ministry defense projections indicate that preventing this force [the Illuminate] from reaching Super Earth is not possible”. Image credit: @helldivers 2 on X Ahead of the inevitable, prominent Helldivers 2 leaker, Iron_S1ghts, has provided a glimpse into the future with what “the invasion of Super Earth” looks like. Per a screenshot shared by the leaker, the description of the “battle for Super Earth” reads as follows: “So long as even one Mega City stands, so does Super Earth. Illuminate fleet strength must be depleted before the last one falls.”. Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on X There will be Mega Cities to defend, with one called Equality-On-Sea. This Mega City is “Named for the historic conference where Humanity was found to be the most equal species in the galaxy”. Completing the city operation will “hold this city,” and “Successfully holding cities significantly contributes to the planet’s defense”. Another Mega City name seen in the screenshot is Port Mercy. Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on X Per Iron_S1ghts, there will be “various new missions”. The example seen in the screenshot is “City Mission Take Down Overship”. It’s listed for 40-minutes, and it says players must “Activate the Planetary Defense Cannon and use it to bring down the Illuminate Overship”. Lastly, Iron_S1ghts has revealed that SEAF Troops will be “deployed on Super Earth”. The screenshot says “SEAF Units and loyal civilians are both on the battlefield,” possibly meaning they will act as NPCs fighting with you. Image credit: @Iron_S1ghts on X Remember that these are all leaks rather than anything official as of writing. While the invasion of Super Earth is deemed inevitable, right now the action is taking place on Widow’s Harbor. For more Helldivers 2, check out our guide to the best warbonds ranked, along with the best stratagems and best throwables. We have also a guide to the best weapons, and, if you’re coming back to HD2 for the first time in a long while, we have a bunch of tips and tricks to help you get reaccustomed to the battlefield. Helldivers 2 Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5 Genre(s): Action, Shooter, Third Person 8 VideoGamer Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share

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Could Earth Develop Its Own Consciousness? The Gaia Hypothesis Offers an Unorthodox Answer

The Largest Mountain Range No One Has Seen Lives Under Antarctica's Ice Sheets

Ancient 300-foot-tall mud waves gave rise to Atlantic Ocean

First Ever Pregnant Ichthyosaur from the Early Cretaceous Reveals Life in Prehistoric Seas

Helldivers 2 leak reveals “the invasion of Super Earth” with “various new missions” and more