Wind turbine parts may be giant technofossils that puzzle future scientists
After our wedding last Sunday, my husband and I were already anticipating how we might relive our special day years down the road.
Photos and videos captured so many moments, like our vows that mirrored an appreciation for the stars (points to the groom for working in syzygy).
A keepsake we especially treasure is a blue flower crafted by my nephew, complete with a charm displaying our initials.
And it made me wonder: What stories will objects left behind tell about humanity one day? Two paleontologists are already considering how everyday items could become artifacts in the distant future.
Rather than dig up fossils of bones, the scientists of the future will likely puzzle over technofossils such as wind turbines, cell phones and other vestiges of our current reality.
Sarah Gabbott and Jan Zalasiewicz, paleontologists at the UK's University of Leicester, explore this topic in the new book 'Discarded: How Technofossils Will Be Our Ultimate Legacy.'
So many of today's plastic and other manufactured items won't break down easily, and substances such as epoxy resin may function like amber, leaving behind many traces without much context.
'The smartphone gives very little away,' Gabbott said. 'They'll see loads and loads of these things. They will know that it was important to the civilization, but what the hell was it used for?'
In other paleontological news, the claws of a newly discovered two-fingered species had researchers questioning whether they came from a giant sloth or the 1990 film 'Edward Scissorhands.'
Instead, the massive curved claws — close to 1 foot (30 centimeters) in size — belonged to a creature unearthed in what's now Mongolia. Duonychus tsogtbaatari, which stood 10 feet (3 meters) tall, was part of an awkward-looking group of dinosaurs.
It used its fearsome claws to grasp and munch on entire trees — and the recreation of the towering, feathery dino has to be seen to be believed.
Meanwhile, scientists identified a previously unknown parasitic wasp from specimens trapped in amber 99 million years ago. The unusual insect could have evolved a bizarre structure to inject creatures with its eggs.
And another team of paleontologists found a fossilized newfound species of fish up to 16 million years old in Australia with its last meal still intact.
A partial solar eclipse turned the sun into a crescent over the US Northeast, eastern Canada, Greenland and other areas Saturday morning. For those in North America, the celestial event occurred during sunrise.
The spectacle comes two weeks after a total lunar eclipse created a 'blood moon' in the night sky.
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and Earth but the celestial bodies aren't completely aligned, making it look like the moon is taking a bite out of the sun.
If you missed out on witnessing the event, keep your certified viewers handy — another pairing of a total lunar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse occurs in September.
When the Curiosity rover analyzed portions of a pulverized rock sample, it uncovered the largest organic molecules found on Mars. Scientists believe it's possible the molecules are fragments of fatty acids, which are chemical building blocks of life.
The samples do not contain conclusive signs that the compounds were created by life. But the findings suggest any signs of life on Mars from billions of years ago could still exist today.
Separately, substances such as perchlorates and other toxins in Martian dust may cause life-threatening effects for astronauts on a future mission to the red planet, new research suggests.
Cave paintings have helped researchers trace the mysterious origins of the European bison, which markedly changed in appearance between 22,000 and 17,000 years ago.
Scientists believe that the European bison is a hybrid, called a wisent, that arose from crossbreeding now-extinct steppe bison with the aurochs, or the larger ancestor of modern cattle.
But the bison were hunted for their hide and horns, which were used as drinking vessels, and the population collapsed across much of the continent as well as western Asia.
Breeding programs have helped bison make a comeback across Europe, and their soil-bathing habits are even improving ecosystem diversity.
Take a deep dive into these gripping stories:
— Metal detectorist Peter Heads uncovered more than 800 high-status Iron Age artifacts in 2021 in North Yorkshire, England. Now, new excavations and research have shown the items could change the way researchers understand what life was like in ancient Britain.
— Layoffs at NASA are being called 'targeted' and 'cruel' by employees, with some wondering how these changes will affect the agency's science and exploration goals.
— Scientists have captured recordings of the first known sounds made by sharks, and one species is behind the balloon-popping noises.
— Little sizzles of barely visible 'microlightning,' created by charged droplets of water mist, may have helped spark the earliest life on primordial Earth.
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Newsweek
5 days ago
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The Secret to Slowing Down Aging Could Come From a Surprising Source
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Gizmodo
09-07-2025
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Mysterious Signals From Deep Space Expose Aftermath of Failed Cosmic Eruptions
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Yahoo
08-06-2025
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Women less likely to get life-saving care for deadly heart condition
A new analysis reveals that women are less likely than men to receive treatment for aortic stenosis, a potentially fatal heart condition. Researchers discovered that women are 11% less likely to be referred to a hospital specialist following a diagnosis of the heart valve disease. Academics noted that the findings reveal "inequities in management and care of this common and serious condition." The study also found differences in care among south Asian and black patients, as well as those from poorer backgrounds. Aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve or the area immediately around it, leads to obstruction of the blood flow from the heart, which leads to symptoms including dizziness, fatigue, chest pain and breathlessness. The condition is more common in elderly people. It is not possible to reverse but treatments can include a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or valve replacement surgery. If left untreated it can lead to serious complications, including heart failure, heart rhythm abnormalities, and death. The analysis suggests some people are less likely to receive this treatment. Experts from the University of Leicester examined GP data on 155,000 people diagnosed with aortic stenosis between 2000 and 2022 in England. Presenting their findings to the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester, experts said as well as women being less likely to be referred for hospital care, they are 39% less likely to have a procedure to replace their aortic valve. Researchers also found people living in poorer neighbourhoods are 7% less likely to be referred for hospital care after a diagnosis compared to people from wealthier neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, black patients are 48% less likely to undergo a procedure to replace their aortic valve compared to white patients. South Asian patients are 27% less likely to undergo a procedure compared to their white counterparts, according to the study, which was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and supported by NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre. Dr Anvesha Singh, associate professor at the University of Leicester and consultant cardiologist, who was involved in the research, said: 'Previous studies have shown lower rates of valve replacement in women, and clinicians had assumed that women were less likely to be diagnosed with aortic stenosis. 'This analysis using large, real-world data clearly shows that this is not the case, giving us the clearest picture yet of what is happening in day-to-day clinical practice. 'Our study highlights potential inequities in management and care of this common and serious condition. More research is needed to understand the reasons for this and the true prevalence of aortic stenosis in different groups.' Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation, which supported the research, and consultant cardiologist, said: 'This study of over 150,000 GP records has unveiled disparities in access to aortic valve treatment for women, south Asian and black people, and people living in more deprived communities. 'We don't yet have the full picture, but these findings are concerning and we need more research to understand what is driving the differences seen. 'This will be crucial to enable action to address any underlying causes stopping some people from having access to the heart valve treatment and care they need, when they need it.'
