Latest news with #Deinosuchus
Mint
05-05-2025
- Mint
LIVING FOSSILS
Crocodiles have been thriving for around 240 million years, while dinosaurs ruled the Earth 99 million years ago. The Cretaceous period saw massive crocs like Sarcosuchus, Dryosaurus, Deinosuchus, Shieldcroc, and more. Credit : PEXELS Page 2 Peru's native root, Maca, has been used for centuries as an adaptogen celebrated for supporting hormonal balance, energy, and stamina. Credit : PINTEREST Page 3 Lie on your side, lift your hips, and hold your body in a straight line, balancing on one forearm and the side of one foot. Great for targeting your obliques. Credit : PINTEREST Page 4 Have you accidentally stained your skin while dyeing your hair? Don't worry, it's a common mishap. Here are some safe and simple methods to remove hair dye from your skin without causing irritation. Credit : PEXELS Page 5 For a seaside escape, head to Brighton. Enjoy its pebble beach, lively pier, and bohemian lanes. With quirky shops, eclectic cafes, and a vibrant nightlife, it's a refreshing coastal adventure. Credit : PEXELS Page 6 Iceland, a safe country, offers solo travelers Reykjavik, stunning landscapes, hot springs, and the chance to see Northern Lights. Credit : PINTEREST Page 7 The peafowl, India's national bird, symbolizes grace and is commonly seen in villages, forests, and temples, dazzling all. Credit : PINTEREST Page 8 A new gecko species, Cnemaspis vangoghi, discovered in the Western Ghats, is nicknamed 'Starry Night' for its striking coloration, enhancing regional biodiversity. Credit : PINTEREST Page 9
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Man recovered from ‘gladiator graveyard' died of lion bite, study finds
Editor's note: A version of this story appeared in CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. Legends of young heroes fighting lions to the death appear in Roman records and artwork, but scant physical evidence of these beastly battles exists. Perhaps, that is, until now. A new study sheds light on the story of a young man, likely between the ages of 26 and 35, discovered with a fatal bite mark from a large animal. His remains were buried between 1,825 and 1,725 years ago in what archaeologists believe to be a 'gladiator graveyard' — hundreds of miles from Rome — in York, England. The findings highlight the Roman Empire's sweeping impact across Britain — lending direct evidence that Roman culture and lifestyle spread far beyond the Colosseum. The human remains at the heart of the new study have puzzled researchers since the burial site was uncovered in 2010. Scientists involved in the expedition, led by the York Archaeological Trust, suspected the divots in the man's pelvis were the work of a carnivore. But delving into the precise culprit showed the markings 'were likely made by a lion, which confirms that the skeletons buried at the cemetery were gladiators, rather than soldiers or slaves, as initially thought,' said study coauthor Malin Holst of the University of York. Here's what the bone analysis revealed about the man and how the researchers determined what was behind the lethal bite markings. Watch chimpanzees sharing fermented fruit, which contains intoxicating traces of alcohol. The first-of-its kind footage could highlight how the closest living relatives to humans may partake in a boozy treat to strengthen bonds that's similar to our social rites. What's nearly as long as a bus, has teeth the size of bananas and has a scientific name that translates to 'terror crocodile'? Behold: Deinosuchus. The roughly 26-foot-long creature of nightmares is believed to have lived between 82 million and 75 million years ago, dining on dinosaurs in the rivers and estuaries of North America. While prior research on the giant reptile's evolutionary background has put it in the same group as alligators and their ancient relatives, a new analysis of fossils and DNA suggests it belongs on a different branch of the crocodilian family tree. That assessment boils down to one key trait: Deinosuchus had special glands and a tolerance for salt water, according to the study. Further animating our understanding of the creatures that populated prehistoric Earth are trace fossils — or ancient animal tracks frozen in time. Researching these fascinating rocks is like 'trying to study ghosts,' said Conner Bennett, lead author of a study that described the story behind several trace fossils in the collection of Oregon's John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The footprint fossils can pick up where bones leave off, confirming the presence of animals. For example, one set of tracks estimated to be about 50 million years old tells the story of a small wading bird pausing near a lakeshore in central Oregon to search for food. Without the footprints, the unprecedented evidence of birds in the ancient ecosystem may have been lost to time: Their fragile, hollow skeletons don't hold up well. Tucked away in one of the world's largest collections of fossilized insects, the oldest recorded ant species nearly remained overlooked. Anderson Lepeco, a researcher at the University of São Paulo's Museum of Zoology in Brazil, spotted the 'extraordinary' specimen as he was perusing some of the museum's fossils. That's when he came across the hell ant, preserved in limestone. The critter was believed to have lived among dinosaurs some 113 million years ago — several millennia before previously found ants, according to new research. 'I was just shocked to see that weird projection in front of this (insect's) head,' Lepeco said. 'Other hell ants have been described with odd mandibles, but always as amber specimens.' At wildlife conservancies in Africa, four-legged friends are invigorating efforts to combat poaching. Professional dog trainers Darren Priddle and Jacqui Law of Carmarthen, Wales, spearhead the initiative, called Dogs4Wildlife. After they saw a picture of a poached African rhino on social media in 2015, they set out to use their expertise training animals to help combat illegal hunting. 'It was quite a horrific image. We sat down and we said, 'OK, that's really affected us,'' Priddle told CNN. The duo has since sent 15 stalwart canines to five sub-Saharan African countries, including Shinga, a Belgian Malinois, and Murwi, a Dutch shepherd, who protect big game at Zimbabwe's Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy. Check out these must-read science stories from the week: — The head of the US National Science Foundation stepped down from his post as the agency grapples with the Trump administration's demands. — A Pakistani astronaut will become the first foreign national to enter China's space station, Tiangong. — Scientists spotted a 1940s Ford automobile inside the sunken USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier lost during the Battle of Midway. Before you go, it's time to look skyward: Saturday is the last day to catch a glimpse of the Lyrid meteor shower. Like what you've read? Oh, but there's more. Sign up here to receive in your inbox the next edition of Wonder Theory, brought to you by CNN Space and Science writers Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt and Jackie Wattles. They find wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.
CNN
26-04-2025
- Science
- CNN
Man recovered from ‘gladiator graveyard' died of lion bite, study finds
Legends of young heroes fighting lions to the death appear in Roman records and artwork, but scant physical evidence of these beastly battles exists. Perhaps, that is, until now. A new study sheds light on the story of a young man, likely between the ages of 26 and 35, discovered with a fatal bite mark from a large animal. His remains were buried between 1,825 and 1,725 years ago in what archaeologists believe to be a 'gladiator graveyard' — hundreds of miles from Rome — in York, England. The findings highlight the Roman Empire's sweeping impact across Britain — lending direct evidence that Roman culture and lifestyle spread far beyond the Colosseum. The human remains at the heart of the new study have puzzled researchers since the burial site was uncovered in 2010. Scientists involved in the expedition, led by the York Archaeological Trust, suspected the divots in the man's pelvis were the work of a carnivore. But delving into the precise culprit showed the markings 'were likely made by a lion, which confirms that the skeletons buried at the cemetery were gladiators, rather than soldiers or slaves, as initially thought,' said study coauthor Malin Holst of the University of York. Here's what the bone analysis revealed about the man and how the researchers determined what was behind the lethal bite markings. Watch chimpanzees sharing fermented fruit, which contains intoxicating traces of alcohol. The first-of-its kind footage could highlight how the closest living relatives to humans may partake in a boozy treat to strengthen bonds that's similar to our social rites. What's nearly as long as a bus, has teeth the size of bananas and has a scientific name that translates to 'terror crocodile'? Behold: Deinosuchus. The roughly 26-foot-long creature of nightmares is believed to have lived between 82 million and 75 million years ago, dining on dinosaurs in the rivers and estuaries of North America. While prior research on the giant reptile's evolutionary background has put it in the same group as alligators and their ancient relatives, a new analysis of fossils and DNA suggests it belongs on a different branch of the crocodilian family tree. That assessment boils down to one key trait: Deinosuchus had special glands and a tolerance for salt water, according to the study. Further animating our understanding of the creatures that populated prehistoric Earth are trace fossils — or ancient animal tracks frozen in time. Researching these fascinating rocks is like 'trying to study ghosts,' said Conner Bennett, lead author of a study that described the story behind several trace fossils in the collection of Oregon's John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The footprint fossils can pick up where bones leave off, confirming the presence of animals. For example, one set of tracks estimated to be about 50 million years old tells the story of a small wading bird pausing near a lakeshore in central Oregon to search for food. Without the footprints, the unprecedented evidence of birds in the ancient ecosystem may have been lost to time: Their fragile, hollow skeletons don't hold up well. Tucked away in one of the world's largest collections of fossilized insects, the oldest recorded ant species nearly remained overlooked. Anderson Lepeco, a researcher at the University of São Paulo's Museum of Zoology in Brazil, spotted the 'extraordinary' specimen as he was perusing some of the museum's fossils. That's when he came across the hell ant, preserved in limestone. The critter was believed to have lived among dinosaurs some 113 million years ago — several millennia before previously found ants, according to new research. 'I was just shocked to see that weird projection in front of this (insect's) head,' Lepeco said. 'Other hell ants have been described with odd mandibles, but always as amber specimens.' At wildlife conservancies in Africa, four-legged friends are invigorating efforts to combat poaching. Professional dog trainers Darren Priddle and Jacqui Law of Carmarthen, Wales, spearhead the initiative, called Dogs4Wildlife. After they saw a picture of a poached African rhino on social media in 2015, they set out to use their expertise training animals to help combat illegal hunting. 'It was quite a horrific image. We sat down and we said, 'OK, that's really affected us,'' Priddle told CNN. The duo has since sent 15 stalwart canines to five sub-Saharan African countries, including Shinga, a Belgian Malinois, and Murwi, a Dutch shepherd, who protect big game at Zimbabwe's Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy. Check out these must-read science stories from the week: — The head of the US National Science Foundation stepped down from his post as the agency grapples with the Trump administration's demands. — A Pakistani astronaut will become the first foreign national to enter China's space station, Tiangong. — Scientists spotted a 1940s Ford automobile inside the sunken USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier lost during the Battle of Midway. Before you go, it's time to look skyward: Saturday is the last day to catch a glimpse of the Lyrid meteor shower.
CNN
26-04-2025
- Science
- CNN
Man recovered from ‘gladiator graveyard' died of lion bite, study finds
Legends of young heroes fighting lions to the death appear in Roman records and artwork, but scant physical evidence of these beastly battles exists. Perhaps, that is, until now. A new study sheds light on the story of a young man, likely between the ages of 26 and 35, discovered with a fatal bite mark from a large animal. His remains were buried between 1,825 and 1,725 years ago in what archaeologists believe to be a 'gladiator graveyard' — hundreds of miles from Rome — in York, England. The findings highlight the Roman Empire's sweeping impact across Britain — lending direct evidence that Roman culture and lifestyle spread far beyond the Colosseum. The human remains at the heart of the new study have puzzled researchers since the burial site was uncovered in 2010. Scientists involved in the expedition, led by the York Archaeological Trust, suspected the divots in the man's pelvis were the work of a carnivore. But delving into the precise culprit showed the markings 'were likely made by a lion, which confirms that the skeletons buried at the cemetery were gladiators, rather than soldiers or slaves, as initially thought,' said study coauthor Malin Holst of the University of York. Here's what the bone analysis revealed about the man and how the researchers determined what was behind the lethal bite markings. Watch chimpanzees sharing fermented fruit, which contains intoxicating traces of alcohol. The first-of-its kind footage could highlight how the closest living relatives to humans may partake in a boozy treat to strengthen bonds that's similar to our social rites. What's nearly as long as a bus, has teeth the size of bananas and has a scientific name that translates to 'terror crocodile'? Behold: Deinosuchus. The roughly 26-foot-long creature of nightmares is believed to have lived between 82 million and 75 million years ago, dining on dinosaurs in the rivers and estuaries of North America. While prior research on the giant reptile's evolutionary background has put it in the same group as alligators and their ancient relatives, a new analysis of fossils and DNA suggests it belongs on a different branch of the crocodilian family tree. That assessment boils down to one key trait: Deinosuchus had special glands and a tolerance for salt water, according to the study. Further animating our understanding of the creatures that populated prehistoric Earth are trace fossils — or ancient animal tracks frozen in time. Researching these fascinating rocks is like 'trying to study ghosts,' said Conner Bennett, lead author of a study that described the story behind several trace fossils in the collection of Oregon's John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The footprint fossils can pick up where bones leave off, confirming the presence of animals. For example, one set of tracks estimated to be about 50 million years old tells the story of a small wading bird pausing near a lakeshore in central Oregon to search for food. Without the footprints, the unprecedented evidence of birds in the ancient ecosystem may have been lost to time: Their fragile, hollow skeletons don't hold up well. Tucked away in one of the world's largest collections of fossilized insects, the oldest recorded ant species nearly remained overlooked. Anderson Lepeco, a researcher at the University of São Paulo's Museum of Zoology in Brazil, spotted the 'extraordinary' specimen as he was perusing some of the museum's fossils. That's when he came across the hell ant, preserved in limestone. The critter was believed to have lived among dinosaurs some 113 million years ago — several millennia before previously found ants, according to new research. 'I was just shocked to see that weird projection in front of this (insect's) head,' Lepeco said. 'Other hell ants have been described with odd mandibles, but always as amber specimens.' At wildlife conservancies in Africa, four-legged friends are invigorating efforts to combat poaching. Professional dog trainers Darren Priddle and Jacqui Law of Carmarthen, Wales, spearhead the initiative, called Dogs4Wildlife. After they saw a picture of a poached African rhino on social media in 2015, they set out to use their expertise training animals to help combat illegal hunting. 'It was quite a horrific image. We sat down and we said, 'OK, that's really affected us,'' Priddle told CNN. The duo has since sent 15 stalwart canines to five sub-Saharan African countries, including Shinga, a Belgian Malinois, and Murwi, a Dutch shepherd, who protect big game at Zimbabwe's Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy. Check out these must-read science stories from the week: — The head of the US National Science Foundation stepped down from his post as the agency grapples with the Trump administration's demands. — A Pakistani astronaut will become the first foreign national to enter China's space station, Tiangong. — Scientists spotted a 1940s Ford automobile inside the sunken USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier lost during the Battle of Midway. Before you go, it's time to look skyward: Saturday is the last day to catch a glimpse of the Lyrid meteor shower.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
THIS ancient animal hunted and ate the dinosaurs, reveals study
Deinosuchus, one of the biggest crocodilians that ever lived, had a body as long as a school bus and teeth the size of bananas. From 82 to 75 million years ago, this giant predator lived in rivers and estuaries across North America. Though it had a broad snout like an alligator, scientists now say Deinosuchus was something else entirely. According to a new study published Wednesday in Communications Biology, Deinosuchus was not part of the alligator family after all. The research team used fossil evidence and DNA from living crocodilians to build a new family tree. It shows that Deinosuchus is more closely related to crocodiles than to alligators. Modern crocodiles have salt glands that help them survive in seawater. Deinosuchus had those glands, too, but alligators do not. That detail is key. Salt tolerance would have allowed Deinosuchus to swim across the Western Interior Seaway—a vast sea that once split North America in two during a time of high global sea levels. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo 'With salt glands, Deinosuchus could go where alligators couldn't,' said Dr. Márton Rabi, a senior study author and lecturer at the University of Tübingen in Germany. 'We are talking about an absolutely monstrous animal. Definitely around 8 meters (26 feet) or more total body length,' Rabi told CNN. Toothmarks on dinosaur bones show Deinosuchus hunted or scavenged them. 'No one was safe in these wetlands when Deinosuchus was around,' Rabi said. Fossils of Deinosuchus have been found on both sides of the ancient seaway. The largest species, Deinosuchus riograndensis, lived along the eastern edge of an island called Laramidia, which made up less than a third of the North American landmass. The other large landmass was known as Appalachia. For a long time, scientists believed Deinosuchus was part of the alligatoroid group. But this didn't make sense. Alligators only live in freshwater today. How could Deinosuchus cross a sea more than 1,000 kilometers wide? One theory was that early alligators once had salt glands and later lost them. But that idea had little evidence and depended on Deinosuchus being an alligator relative. The fossil record didn't support the idea that Deinosuchus spread across North America before the sea formed, either. 'The picture wasn't very coherent,' Rabi said. To fix that, the researchers added data from extinct crocodilians that hadn't been used in previous studies. These 'missing links' helped clarify the evolution of salt tolerance and other traits. 'Our analysis found that saltwater tolerance is a fairly ancient trait of many crocodilians, and was secondarily lost in the alligatoroids,' Rabi said. The researchers also found that the first alligators were smaller than other crocodilians of the time. They didn't grow large until about 34 million years ago—long after Deinosuchus lived. Rabi said the smaller size of early alligatoroids is another clue that Deinosuchus was not one of them. 'Dwarfism in early alligatoroids was another clue that giant Deinosuchus was no 'greater alligator.'' The study also found that huge crocodilians like Deinosuchus evolved again and again over the past 120 million years, even during ice ages. According to Rabi, 'Giant crocs are more like the norm of any time.'
