Latest news with #Duonychus
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Scientists discover bizarre dinosaur fossil with sloth-like arms and deadly claws that lived 95 million years ago
Every fossil tells a story, and some have the power to rewrite entire chapters of our understanding of prehistoric life. Over the past few decades, dinosaur fossils have changed from being just rare discoveries into interesting and novel windows into evolution, behaviour, and the diversity of ancient ecosystems. A recently found fossil in Mongolia is opening yet another door to discoveries which is about sloth-like dinosaurs with massive claws and an unusual hand structure. Palaeontologists working in the Gobi Desert have discovered a brand-new species which is a group of peculiar, plant-eating theropods that lived 90to 95 million years ago and surprisingly , this one breaks even the rules of its own kind. This newly discovered Duonychus tsogtbaatari fossil adds up to the lineage of therizinosaurs , that have been known for their long necks, small heads, rotund bellies, and huge claws, this fossil breaks the mould with its reduced two-fingered hands. Its name 'Duonychus' means "two claws" in Greek and clearly highlights this special feature and sets the dino apart from the ones of its kind. The name also honours Mongolian palaeontologist Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar. These dinos are different from their kind by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest $200 in Amazon without buying stocks to earn a second salary Marketsall Sign Up Undo "Therizinosaurs are some of the weirdest dinosaurs ever. They were theropods - so, related to meat-eaters - but they looked like giant feathered sloths," explained Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, a palaeontologist at the Hokkaido University Museum in Japan and lead author of the study, as quoted by Reuters. But the newly discovered Duonychus takes that strangeness up a notch. While it had sharp, curved claws similar to those of a raptor, it didn't use them for hunting. Instead, this dinosaur used its short, two-fingered hands to eat plants. "Duonychus takes that weirdness even further. It had this short, two-fingered hand with claws like a raptor (swift meat-eating dinosaurs), but it used them to eat plants. It's like evolution said, 'Let's try something totally new.' And it worked," Kobayashi added. The skulls and legs were missing.. According to the study published on March 25 in iScience, the skeleton was incomplete, missing the skull and legs, but the arms and claws were remarkably well-preserved. One claw even retained its keratin sheath, the material found in human fingernails, making it 40% longer than the underlying bone. 'These were big, sharp and nasty claws,' said palaeontologist Darla Zelenitsky of the University of Calgary, co-author of the study, as quoted by Reuters. The preserved keratin is a rare discovery and gives researchers new information about the functionality of the claws. Kobayashi added that the hands showed 'fused wrist bones, stiff joints and the two massive claws,' which could indicate a specialized feeding method. Digit reduction is of special interest in evolutionary biology. Most early dinosaurs had five fingers, but over time, many lost digits. The discovery of Duonychus makes it the fifth known theropod lineage to evolve with just two fingers independently, which places it among Tyrannosaurus rex. As reported by Reuters, 'With dinosaurs that grasped vegetation during foraging, one would think more fingers would be better,' Zelenitsky said. 'That was obviously not the case with Duonychus… I suspect it may have had a specialized feeding behavior or food source.'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Two-fingered dinosaur discovered in Mongolia with help of N.M. researcher
What has two fingers per hand and just got discovered by an international research team in Mongolia? This guy: Duonychus tsogtbaatari. A new species of therizinosaurus has been discovered in Mongolia. Paleontologist Anthony Fiorillo, the executive director of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, was part of the research team. The specimen was discovered at a construction site in a small village near the Chinese border. Spine segments, a humerus and most significantly, two arms, were uncovered. 'This discovery shows us how much more there is to be discovered, that there is so much more biodiversity out there to be found in the fossil record,' Fiorillo said. 'I can't wait for the next person to find the next cool thing.' It was the two preserved arms that indicated the specimen was the member of an undiscovered species of therizinosaurus. Each arm has two fingers. 'On both arms, instead of the more typical three fingers, this one has two fingers,' Fiorillo said. 'That in itself is very unique within this group of dinosaurs called therizinosaurus.' Duonychus tsogtbaatari is believed to have lived 90 million years ago, weighing in at almost 600 pounds and standing several meters tall. Therazinosaurus in general had an 'ungainly' body plan, Fiorillo said. 'They have long, longish necks, longish tails, a potbelly, and then these wickedly developed claws,' Fiorillo said. 'Many therizinosaurs had very long, somewhat straight claws.' Those lethal claws were fictionalized in Jurassic World: Dominion, when a toothy rival is shish-kebabed on a therizinosaur's three-fingered hands. The specimen discovered in Mongolia, however, has sharply curved, sloth-like claws. When Duonychus tsogtbaatari lived, in what is now the Gobi Desert, it would have looked significantly different. Although there are gaps in the fossil plant record in the Gobi, it was likely a warmer and more humid climate. The authors of the paper posit the scythe-like claws were used to hook and bring vegetation to the dinosaur's mouth. Duonychus tsogtbaatari largely ate plants. The two-fingered arm raises questions as well. Several strains of theropods, a group of bipedal dinosaurs including Tyrannosaurus rex, independently evolved to have fewer fingers on each arm. Why? That remains to be seen, Fiorillo said. 'Beyond a broad statement that there's something driving evolution for, if you will, an increased efficiency of digit reduction, what you really like about a study is when it raises additional questions,' Fiorillo said. 'That is certainly one of the questions: Why is this going on, and why is it happening across multiple groups? And we don't have a real good answer for that yet.' The lead author, Hokkaido University paleontologist Yoshitsugi Kobayashi, an expert in Mongolian dinosaurs, was a student of Fiorillo's. Another author on the paper, Tsogtbaatar Chinzorig with the University of North Carolina and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, was Kobayashi's student. Duonychus tsogtbaatari is named after his father. But that's not the only link between the Land of Enchantment and the new species. Fragmented fossils of therizinosaurs have been found in the Zuni Basin near the New Mexico/Arizona border. 'It's reasonable to suspect there may be more than one kind found here,' Fiorillo said. 'The great thing about paleontology is you realize how the world is connected.'
CNN
29-03-2025
- Science
- CNN
Wind turbine parts may be giant technofossils that puzzle future scientists
Like nostalgia-evoking songs, objects can help us feel like we've preserved a moment in time. 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.
CNN
29-03-2025
- Science
- CNN
Wind turbine parts may be giant technofossils that puzzle future scientists
Like nostalgia-evoking songs, objects can help us feel like we've preserved a moment in time. 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.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Wind turbine parts may be giant technofossils that puzzle future scientists
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. Like nostalgia-evoking songs, objects can help us feel like we've preserved a moment in time. 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. 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. 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