Latest news with #HistoryMuseum
15-07-2025
- Science
99-million-year-old 'zombie' fungi found preserved in amber, scientists say
Scientists have discovered two new species of ancient parasitic fungi preserved in amber dating back 99 million years. The fungi were growing out of the bodies of host insects that became trapped in globs of amber during the mid-Cretaceous period, according to a paper published last month in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. "It's fascinating to see some of the strangeness of the natural world that we see today was also present at the height of the age of the dinosaurs," said Edmund Jarzembowski, a paleoentomologist at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology and co-author of the study, in a statement. The species of fungi that were growing out of the body of a young ant in its cocoon stage was named Paleoophiocordyceps gerontoformicae, while another species found bursting from the body of an ancient fly was named Paleoophiocordyceps ironomyiae. Entomopathogenic fungi can infect a wide range of insect groups, including ants, flies, spiders, cicadas and beetles, scientists say. The discovery represents the oldest-known examples of parasitic fungi that infect insects, the researchers said. Throughout their 400 million years of coexistence, fungi have proved to be an important regulator of insect populations. "As the infections are lethal, Ophiocordyceps likely played an important role in controlling the populations of insects by the Mid-Cretaceous, in a similar way to how their living counterparts do today," Jarzembowski said. Little is known about ancient entomopathogenic fungi due to the scarcity of fossils that display typical pathogenic structures on their hosts, according to the paper. The newly discovered species of fungi shared common traits with modern species of Ophiocordyceps, a group of fungi that contains the zombie-ant fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, according to the paper. The groups may have diverged from each other about 130 million years ago, during the early Cretaceous period, the researchers said. The discovery represents the oldest-known examples of parasitic fungi that infect insects, the researchers said. More than 1,500 species of parasitic fungi are currently found in five of the eight major groups of fungi, according to the Natural History Museum in London. O. unilateralis is known for infecting the brain of its hosts and manipulating the insect's behavior -- forcing it to seek more favorable conditions so that the fungi can thrive, the researchers said. Once the ant dies, the fungus grows outside of its body and releases millions of spores to infect more ants. The Zombie-ant fungi was the premise of the post-apocalyptic television series "The Last of Us." "This discovery shows the impact of tiny organisms on social animals long before humans evolved -- with the comforting thought that these tiny organisms are unlikely to jump to us, unlike in sci-fi films!" Jarzembowski said. The specimens are being housed at the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan University.
New York Post
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Nassau Dems threaten funding freeze over $150K needed for Hempstead park rehab: ‘Completely ridiculous'
Nassau Democrats gathered at Mirschel Park Monday — a crumbling Hempstead hub in desperate need of an overhaul — and blasted the county executive for playing favorites with projects in Republican-led districts. Democrats are seeking $150,000 to repair the park, but also claim $9 million worth of projects are being stonewalled by Bruce Blakeman, the Republican county executive. The Dems — if they don't get their way — are threatening to withhold key votes to block a funding transfer to the county's parks department budget. Blakeman called the claims 'completely ridiculous.' Advertisement Democrats are seeking $150,000 to repair the park, but also claim $9 million worth of projects are being stonewalled by Bruce Blakeman, the Republican county executive. Brigitte Stelzer He slammed Democrats and pointed to approvals he gave for Hempstead projects like $1 million for water treatment, $400,000 for the African American History Museum, $100,000 for a fire truck, and more than $350,000 for license plate readers. They acknowledged Blakeman signed off on those projects — although they say it was separate from the capital money they're looking for to fund the park rehab — but said the OK's didn't come without a partisan fight. Advertisement 'They never have anything good to say,' Blakeman told The Post. 'What they should say is thank you.' Mirschel Park is operated by Hempstead, not the county, according to Blakeman. He added that Roosevelt, a Democratic district, just received a brand-new state-of-the-art facility at Eisenhower Park known as 'The Dream Court' in 2023, named after hometown legend Julius 'Dr. J' Erving. But Dems said the $9 million in question is already allocated in approved budgets and Blakeman just needs to release it. Advertisement Mirschel Park is operated by Hempstead, not the county, according to Blakeman. Dennis A. Clark 'This funding has been backloaded since 2023 — and there is no reason for that besides blatant politics,' Legislator Scott Davis, a Democrat, said outside Mirschel Park Monday. 'We are going to hold up the transfer until we see movement on our projects,' added Democratic Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, claiming roughly 34 projects across GOP-controlled districts have been approved without one of the Dems' 32 proposals being passed. Advertisement Blakeman said he has given plenty of funding to blue districts and the village of Roosevelt in particular. 'They're trying to pick on us because we're holding a $150,00 request when we've already given $3 million to the village — it is totally ludicrous,' he said.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Weis Earth Science Museum's future no longer in jeopardy, announces move to History Museum at the Castle in Appleton
APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – After months of uncertainty due to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Fox Cities campus impending closure, the future of the Weis Earth Science Museum has been solidified with a relocation to the History Museum at the Castle in Appleton. Officials with the Weis Earth Science Museum stated that its collections and exhibitions will be relocated to the History Museum at the Castle on Appleton's East College Avenue. 'With this move, the History Museum can ensure the Weis' mission endures and its unique collections are preserved locally,' officials said in a release on Wednesday. 'The public will continue to have access to lively earth science exhibitions and programming that benefit Fox Valley residents, schools, and universities.' Rehearsals spark excitement for upcoming Center Stage Highschool Musical Showcase The History Museum worked closely with Outagamie and Winnebago counties as well as the University of Wisconsin system during its relocation decision process. 'We have been very concerned about the long-term prospects of the UW Fox Cities campus, Weis Museum, and Barlow Planetarium,' History Museum Executive Director Dustin Mack said. 'It is important that these resources be preserved locally. Our plan to integrate the Weis into the History Museum generated broad support and we are confident this will benefit the community as a result.' Plans for collaborations with Lawrence University are underway, officials say, and the History Museum is working with the Weis Museum's staff to coordinate the move. Wisconsin State Patrol: Don't pass agricultural vehicles in no-passing zones An opening date has yet to be set, but the History Museum hopes to open the retrofitted Weis exhibits soon. The History Museum at the Castle is located at 330 East College Avenue and opens daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. More information can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New exhibit highlighting Springfield's Jewish community
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. —A new temporary exhibit is opening today at the History Museum on the Square highlighting the Jewish community. The exhibit is in the Voices of History Gallery and is called 'Creating Community: Jews in Springfield.' Executive Director Sean FitzGibbons says it provides an opportunity to learn more about Jewish history in Springfield from the 1860's to today. 'We really want to have our community reflected on the walls,' FitzGibbons said. 'And I think this exhibit really highlights the fact that while Springfield isn't known for its Jewish community, there has been a thriving Jewish community here for a very long time. According to FitzGibbons, this exhibit has been 10 years in the making and was originally planned to be displayed in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the gallery. FitzGibbons says the exhibit was inspired by a book. Ozark PD asking for more license plate reading cameras 'It has been a long partnership with Dr. Mara Cohen Ioannides who is a professor over at MSU,' FitzGibbons said. 'She wrote the book 'Creating Communities the Jews in Springfield, Missouri.' So she has a wealth of knowledge. We really appreciate her help on this.' The museum also worked closely with Temple Israel and other Jewish groups in the area to bring this exhibit to life. The exhibit is filled with items reflecting the Jewish faith like a Yameka display and two Chuppahs, a traditional Jewish wedding arch. 'We have a timeline of the Jewish immigrants that came in through into Springfield We also have some case studies of people who are living in Springfield right now and their family histories of what it means to be Jewish in Springfield,' FitzGibbons said. 'Jews of Springfield, are your friends, your neighbors, your family. that's one key takeaway that I really hope people leave with it.' You can visit this exhibit starting Feb. 5 through the end of May. The exhibit is included in the price of a regular ticket. The History Museum on the Square is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
