Latest news with #Maidment
International Business Times
07-07-2025
- Science
- International Business Times
From Rocks to Roars: Dog-Sized Dinosaur Unearthed from Colorado Rock Formation
A latest journal article, published in Royal Society Open Science, revealed that researchers have unearthed a new species of dinosaur from the famed Morrison Formation in Colorado. According to the article, scientists have named the speedy, dog-sized dinosaur Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae. The Natural History Museum in London has its skeleton, or what fossil hunters could find of it in Moffat County, on display. The news release from the museum stated that the scientists said the dinosaur discovered was only about 1 meter long, but there are signs that it wasn't fully grown. The National Park Service said that the Morrison Formation of sedimentary rock from the late Jurassic period is named after the Colorado town but spans across the western United States. Susannah Maidment, one of the lead authors of the Royal Society Open Science article and a researcher with London's Natural History Museum, said, "While the Morrison Formation has been well-known for a long time, most of the focus has been on searching for the biggest and most impressive dinosaurs," adding, "Smaller dinosaurs are often left behind, meaning there are probably many still in the ground." Between 2021 and 2022, Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae bones were discovered on the Skull Creek Estates, a private Colorado land near Dinosaur. According to the London Museum, Maidment and her co-author, Paul Barrett, discovered the fossils after they were sold by a commercial dealer and eventually found their way to a London art gallery. The partial skeleton was initially identified by scientists as belonging to the plant-eating dinosaur Nanosaurus, which was found in 1877. The press release stated that Maidment and Barrett started to investigate further and found that the Nanosaurus label was ill-defined and based more on preserved dinosaur impressions than actual bones. Maidment stated, "Now, however, we have found hundreds of small dinosaurs from all over the world and know that the fossils of Nanosaurus just aren't that useful, let alone enough to name a species with." "As a result, it made sense to put them to one side and name Enigmacursor as a new species instead," she added. She concluded that there are probably a lot of tiny dinosaurs out there that are just waiting to be properly identified in museum collections or discovered underground, including Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae.
MTV Lebanon
25-06-2025
- Science
- MTV Lebanon
25 Jun 2025 13:47 PM Dog-Sized Dinosaur Discovered Among Giant Species
A labrador-sized dinosaur was wrongly categorised when it was found and is actually a new species, scientists have discovered. Its new name is Enigmacursor - meaning puzzling runner - and it lived about 150 million years ago, running around the feet of famous giants like the Stegosaurus. It was originally classified as a Nanosaurus but scientists now conclude it is a different animal. On Thursday it will become the first new dinosaur to go on display at the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London since 2014. BBC News went behind the scenes to see the dinosaur before it will be revealed to the public. The discovery promises to shed light on the evolutionary history that saw early small dinosaurs become very large and "bizarre" animals, according to Professor Paul Barrett, a palaeontologist at the museum. When we visit, the designer of a special glass display case for the Enigmacursor is making last-minute checks. The dinosaur's new home is a balcony in the museum's impressive Earth Hall. Below it is Sophie the Stegosaurus who also lived in the Morrison Formation in the Western United States. Enigmacursor is tiny by comparison. At 64 cm tall and 180 cm long it is about the height of a labrador, but with much bigger feet and a tail that was "probably longer than the rest of the dinosaur," says Professor Susannah Maidment. "It also had a relatively small head, so it was probably not the brightest," she adds, adding that it was probably a teenager when it died. With the fossilised remains of its bones in their hands, conservators Lu Allington-Jones and Kieran Miles expertly assemble the skeleton on to a metal frame. "I don't want to damage it at this stage before its revealed to everybody," says Ms Allington-Jones, head of conservation. "Here you can see the solid dense hips showing you it was a fast-running dinosaur. But the front arms are much smaller and off the ground - perhaps it used them to shovel plants in its mouth with hands," says Mr Miles. It was clues in the bones that led scientists at NHM to conclude the creature was a new species. "When we're trying to identify if something is a new species, we're looking for small differences with all of the other closely-related dinosaurs. The leg bones are really important in this one," says Prof Maidment, holding the right hind limb of the Enigmacursor. When the dinosaur was donated to the museum it was named Nanosaurus, like many other small dinosaurs named since the 1870s. But the scientists suspected that categorisation was false. To find out more, they travelled to the United States with scans of the skeleton and detailed photographs to see the original Nanosaurus that is considered the archtype specimen. "But it didn't have any bones. It's just a rock with some impressions of bone in it. It could be any number of dinosaurs," Professor Maidment said. In contrast, the NHM's specimen was a sophisticated and near-to-complete skeleton with unique features including its leg bones. Untangling this mystery around the names and categorisation is essential, the palaeontologists say. "It's absolutely foundational to our work to understand how many species we actually have. If we've got that wrong, everything else falls apart," says Prof Maidment. The scientists have now formally erased the whole category of Nanosaurus. They believe that other small dinosaur specimens from this period are probably also distinct species. The discovery should help the scientists understand the diversity of dinosaurs in the Late Jurassic period. Smaller dinosaurs are "very close to the origins of the large groups of dinosaurs that become much more prominent later on," says Prof Barrett. "Specimens like this help fill in some of those gaps in our knowledge, showing us how those changes occur gradually over time," he adds. Looking at these early creatures helps them identify "the pressures that finally led to the evolution of their more bizarre, gigantic descendants," says Prof Barrett. The scientists are excited to have such a rare complete skeleton of a small dinosaur. Traditionally, big dinosaur bones have been the biggest prize, so there has been less interest in digging out smaller fossils. "When you're looking for those very big dinosaurs, sometimes it's easy to overlook the smaller ones living alongside them. But now I hope people will keep their eyes close to the ground looking for these little ones," says Prof Barrett. The findings about Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae are published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
Western Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Lidl employee who faced age discrimination during redundancy given compensation
Wayne Norman worked as a senior construction consultant for the supermarket chain in Doncaster where he was responsible for overseeing the building and refurbishment of regional stores before being made redundant in March 2023. At the point of his dismissal, he was 63 years old, had been employed by Lidl for just under 23 years and had undertaken around 77 construction projects, the tribunal in Sheffield heard. Mr Norman was first told of proposed redundancies during a meeting on January 30 2023 after which he discovered he was among three construction consultants up for redundancy with only one role available as part of the restructure. The other two consultants were both in their 30s at the time. After learning one of them had been successful in securing the job, Mr Norman met with his line manager Liam Schofield who informed him he had been 'marked down for not having 'relevant construction qualifications' in that you do not have a construction degree', the tribunal heard. Mr Norman's argument that those in their 60s were 'less likely' to have a degree than those in their 30s was accepted by the tribunal that ruled the inclusion of having a degree or construction qualification as part of the redundancy selection criteria amounted to indirect age discrimination. In a written ruling, employment judge Neil Maidment said Mr Norman had felt 'discredited' because he did not have a degree and 'punished' for the fact he had grown up on a Welsh council estate and had not had the opportunity to attend university. Of Mr Norman's evidence, the judge wrote: 'He said that he had always believed that if you work hard enough, long enough and successfully enough you will be rewarded and respected for the work you do. 'Being told that he was marked down because he didn't have a degree made him feel inadequate and demeaned. 'He described growing up on a North Wales council estate in the 1960s and 1970s when there was no opportunity for someone like him to go to university. 'He felt punished for this and angry. 'His parents had done their best to provide everything for him and he had worked his way up the ladder.' Mr Schofield's evidence was not 'wholly consistent' regarding the significance of a qualification or degree during the redundancy process, the tribunal ruled. During his time at Lidl, Mr Norman had got on well with his colleagues with a feeling that they were 'very much part of a family', the tribunal heard. Of the effects of the redundancy on Mr Norman, Judge Maidment said he had suffered some 'clear psychological damage', evidenced by medication taken by the claimant and counselling he had received. 'The impact on his family life had been extreme and at one point he had had suicidal ideations,' the judge added. Had it not been for his dismissal, the claimant 'envisaged himself happily working on with the respondent until around his 67th birthday', Judge Maidment wrote. The tribunal ruled that the 'failure to conduct a reasonable process of consultation' was sufficient enough to render the dismissal unfair and, while the respondent had set up a 'potentially fair' scoring and criteria method, the tribunal could not conclude that this was 'fairly and reasonably' applied in Mr Norman's case. In a remedy judgment published on May 9, the tribunal ordered Lidl to pay Mr Norman £46,280.63 in compensation for unfair dismissal and a further £4,646.15 for injury of feelings because of indirect age discrimination. The ruling noted that the amount awarded for unfair dismissal had been reduced by 50% to reflect the chance that the claimant would have been fairly dismissed in any event. Mr Norman's complaint of direct age discrimination failed as the tribunal accepted he had been selected for redundancy based on an assessment of his 'abilities unrelated to age' and there was 'no evidence' that his 'likely longevity' in the role or age may affect his performance. His further claim of age-related harassment, including an allegation that a colleague had referred to him as 'grandad' in the office, also failed.
Boston Globe
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
When the prep schools came calling, Gian Gamelli stuck with Hamilton-Wenham baseball. His next stop is Notre Dame.
Maidment naturally keeps an eye out for names in the program. When his career was in its infancy — he was hired in 2012 — there was a name that kept surfacing: Gian Gamelli . 'Being from the town, and having a nephew in the league before my kids, he was always that name,' Maidment said. 'Everyone was like Gian, Gian, Gian.' Advertisement Gamelli quickly became a sensation in Hamilton-Wenham youth athletics circle. He started hearing from Catholic and prep programs as a middle schooler. They wanted to steer him away from his local public school. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The fact that he didn't makes Gamelli different. 'The foundation was already here,' Gamelli said. 'All those relationships were already built. We found absolutely nothing wrong with it, no reason to go anywhere.' Gian Giambelli stands tall in the Hamilton-Wenham lineup. COOPER MILLER Four years later, as a University of Notre Dame-bound senior captain, Gamelli proved why staying paid off. He became the Generals' No. 1 option from the jump, and that hasn't changed. 'The fact that he was willing to allow us as coaches to help him in this process was one of the best things that happened to us as a staff,' Maidment said. 'He's probably, without a doubt, our best athlete we've had in this program.' Advertisement Through seven games, the lefthanded thrower/righthanded hitter is putting up impressive numbers for H-W (6-1) . Entering Thursday's 7-0 loss to Lowell Catholic in Cooperstown, N.Y., Gamelli had 10 hits in 20 at-bats, eight walks, an OPS of 1.450, 15 runs scored, eight RBIs, 12 stolen bases, and one strikeout. While he isn't pitching this season — Gamelli partially tore his Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) before his junior year and needed Tommy John surgery after he fully tore it last June — he plans to make a full return for fall ball in South Bend. What matters most is being able to play alongside his best friends for one last hurrah. The Generals' roster hasn't changed since last year and is entirely composed of seniors and juniors. 'The home atmosphere was everything in that decision,' Gamelli said. 'Hamilton-Wenham is such a tight-knit, close community. The same faces you played like little league with are the same faces that are cheering me on behind the fence today.' That's also part of the reason Gamelli chose Notre Dame. The mix of a small-town vibe, academic excellence, campus culture, family influence — Gamelli's father, Bill, is a Fighting Irish football fan — and the fact that Gamelli was recruited for his two-way ability made the decision simple. 'A lot of what he and his family were looking for aligned with Notre Dame, and what Notre Dame provides as a university, and what we provide as an athletic program,' Notre Dame baseball coach Shawn Stiffler said. 'It was a home run for both of us.' Hamilton-Wenham senior Gian Gambelli is an impact player with the ball in his left hand. Kat Cornetta Through Stiffler's connections, Gamelli was fortunate to have Dr. Christopher Ahmad , the Yankees' team physician, perform the surgery. Before Tommy John, Gamelli's fastball reached 90 miles per hour. Maidment isn't worried about Gamelli reaching — and exceeding — that velocity when he returns to the bump. Advertisement It's not just the speed that jumps out, either. It's his three-quarters arm slot from the left side, the fact that he bats from the right, his 6-foot-3-inch, 195-pound frame, and his ability to paint the corners which sparked the interest of Stiffler and his staff. Related : Furthermore, in a transactional world of high school and college sports, Gamelli's commitment to his hometown is what struck Stiffler the most. It continues to impress Maidment. 'It's becoming more and more rare to have a young person who can see beyond the next several years, or see into the future of 'OK, what do I really want my experience to be about 15, 20 years from now?'' Stiffler said. 'Do I want to be a guy that really has nowhere to call home, or do I want to have the ability to leave a legacy?' It's more than a personal legacy that Gamelli wants. 'Sophomore year, we made it to the Elite Eight,' Gamelli said. 'That was a special run. The team was super close, like a family. The atmosphere was awesome. And I think this year has all that and more. I think the sky's the limit for the team right now.' Extra bases ▪ Needham has won two games — both via a walk-off from the bat of Alex Rufo, who came off the bench both times. The senior stepped up with the winning single for the Rockets (2-5) on Wednesday against No. 15 St. John's Prep. Advertisement 'He's got an awesome arm out of the bullpen, and an awesome bat off the bench,' coach C.J. Golbranson said. 'I tell Rufo all the time to just stay ready to go.' ▪ BC High senior Tommy O'Donnell's walk-off single With the weather finally cooperating, his grandmother got to see him play for the first time this spring. 'I was really happy I could do that for her,' O'Donnell said. Related : And with the Babson College team waiting for their turn to play at Monan Park against host UMass Boston, O'Donnell's uncle — Beavers head coach Matt Noone — got to see his nephew deliver in a big spot. ▪ A trio of coaching milestones arrived over the past week: Abington coach Steve Perakslis , who survived a brain tumor in January, became the Gerry Lambert earned his 300th career victory last Thursday. The Mass. Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer has led his alma mater to three state titles since taking over in 2002 . . . Blue Hills coach Matthew Manders earned his 100th career win Saturday as the Warriors (3-1) took down Cohasset, 12-2. Games to watch Friday, No. 7 Plymouth North at No. 4 Xaverian, 5 p.m. — The defending Division 2 champion Eagles hit the road to take on the Hawks in this Top 10 clash. Monday, No. 6 St. Mary's at English High, 4 p.m. — The reigning Division 5 champs host the Division 3 runners-up in this intriguing nonleague test. Advertisement Monday, No. 13 Wellesley at No. 12 Walpole, 4 p.m. — After a hot start, the Timberwolves have lost five straight. This could be the chance for the Bay State Carey Division-leading Warriors to make a statement. Wednesday, No. 3 Taunton at No. 8 King Philip, 3:45 p.m. — With both undefeated in Hockomock play, this will be a battle for Kelley-Rex Division supremacy. Wednesday, No. 17 Andover at No. 18 Chelmsford, 4 p.m. — Two of the Merrimack Valley Conference's best go head-to-head in this Top 20 clash. Correspondent Mike Puzzanghera contributed to this report.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Champagne, chaos and cheeks: Sabrage brings a naughty night of cabaret to London's Lafayette
A new circus-cabaret spectacle has arrived in London, setting up shop at Lafayette near King's Cross. Sabrage - which takes its name from the French tradition of opening champagne with a sword - pops the cork on an evening of daring feats, high-energy performances, debauchery and deliciously unhinged antics. Lafayette, best known for hosting gigs by the likes of Charli XCX, Olivia Dean and Dave, is a fitting backdrop. The venue's Nola's Bar drips with Parisian decadence, inviting audiences to sip on cocktails before being whisked away into the madness. The stage itself is intimate, bringing those who dare to come along right into the heart of the action. Directed by Scott Maidment, a maestro of circus cabaret who has toured his productions through 32 countries and previously worked with Madonna on her Rebel Heart tour, Sabrage incorporates both improvised chaos and carefully calibrated precision. 'We want it to feel chaotic and crazy, but there's a lot of technical precision that goes into making that happen. There's a lot of moving parts in the show. There's aerials, a lot of lighting, sound, dance - and everything needs to work together.' Maidment tells Euronews Culture. 'So the audience feels like it's chaos, but it's actually precision.' And precision there certainly is. The show brings together a small but undeniably talented cast of performers. There's jaw-dropping table-juggling wizardry from Emma Phillips, who trained in a remote Chinese village for two and a half years to master the art of spinning parasols and furniture on her feet. Flynn Miller and Kimberley Bargenquast mesmerise with a sensual aerial performance, while singer Rechelle Mansour keeps the mood sultry and electric. Christian Nimri zips around on roller skates, Skye Ladell seduces with her tantalising dance moves, and the unashamedly eccentric Spencer Novich contorts his body into comic frenzy during a mashup of sounds and snippets from across pop culture. Then there's Rémy Martin, whose abiltiies defy explanation... Let's just say his 'instrumental' performance involves some audience participation, some lube, and a microphone strategically placed near his private parts. Some things are best discovered in person. "I invented a special instrument, since I would say my birth. I'm the only one in the world using it as I use it. I don't wanna say more," he teased before the show. Maidment describes Sabrage as an experience designed for those looking for more than just a night at the theatre. 'People that come to our shows aren't necessarily theatre-goers,' he explains. 'They'll have a few drinks, see the show, maybe go out for dinner - it's a whole evening of entertainment. And once they see it, they often come back because they want their friends to experience it.' While Sabrage might not be everyone's cup of tea (or glass of bubbly), for those looking for a silly night of absurdity, acrobatics, and audacious fun, it's a ride worth taking. Check out footage from the circus-cabaret spectacle in the video above.
