Ancient Volcanic Eruption Destroyed Most Marine Life

Theory is one of the meteor hit the explanatory how the extinction of dinosaurs on Earth. This was evidenced by a giant crater in the Yucatan Peninsula, which is expected showered celestial 65 million years ago.

Researchers believe they have uncovered evidence of a ancient volcanic eruption that led to marine life extinction at 200 thousand years ago. (Picture from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/)

But the disappearance of the dinosaurs is not the only mass extinction of life on earth. Recent research indicates that the catastrophic events that have occurred 200 thousand years ago. This time, almost all marine life died.

Thomas Tobin clears sand from around the
fossil of a giant ammonite he found in 2009
on James Ross Island in Antarctica. (Picture
from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/)

Mass extinction was caused by factors out of the earth, the volcanic eruptions on the Deccan Plateau in India. This massive eruption spewing aerosols that meets the Earth's atmosphere. Vomit fine aerosol particles that are suspended in greenhouse gases and warming-is what killed many marine organisms, especially invertebrates shells on the sea floor. "It seems that these extinctions occurred within a short time," said Thomas S. Tobin, a paleontologist at the University of Washington, Tuesday, September 11, 2012. The research was published in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.

Tobin and his colleagues collected marine fossils from Seymour Island off the Antarctic Peninsula. The island is to deposit thick sediments rich in fossils. They can get a lot of detailed information from the fossils. "The content of fossils at Seymour confirmed that in the period after the eruption of the Deccan, there is a mass extinction of marine animals," he said. Tobin hopes his research on Seymour Island can be proved in other places, such as in the North Pole. *** [NYTIMES | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3994]

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The Grave of King Richard III Found Beneath Parking Lot?

Illustration picture of King Richard III. 
(Picture from:  http://teknologi.news.viva.co.id/)

The researchers from Leicester, England, who had long been looking for traces of a famous king of England, King Richard III discover new clues in their search. The researchers announced they have found an medieval style ornament of window tracery, tile fragments were polished and roof tiles and in the parking lot Leicester City Council.

The findings are believed to be part of the Greyfriars Church, where King Richard III was buried. Richard III ruled England in 1483-1485 before he was killed in battle Bosworth Field, which became part of the Wars of the Roses.

After his death, Richard was taken to Leicester, and was buried in the Franciscan Friary which is also known as the Greyfriar. However, the tomb of Richard III, also the church, slowly forgotten.

Interestingly, there are a number of stories that mention the death of the last ruler of the House of York. There is a story that mentions Richard III bones thrown into the River Soar. "While other stories, generally discredit, citing his grave used for watering horses," said Philippa Langley, members of Richard III Society.

The figure of King Richard III was then back in the air after the University of Leicester archaeologist mention that under the likely buried in the Middle Ages site beneath parking lot of Leicester City Council. The archaeologists then used ground-penetrating radar to locate the best performing excavation.

At this location, there is the Tomb of Richard III, King of England who was killed in a battle in the 15th century. (Picture from: http://www.surabayapost.co.id/)

In the first week, the team digs deep as 30 meters and found what they call the hall way (cloister walk) and the intersection of the walls of the church. Next plan is to trace the trench to be connected with the church.

Richard III society member Philippa Langley crouches amid paving stones which may belong to a 17th-century garden containing a memorial to the lost king. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

Greyfriars exact location for this is still a mystery. But researchers from the University of Leicester suspect Greyfriars located in one part of the car park Leicester city council. A joint team of the University of Leicester researchers, Leicester City Council, and Richard III Society been searching Greyfriars since August 25, 2011.

Fragments that may belong to the east window of Greyfriar's church. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

Philippa Langley of the Richard III Society, agreed that it was reasonable for the location of the final resting place last Plantagenet king. "We were in the right area. We're beginning to get a sense of where the body of King Richard may have been brought," said Langley.

The researchers hope they can find the tomb and body of King Richard III's then burying him appropriately in Leicester Cathedral.

"Greyfriars we have found. And we are looking for other clues where the church stood. Later, although the body of Richard III does not work we found, but it is still important work to uncover the history of Leicester." said Richard Buckley, one of the University of Leicester Archaeological team leader as reported by LiveScience, Monday, September 3, 2012.

"We will be digging trenches contingency during this weekend to see if it's a church wall. If this happens, we can show the area where Richard III may have been buried," said Buckley. *** [LIVESCIENCE | CENTROONE | SURABAYA POST | VIVA NEWS]

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The Discovery of the Pyramid via Google Earth

Now archaeologists do not have to go into the field to conduct scientific exploration. Simply by using the Google Earth application, Angela Micol, an archaeologist from the United States, found two new sites of the Egyptian pyramids.

Giant ... the massive triangular plateau in Egypt is three times bigger than the Great Pyramid at Giza. (Picture from: http://www.thesun.co.uk/)

Micol hunting pyramids in Egypt from computer screens at her home in North Carolina, 5,000 kilometers from Egypt. To find the ancient buildings, she studied satellite imagery via Google Earth website. The results were quite surprising. “One of the pyramid site size three times larger than the great pyramid at Giza,” says Micol, Tuesday (14 August 2012). The site was in the form of a triangular plateau with an area of ​​207 square meters.

One of the complex sites contains a distinct, four-sided, truncated, pyramidal shape that is approximately 42.67 meters in width. (Picture from: http://rt.com/)

Micol added, “It has a distinct square centre, which is very unusual for a mound of this size and it almost seems pyramidal when seen from above.”

This site contains three smaller mounds in a very clear formation, similar to the diagonal alignment of the Giza Plateau pyramids. (Picture from: http://rt.com/)

There are also three smaller mounds “similar to the diagonal alignment of the Giza Plateau pyramids.”

Close-up of the two smaller "mound" sites. (Picture from: http://rt.com/)

It took 10 years for Micol to tamper with satellite imagery in Google Earth. She pointed two areas along the Nile valley as far as 135 kilometers apart. Both seem to be a huge mounds and unusual shape.

She said, “Upon closer examination of the formation, this mound appears to have a very flat top and a curiously symmetrical triangular shape that has been heavily eroded with time. “The images speak for themselves. It's very obvious what the sites may contain.”

“But field research is needed to verify they are, in fact, pyramids.”

All the known pyramids were constructed around Cairo but the latest sites are much further south.

The first area sits alongside the Nile in Upper Egypt, 19.31 kilometers from the city of Abu Sidhum, while the second, 144.84 kilometers north, contains a 42.67 meters wide, four-sided shape. Micol plans to fly to Egypt and visited two sites these findings.

Micol has used Google Earth before to discover a potential underwater city off the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

American Egyptologist Dr Sarah Parcak also identified 17 lost pyramids thanks to Google Earth in May last year. *** [DAILY MAIL | THE SUN | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3971]

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The Maya Knew Reservoir Technology

Mayan ancestors apparently had experienced a drought, but to resolve the issue they have their own way.

A temple in the Mayan city of Tikal, where a complex system of reservoirs met the water needs of the growing population. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

Recent research has found that the Mayans had a system of irrigation in a sustainable manner. They have a reservoir, which is useful as a water storage area that can collect rain water for eight months and they make the stored water reserves in the face of the dry season.

Archeologists examine an ancient 
reservoir in Tikal, Guatemala.
(Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

Mayan rainwater into a bath filled with sand which is also where the filtration (filtering). Reservoirs are found by archaeologists were able to accommodate up to 74,631 cubic meters of rainwater.

As reported by LiveScience, anthropologist at the University of Cincinnati, Vernon Scarborough said, the Maya able to utilize land and water resources in a sustainable manner for 1,500 years without significant interruption.

In addition to having clean water systems, they also have a sustainable sanitation system. Scarborough and colleagues dug reservoirs, canals, and sluice gates that were once used to drain water from the hilltops to the Tikal settlement residents.

Originally to meet the needs of water, they just rely on natural water; However, with increasing population, the number of natural water is not sufficient anymore. Then they create a natural arroyos (dry river-made), a temporary or seasonal work is filled by rain and flowing water after rain enough.

The study was reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. *** [GI | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 02082012]

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The Oldest Animal Living in 585 Million Years Ago

Uruguayan fossil burrows from late
Neoproterozoic. (Picture from: 
http://earth-pages.co.uk/)

Paleontological research groups from Canada and Uruguay found evidence that the animal has been living in 585 million years ago. The discovery suggests that the animal was already scouring the earth for 30 million years earlier than previously thought.

Evidence of the animal is just a line of trace fossils found in Tacuari Formation, Uruguay. Bilateria, trace the owner of the animal's name, a length of 4-7 mm and 1-2 mm wide. Half a billion years ago, these animals crawling on the sediment is buried in a shallow sea.

The creature is very simple. Similar upper body underneath. Symmetrical shape like this that distinguish primitive animals with creatures other than animals that are generally not symmetrical shape. Most of the Bilateria body is a muscle that is used as a tool motion.

"Soft-bodied animals often become weak and disappear, while the tracks are preserved," said Murray Gingras, paleontologists from the University of Alberta in Canada.

Traces of the animal form of irregular lines. Trace patterns indicate that these animals migrate to find prey. The food is organic material attached to the sediment.

Ernesto Pecoits looks at the layers of rock in Uruguay where the tiny tracks of the earliest multicellular animal were discovered. (Picture from: http://www.livescience.com/)

The animal was moving parallel to the sediment surface without digging ever deeper into the site. According to researchers, it does show how simple the Bilateria tool motion.

On the edge of the track, investigators found a jagged pattern. Geologist from the University of Alberta, Ernesto Pecoits, said serrations are the traces of the animal's footing as it moves forward. Occasionally, these animals appeared to the sediment surface to seek oxygen, then back into the sediment.

Age was assessed by looking at traces of igneous rocks are buried in the same layer as the location of the trail. *** [LIVESCIENCE | SCI-NEWS | ANTON WILLIAM]
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Human Ancestors Came from Asia?

Ancestors of monkeys, apes, and humans is likely to come from Asia, not Africa as long as it is believed by some scientists. The new theory is supported by a new fossil found in South East Asia. 

The image shows two fossilized upper molars. The molar of Afrasia from Myanmar is to the right. The molar of Afrotarsius from Libya is to the left. The map shows the ancient geography of this part of the globe, approximately 38 million years ago. The 3D model is an artist’s reconstruction of Afrotarsius. (Picture from: http://thesciencebulletin.wordpress.com/)

The origin of anthropoids, the simian or the "higher primates," which consists of monkeys, apes, and humans for this is still a debate among scientists. Although the fossils unearthed in Egypt shows that Africa is the land of anthropoids, other bones were found in the last 15 years reveals the possibility that Asia is the birthplace of them. 

This theory states shift the previous theory that human ancestors from Africa. The new theory is revealed by a team of paleontology experts, after they discovered the fossil tooth Afrasia djijidae in Myanmar. 

Fossil forms is similar to the fossil anthropoid teeth Afrotarsius libycus, which is found in Libya, making it the missing evolutionary link chain between Africa and Asia. Shape of the teeth of these two species indicates that they are insect eaters. 

Similarities between Afrasia and gave birth to the idea that Afrotarsius anthropoids migrated from Asia and makes colonization in Africa. 

"Afrasia not only help close the case on the first evolution of anthropoids in Asia, but also tells us that the first human ancestors just walked into Africa," said Chris Beard, a paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the United States. 

But do not imagine this as a form of human ancestral hominids in general. Because it is not the case. Based on the size of the fossil teeth were found, two species of human ancestor estimated size 3.5 ounces, roughly shaped like modern tarsiers. 

The research team found four fossil teeth together after six years of digging and sorting of sediments in the area near bertonton Nyaungpinle in central Myanmar. The findings of a team involving scientists from the University of Poitiers, France, this time splitting paleontologists around the world, especially when and how early Asian anthropoid made its way from Asia to Africa. 

Understand it, because a trip to Africa as it is not easy. Therefore, there is a wider sea than the modern Mediterranean Sea, called the Tethys Sea, separating Asia and Africa. While the discovery of fossil Afrasia not help them solve the mystery of early anthropoids route to the Black continent. "This shows the relatively recent colonization occurred, just before the first early human fossil found in the African fossil record," said Beard. 

Professor Jean-Jacques Jaeger of the University of Poitiers said Afrasia djijidae anthropoid fossils in Myanmar shows one of the descendants of early anthropoids have made the colonization of Africa around 37-38 million years ago. But diversity is more widely known early anthropoids from sites that generate Afrotarsius libycus Libya. 

These findings make a breakthrough in uncovering the relationship between Afrasia djijidae and Afrotarsius libycus. "This is an important benchmark for determining the date of the colonization of Africa by anthropoids Asia," said Jaeger. "Africa is a place of human origin and Asia is the birthplace of our ancestors." *** [DAILY MAIL | LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3904]

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Ancient Giant Turtle Fossil Found

Sixty million years ago, the northern part of America became a haven for the size of a car turtle. The skull measures 24 centimeters as big as the ball used in American football. And the shell measures 172 centimeters, or about five and half feet long.

Scientists have found an ancient turtle the size of a small car fossil in Columbia. (Picture from: http://earthsky.org/)

Its jaws were large and powerful that it can take an animal, such as snails, turtles normally, even alligators. "Turtles are eating everything," says paleontologist from North Carolina State University, Daniel Ksepka, through a press release yesterday (May 21, 2012) on the university site.

Turtle fossil was announced by the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. The experts call this the Carbonemys cofrinii aka coal giant tortoise. Animal fossils are found preserved in coal mining areas in Colombia, seven years ago.

Coal turtle put into the long-necked turtle, commonly known as pelomedusoide. These types of turtles live in fresh water and its uniqueness in the neck that can not be thoroughly incorporated into the shell.

In the discovery of C. cofrinii, researchers did not find a similar-sized turtles. This fact indicates that the giant tortoises require a very large hunting area to satisfy their appetite. "Like a turtle ruler of a lake," he said.

Researchers believe that a combination of changes in the ecosystem, including fewer predators, a larger habitat area, plentiful food supply and climate changes, worked together to allow these giant species to survive. Carbonemys’ habitat would have resembled a much warmer modern-day Orinoco or Amazon River delta.

Normal turtle fossils near the fossil showed a lot of alligator bite scars. That is, the crocodile is eyeing a turtle as prey. However, dealing with coal turtles, alligators would become prey.

C. cofrinii was the first evidence of giantism in freshwater turtles. This beast was only 5 million years of the extinction of the dinosaurs from a giant meteor hit. At this time, the huge body prevalent. For example, Titanoboa cerrejonensis, largest snake in those days, a length of 14 meters or about 45 feet. *** [ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3887]
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How the Stone Age Humans Started Farming?

The transition pattern of the stone age human life from hunting and gathering to farming was gradual. For millennia, humans hunters coexist with human farmers.

The evidence comes from DNA analysis conducted by researchers from Sweden and Denmark against four human skeleton excavated from a plot of land in Sweden. A framework is a farmer, while the other is a hunter.

Several hundred megalith tombs are known from the Falbygden area, including Gökhem and Valle parishes in Östergötland, Sweden. (Picture from: http://phys.org/)

Hunter-gatherer skeletons excavated in Sweden, including these remains of a young woman, have provided genetic evidence that these groups mated with nearby farmers who arrived from southern Europe around 5,000 years ago. (Picture from: http://www.sciencenews.org/)

The fossil is in the stone age, about 5,000 years ago. A total of 250 million base pairs were collected from a time machine framework for researchers to study human genetics in the past.

The skeleton belongs to a young female
in her 20s, and can be dated to around
4,700 years ago. (Picture from:
 http://phys.org/)

Preliminary results indicate the location of the origin of the two men with different lifestyles. "Genetic profile matches the human farmer who is now living in the Mediterranean such as Cyprus. Three other matches human hunters of northern Europe," said Pontus Skoglund, genetics researchers from Uppsala University in Stockholm, Sweden.

This finding is consistent with the theory of the agricultural revolution in Europe. The theory says the pattern of farming brought about by people who live in the south to north. At that time, humans who live in the north still live by hunting and gathering. Both groups then met this man and lived together for thousands of years. 

"They live together with different lifestyles, and do interbreed," says researcher evolutionary biology, Mattias Jakobsson, from Uppsala University. 

As a result of intermarriage, the European man living today no longer have the same genetic hunters and gatherers of the stone age human. However, according to Skoglund, several stone age human genetic fragments are stored in the body modern Europeans. 

Farmers from the Mediterranean to gain knowledge about agriculture from the first farm in the Middle East about 11 thousand years ago. Agriculture spread throughout Europe about 6,000 years later.

The study was funded by the Danish National Research Council, the Royal Swedish Academy of Science and the Swedish Research Council, as well as by private foundations. *** [AFP | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3867]

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How the Ancestors of Humans Down From the Tree.

 Lucy, speciment of Australopithecus
afarensis. (Picture from:

http://rachmadishare.blogspot.com/)

Foot fossil of ancient pre-human species recently discovered, is expected to reveal how our ancestors could walk upright. The ancient bones have a big thumb in the opposite direction like a gorilla's.

Humans can dominate the planet because it walked upright to free their hands to use tools. One of the earliest human ancestor to walk upright is Lucy, who comes from the species Australopithecus afarensis. Hominins, which is the strongest candidate the direct ancestor of modern humans, living on 2.9 million to 3.8 million years ago in eastern Africa.

Although Lucy and members of the bipedal species, some experts question how dependent they are on life in the trees. Now, researchers discovered another fossil hominin species that coexist with A. afarensis at the same time and place. Based on the leg bones were found, a new human family are tree dwellers.

"In biology, if there are two closely related species living side by side, they may begin to separate themselves in the niches they occupy," said Bruce Latimer, a paleoanthropologist at Case Western Reserve University.

Because it has a new hominin foot that is perfect for climbing, finally A. afarensis which has been adapted to walking upright choose to live in the ground and walked away.

3.4 million years old foot bone fossils found

in Burtele, East Africa. (Picture from:

http://www.upi.com/)

Leg bones 3.4 million years old found in Burtele, Woranso-Mille region in Afar, Ethiopia, it also shows there is more than one pre-human species that lived in the same area and move different ways. Recent analyzes of foot bones were found in February 2009 will be published in the journal Nature.

"The fossil foot Burtele clearly demonstrated for 3.4 million years ago, Lucy walked upright on two legs, is not the only species of hominin that lived in Ethiopia," said lead study, Yohannes Haile-Selassie.

The man who became curator of physical anthropology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, United States, said Lucy was living with close relatives are more adept at climbing trees. "Similar Ardi, Ardipithecus ramidus fossil specimens that lived 4.4 million years ago," he said.

It is the first fossil evidence to demonstrate the existence of at least two pre-human species that has a different way of moving. La-timer said there is a difference between the fossils and the fossil Lucy Burtele feet. Fossils of the big toe on the Lucy species arranged in harmony with the four other toes to walk upright like modern humans, while the foot has a thumb Burtele that is located opposite the other fingers as seen in the fossil Ardi.

Comparison of the fourth metatarsal bone specimens Burtele by human hands. (Picture from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/)

"This discovery is quite surprising. These elements represent the composition of fossil bones that we've never seen before," said Latimer.

He said the composition of fossil Burtele toe grip that allows the owner to climb. The thumb can also be freely moved from side to side. But fossils do not indicate a progression in the joints that allow movement needed to push the body off the ground and then walked upright. "These individuals tend to have somewhat awkward gait while on the ground," he said.

Picture shows the position of the fourth metatarsal from Australopithecus afarensis. Such hominin fossils are rare, since they are fragile and are often destroyed in the face of carnivores and decay. (Picture from: http://www.mnn.com/)

So far scientists have not classify it into a specimen of certain species due to lack of information about the elements of the fossil skulls and teeth. *** [SCIENCEDAILY |NATURE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3837]

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The Oldest Fetus of Reptiles were Found

Mesosaurus. (Picture from: http://en.wikipedia.org/)

The oldest fossil reptile fetuses aged 280 million years old found in Uruguay and Brazil. Mesosaurus fossils, a type of ancient aquatic reptile, it is well preserved until the scientists can estimate the animal's own type of viviparous reproduction or childbirth. Mesosaurus were small alligator-like creatures that could go as long as 2m in length and probably fed on crustaceans from the early Permian.

The oldest fossil reptile fetuses. (Picture from: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/)

The findings, published in the journal Historic Biology was revealed by an international team, consisting of Graciela Piñeiroa, Jorge Ferigolob, Melitta Meneghelc and Michel Laurin, senior researcher Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris, France. The findings of the fetus that has become fossilized mesosaurus reveals the mechanism of reproduction ancient reptiles that had been unknown.

Mesosaurus egg reconstruction. (Picture from: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/)

In Brazil, the team also found that pregnant reptile fossil specimens revealed that the fetus remains in the uterus mesosaurus throughout their development. "It proves there is a possibility these reptiles are viviparous," said the research team. 

Fossil Mesosaur (Mesosaurus brasiliensis). Early Permian Period (286 to 258 million years ago). Irati formation. Brazil (Picture from: http://www.superstock.com/)

The assumption is also supported 26 mesosaurus adult specimens were excavated in Uruguay. All fossils were associated with a fetus or young people, who come from the same period as fossils from Brazil. "The largest is likely that young animals are cared for by one parent, which indicates the care of the mother," said a team of scientists. *** [SCIENCEDAILY | KORAN TEMPO 3850]

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First Animals on Earth with Skeleton

The oldest animals have skeletons have been found. Animals were identified as Coronacollina acula. The researchers say the creature shaped like a thimble that live on the sea floor was more than half a billion years ago. 

The ancient animal Coronacollina acula, with the round depression in the middle representing its body, while the four lines radiating from it were its needlelike "spicules." (Scale bar is in centimeters.) (Picture from: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/)

"Coronacollina is an example of one of the earliest animals on Earth," says Erica Clites, a paleontologist at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona. 

Hundreds of animal fossils were found in a layer of ancient sandstone in southern Australia. The area is estimated to have a shallow seabed. 

Clites said the fossil Coronacollina glance looks like the lines and holes in the rock. But, if observed in more detail, would seem to describe the texture elements multicellular organisms. 

C. acula 1.5 centimeters tall and large 2.2 centimeters. Four needles sticking out of the spicules appear on his body, each needle has a length of 37 centimeters. 

This shows the best Coronacollina specimens showing the main body with articulated spicules. Specimens originate from different field localities. Arrows indicate main body of Coronacollina. White/black bars indicate 1 cm. A, C, D and E are photographs of fossil impressions in the rock. B and F are latex casts showing how the fossils would have looked in life, after compression. (Picture from: http://www.physorg.com/)

The researchers suspect the needle was used as a framework to support the body, much like the frame of the tent. C. acula not the type of animal that can move. Do you eat like a sea sponge, which filter food from water. 

A reconstruction of what Coronacollina acula may have looked like. (Picture from: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/)

C. acula estimated 550-560 million years old, namely the Ediacaran period. Clites said the animals that live in the Ediacaran period is generally strange and very difficult to be connected with the modern animal groups. 

"Until the Cambrian period, all kinds of soft-bodied animals and have no hard parts. But Coronacollina have hard body parts," Clites said. "Coronacollina be the first unequivocal evidence of macroscopic organisms in the Ediacaran period that has a skeleton structure." 

Clites added that this finding may explain the early evolution of life on earth as well as help scientists investigate the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe. *** [LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3820]
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