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Saturday, April 27, 2024
TopicFossils

Topic: Fossils

IIT-Roorkee’s historic find: Kutch fossil shows 50 ft Vasuki Indicus may have been largest ever snake

Findings published in Scientific Reports suggest Vasuki Indicus, which attacked its prey anaconda-style, originated in Indian subcontinent & spread to Europe, Africa 50 mn yrs ago.

Move over blue whale, Peru fossils indicate Perucetus colossus from 38-mn yrs ago was largest mammal

ScientiFix, our weekly feature, offers you a summary of the top global science stories of the week, with links to their sources.

This ancient whale from Peru may be a new contender for most massive animal ever on Earth

The researchers estimated that Perucetus (pronounced per-oo-SEE-tus) was about 66 feet long and weighed up to 340 metric tons. Its scientific name means ‘colossal Peruvian whale.’

Potential alien life to ocean on Saturn’s moon — here are this week’s scientific revelations

ScientiFix, our weekly feature, offers you a summary of the top global science stories of the week, with links to their sources.

‘Beehive imprints’, not 550 mn-yr-old fossil: Bhimbetka find proven false, scientists accept mistake

Rare Dickinsonia fossil actually decaying beehive imprints, finds research team from University of Florida that went to the rock shelters in Madhya Pradesh for follow-up study.

How to be a dinosaur mom: Titanosaur eggs found in MP shed light on Cretaceous parenting

Researchers from DU & IISER uncover massive cache of fossilised eggs in 92 nesting sites belonging to one of the largest dinosaurs to have roamed Earth, in Madhya Pradesh.

40 mn yrs after it bloomed in Baltics, largest flower preserved in amber found to have Asian link

A study has identified the flower as belonging to a species close to modern day Asian plants despite having been discovered in Europe.

Temperatures like today — what lizard & python fossil in Himachal tell us about 9.1 mn year ago

Findings from Haritalyangar region also important because lizard genus whose fossil was found, Varanus, reveal past biodiversity here, since varanids have a limited fossil record in Asia.

Car-sized remains of sea turtle from dinosaur age unearthed in Spain

Researchers discovered the remains of a turtle that was 3.7 meters long, weighed under 2 tons & lived during the Cretaceous Period — the last chapter of the dinosaur era.

NASA decodes why some planets have clouds of sand

ScientiFix, our weekly feature, offers you a summary of the top global science stories of the week, with links to their sources.

On Camera

Indira, Manmohan, Modi, all raised income inequality. Until Hindu fears took the driving seat

The issue of inequality has assumed the blazing limelight at a time when inequality in India is said to be higher than it was in the British Raj. It's a ripe situation for half-truths and incendiary statements.

Foreign policy resonating among more Indians in 2nd & 3rd tier towns of India, says EAM Jaishankar

Speaking at launch of economist Surjit Bhalla’s book, S Jaishankar also highlights Gen Z’s engagement with ‘reel culture’, which has 'promoted awareness, created interest in many subjects'.

Germany removes restrictions, India can now buy small arms from its firms

Germany’s erstwhile Christian Democratic Union govt, led by Angela Merkel, prevented sale of small arms to police forces in states they perceived had ‘bad human rights record’.

Frontrunner is letting the challenger define this poll campaign. Modi still hasn’t found a big theme

A theme has not yet emerged for BJP & people see lack of a contest, which makes it unexciting. For all these reasons, 2024 is turning out to be an unexpectedly theme-less election.