Incredible Discovery: Uncovering the Massive Prehistoric Creature
Embark on a journey to uncover the largest marine reptile in history, witness a mesmerizing rainbow-like phenomenon on a distant planet, explore the fascinating world of underwater bees, and dive into more awe-inspiring discoveries.
As Earth Day is approaching and the Wonder Theory newsletter marks three years of being delivered to your inbox, I am filled with hope for the future.
We all have to start somewhere. Support and a thirst for learning are key to our personal growth. As a young girl, Jane Goodall's passion for the natural world was encouraged by her mother.
Even at the age of 90, Goodall continues to foster this passion through her Roots & Shoots program. This initiative enables youth worldwide to make a positive impact in their communities.
Goodall still believes that there is hope for the planet amidst the changing world due to the climate crisis.
She emphasized in a recent interview with CNN that every individual has the power to make a positive impact on the environment on a daily basis. It is ultimately up to each person to decide the kind of impact they want to have.
Ocean secrets
Dr. Dean Lomax, (from left) Ruby Reynolds, Justin Reynolds and Paul de la Salle are shown with the fossil discovery in 2020.
Dr. Dean Lomax, (from left) Ruby Reynolds, Justin Reynolds and Paul de la Salle are shown with the fossil discovery in 2020.
Dean Lomax
In May 2020, Ruby Reynolds, who was 11 at the time, was fossil hunting with her father, Justin, on a beach in Somerset, England. During their search, Ruby made a surprising discovery.
The fossils that Ruby found were later examined by experts and it was revealed that they belonged to a giant ichthyosaur. This marine reptile lived around 202 million years ago and its jawbone suggests that it was as large as a blue whale, which is the biggest animal on Earth today.
She expressed her excitement at finding a piece of the huge ichthyosaur, feeling proud to contribute to such a significant scientific discovery.
Over in India, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee made a remarkable find - evidence of a giant prehistoric snake that surpassed the length of a school bus.
A long time ago
Archaeologists have pieced together the puzzle of a dramatic dynasty collapse after finding burned remains within an ancient Maya pyramid in Guatemala.
The research team found the charred remains of four adults, along with fancy jewelry and weapons, in a chamber beneath a temple. This discovery led them to speculate that the individuals may have been of royal descent.
According to the team, it is possible that a different kind of ruler emerged during a period of political and social transformation for the Maya civilization. The burning of the bones may have been a deliberate act of disrespect.
Separately, archaeologists uncovered two skeletons in southwest France that are 5,500 years old. These skeletons belonged to women who were believed to have been buried alive in a sacrificial ritual, similar to a form of torture used by the Italian Mafia.
In other words, the ancient skeletons suggest that these women may have met a gruesome end as part of a sacrificial ceremony.
An artist's illustration depicts a concentric rainbow-like phenomenon called a glory effect detected in the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-76b.
An artist's illustration depicts a concentric rainbow-like phenomenon called a glory effect detected in the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-76b.
ESA
For the first time, astronomers have detected a rainbow-like effect called a glory on a planet outside our solar system.
Scientists recently observed a surprising glow in the atmosphere of WASP-76b using the Cheops space telescope. This phenomenon, resembling colorful concentric rings of light, has previously only been seen on Earth and Venus.
Located 637 light-years away, the scorching exoplanet is of interest because one side is always facing a sunlike star. This unique position leads to molten iron raining down from the planet's clouds.
In a different study, scientists found that an ancient, cataclysmic collision with another planet created the telltale bright, white heart seen sparkling on Pluto’s surface.
Across the universe
Astronomers have discovered a cosmic "sleeping giant" in the Milky Way thanks to the strange wobble of a star.
The Gaia space telescope has identified the most massive stellar black hole in our galaxy, which formed from the collapse of a giant star.
Named Gaia BH3, the celestial heavyweight has a mass that is nearly 33 times that of our sun, and it’s only 1,926 light-years away.
Fantastic creatures
A common eastern bumblebee queen is seen on an apple blossom.
A common eastern bumblebee queen is seen on an apple blossom.
Nigel Raine made a remarkable discovery. Scientists accidentally submerged a specific type of hibernating bumblebee in water and found that Queen common eastern bumblebees can survive underwater for up to a week.
Queens of bees may hibernate alone during the cold season after the male and worker bees have died. It is believed that they go into a state of suspended growth known as diapause, which helps them to survive.
On the other hand, billions of cicadas are expected to emerge this spring after spending over a decade underground. Scientists anticipate that some of these bugs may be affected by a zombifying fungus.
The pathogen transforms the cicadas into “saltshakers of death,” as described by Dr. Matt Kasson, an associate professor at West Virginia University.
Explorations
Explore these intriguing stories:
Budget cuts are putting at risk a program designed to bring back rare samples from Mars that were collected by the Perseverance rover. To address this challenge, NASA is seeking innovative solutions to ensure the safe return of these valuable samples to Earth.
Excavations in southern Australia have uncovered three new species of giant kangaroo from millions of years ago. One of these kangaroos was twice the size of the largest kangaroos that exist today.
NASA had anticipated that the debris it released from the International Space Station would burn up upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere. However, a fragment of space junk managed to survive the intense heat and crashed into a residence in Naples, Florida.
Camels used to be present in what is now Canada, but they migrated across the Bering land bridge 17,000 years ago and adapted to living in the desert. Humans can take inspiration from their remarkable transformation.
If you enjoyed this content, there's more to come! Subscribe here to receive the next edition of Wonder Theory in your inbox. This newsletter is brought to you by CNN Space and Science writers Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt, who explore the wonders of planets outside our solar system and fascinating discoveries from ancient times.
Editor's P/S:
This article highlights a series of remarkable discoveries, from fossil finds and archaeological breakthroughs to celestial observations and scientific experiments. It is inspiring to see the dedication and curiosity that drive researchers and explorers in various fields. The discovery of a giant ichthyosaur fossil and evidence of a massive prehistoric snake in India showcases the incredible biodiversity that once existed on our planet. The uncovering of burned remains in a Mayan pyramid and ancient skeletons in France sheds light on past civilizations and their rituals. The detection of a rainbow-like glory on an exoplanet and the identification of a massive stellar black hole in our galaxy expand our understanding of the cosmos. The underwater survival of bumblebees and the impending emergence of zombified cicadas demonstrate the fascinating diversity and resilience of life on Earth. These stories underscore the importance of scientific exploration and discovery in unraveling the mysteries of the past, present, and future.
