19 Mei 2014

Fossilized bones of huge 100 TON dinosaur

Move over T-rex, see you later Stegosaurus, adios Argentinosaurus. Scientists have announced that the bones of a new, even larger dinosaur have been found.
Argentinosaurus currently holds the record for being both the heaviest land animal ever, and the longest, but the fossilized bones of the biggest dinosaur ever discovered have been found in Argentina.
Scientists believe the species of titanosaur weighed in at 170,000 pounds, as heavy as 14 African elephants.

 
The Thigh bones' connected to the...: A technician next to the femur of a dinosaur -- likely to be the largest ever to roam the earth
The Thigh bones' connected to the...: A technician next to the femur of a dinosaur -- likely to be the largest ever to roam the earth

Boney: One of the paleontologists lies next to the femur of sauropod
Boney: One of the paleontologists lies next to the femur of sauropod

What it was like: The newly identified South American dinosaur uses its whip-like tail to fend off predators in this 2014 illustration
What it was like: The newly identified South American dinosaur uses its whip-like tail to fend off predators in this 2014 illustration


Discovery: Paleontologists Jose Luis Carballido (L) and Ruben Cuneo pose next to the bones of a dinosaur at a farm in La Flecha, west of the Argentina's Patagonian city of Trelew
Discovery: Paleontologists Jose Luis Carballido (L) and Ruben Cuneo pose next to the bones of a dinosaur at a farm in La Flecha, west of the Argentina's Patagonian city of Trelew


Quite the find: According to paleontologists from the renowned Egidio Feruglio Museum, Jose Luis Carballido and Ruben Cuneo, the fossils are that of a sauropod and preliminary tests dates the fossils at some 90 million years old
Quite the find: According to paleontologists from the renowned Egidio Feruglio Museum, Jose Luis Carballido and Ruben Cuneo, the fossils are that of a sauropod and preliminary tests dates the fossils at some 90 million years old




How it compares: Size comparison between Argentinosaurus (shown in purple) and a human
How it compares: Size comparison between Argentinosaurus (shown in purple) and a human


Huge discovery: The fossilized bones of the biggest dinosaur ever discovered have been found in Argentina
Huge discovery: The fossilized bones of the biggest dinosaur ever discovered have been found in Argentina


Tremendous: Its gigantic bones were found by a local farm worker in a desert in Patagonia, the southern Argentine region that has yielded many important dinosaur discoveries
Tremendous: Its gigantic bones were found by a local farm worker in a desert in Patagonia, the southern Argentine region that has yielded many important dinosaur discoveries


Garguantuan: Its calculated 77-ton weight would have made it as heavy as 14 African elephants, beating the previous record holder, Argentinosaurus, by some seven tons
Garguantuan: Its calculated 77-ton weight would have made it as heavy as 14 African elephants, beating the previous record holder, Argentinosaurus, by some seven tons

The fossils were then excavated by a team of palaeontologists from the Museum of Palaeontology Egidio Feruglio, led by Dr Jose Luis Carballido and Dr Diego Pol.

They unearthed the partial skeletons of seven individuals - about 150 bones in total - all in 'remarkable condition'.
According to the measurements of its gigantic thigh bones, the herbivore would have been 40m (130ft) long and 20m (65ft) tall.
Palaeontologists think it is a new species of titanosaur – part of a diverse group of sauropod dinosaurs that were characterised by their long necks and tails and small heads – dating from the Cretaceous period.
The mega dino would have weighed in at 77 tons, making it seven tons heavier than the previous record holder Argentinosaurus.
The creature, which lived in the forests of Patagonia between 95 and 100 million years ago, was yet to be named.
“It will be named describing its magnificence and in honour to both the region and the farm owners who alerted us about the discovery,” the researchers said.

Residents and technicians gather around the bones of a dinosaur at a farm. They say it is the largest set of remains of a dinosaur ever found to date
Residents and technicians gather around the bones of a dinosaur at a farm. They say it is the largest set of remains of a dinosaur ever found to date


Vast: The palaeontologists say the find is thought to be a new species of titanosaur ¿ a huge herbivore of the long-necked sauropod group that lived in the Late Cretaceous period
Vast: The palaeontologists say the find is thought to be a new species of titanosaur ¿ a huge herbivore of the long-necked sauropod group that lived in the Late Cretaceous period


Stupendous: The bones were initially discovered a year ago in the desert near La Flecha, about 135 miles west of the Patagonian town of Trelew
Stupendous: The bones were initially discovered a year ago in the desert near La Flecha, about 135 miles west of the Patagonian town of Trelew


Dusty work: The fossils were then excavated by a team of palaeontologists from the Museum of Palaeontology Egidio Feruglio, led by Dr Jose Luis Carballido and Dr Diego Pol (pictured left)
Dusty work: The fossils were then excavated by a team of palaeontologists from the Museum of Palaeontology Egidio Feruglio, led by Dr Jose Luis Carballido and Dr Diego Pol (pictured left)


Colossal: Scientists believe the species of titanosaur weighed in at 170,000 pounds, as heavy as 14 African elephants
Colossal: Scientists believe the species of titanosaur weighed in at 170,000 pounds, as heavy as 14 African elephants


Long nect: Paleontologists in Argentina's remote Patagonia region have discovered fossils of a creature is believed to be a new species of Titanosaur, a long-necked, long-tailed sauropod that walked on four legs and lived some 95 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period
Long nect: Paleontologists in Argentina's remote Patagonia region have discovered fossils of a creature is believed to be a new species of Titanosaur, a long-necked, long-tailed sauropod that walked on four legs and lived some 95 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period


The discovery came in the same week scientists confirmed the Argentinosaurus to be the biggest of them all.
That plant-eating dinosaur weighed a earth-shaking 90 tons when it lived about 90 million years ago in Argentina, although the record has been broken by this new find.
Oxford University palaeontologist Dr Roger Benson, who led the study, says the dinosaur weigh-in included species ranging from small bird-like dinosaurs to well-known carnivores such as the Tyrannosaurus rex.
The Tyrannosaurus rex, which weighed 7 tons, was the largest meat-eating dinosaur in the study, but it is small in comparison to the Argentinosaurus.

Immense: The museum has retrieved some 150 bones said to come from seven individuals, all in remarkable condition
Immense: The museum has retrieved some 150 bones said to come from seven individuals, all in remarkable condition


Massive: Given the size of these bones, which surpass any of the previously known giant animals, the new dinosaur is the largest animal known to have walked on Earth
Massive: Given the size of these bones, which surpass any of the previously known giant animals, the new dinosaur is the largest animal known to have walked on Earth


A sparrow-sized bird called Qiliania, which lived about 120 million years ago in China, earned the distinction of being the smallest dinosaur, weighing a mere 15 grams.
Dr Benson said Argentinosaurus, which roamed around South America, was about 6 million times the weight of Qiliania and that both still fit within the dinosaur family. 'That seems amazing to me,' he said.
The largest meat-eating dinosaur was Tyrannosaurus rex, which weighed 7 tons and is also the largest known land predator of all time.
The T. rex edged out another super predator that some scientists had once figured was bigger based on the length of its skull, Giganotosaurus, which lived alongside Argentinosaurus in ancient South America.
The study estimated Giganotosaurus at about 6 tons, pretty darned big, but just a bit shy of dethroning T. rex.

Remote location: Argentinosaurus also from Patagonia and discovered in 1987 was originally estimated at 100 tons but its weight was later revised downwards to around 70
Remote location: Argentinosaurus also from Patagonia and discovered in 1987 was originally estimated at 100 tons but its weight was later revised downwards to around 70


Puzzle: One problem with assessing the weight of both Argentinosaurus and this new discovery is that they¿re both based on very fragmentary specimens ¿ no complete skeleton is known, which means the animal¿s proportions and overall shape are conjectural
Puzzle: One problem with assessing the weight of both Argentinosaurus and this new discovery is that they¿re both based on very fragmentary specimens ¿ no complete skeleton is known, which means the animal¿s proportions and overall shape are conjectural


Introducing: Paleontologist Pablo Gallina speaks to the press about a newly discovered dinosaur discovered in Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Introducing: Paleontologist Pablo Gallina speaks to the press about a newly discovered dinosaur discovered in Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina


Scenic: The fossils, found in Patagonia, provide the first evidence that the whip-tailed diplodocid sauropods survived well beyond the Jurassic period, when they were thought to have been made extinct
Scenic: The fossils, found in Patagonia, provide the first evidence that the whip-tailed diplodocid sauropods survived well beyond the Jurassic period, when they were thought to have been made extinct


Teamwork: The fossils were then excavated by a team of palaeontologists from the Museum of Palaeontology Egidio Feruglio, led by Dr Jose Luis Carballido and Dr Diego Pol
Teamwork: The fossils were then excavated by a team of palaeontologists from the Museum of Palaeontology Egidio Feruglio, led by Dr Jose Luis Carballido and Dr Diego Pol


Dinosaurs had a remarkable run on Earth. They first appeared about 228 million years ago during the Triassic period, achieved stunning dimensions during the ensuing Jurassic Period and then disappeared at the end of the Cretaceous Period about 65 million years ago. All but the birds, that is.
The mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous, caused by an asteroid that hit Mexico, doomed most creatures but some birds survived.
Benson said this study underscores the reasons that birds made it while their bigger dinosaur brethren did not.
Other groups of dinosaurs such as long-necked sauropods like Argentinosaurus, the tank-like ankylosaurs, the duck-billed hadrosaurs, the spike-tailed stegosaurs and the meat-eating tyrannosaurs were essentially locked into a certain ecological niche. But birds filled all kinds of ecological niches with their widely diverse body sizes and 'occupations'.
Flying birds lived in all kinds of different habitats, both inland and coastal, and came in a wide range of sizes. But there also were large, ostrich-like flightless birds like Gargantuavis and flightless diving birds like Hesperornis.

Groundbreaking: They unearthed the partial skeletons of seven individuals - about 150 bones in total - all in remarkable condition
Groundbreaking: They unearthed the partial skeletons of seven individuals - about 150 bones in total - all in remarkable condition


Documenting the moment: A film crew from the BBC Natural History Unit was there to capture the moment the scientists realised exactly how big their discovery was
Documenting the moment: A film crew from the BBC Natural History Unit was there to capture the moment the scientists realised exactly how big their discovery was


Bones recovered: Gallina and his team of Argentine paleontologists say the 19 vertebrae they recovered in Argentinaís Patagonia region belongs to a new species of Diplodocid they named Leinkupal laticauda, providing what they say is the first evidence that a family of long-necked, whip-tailed dinosaurs survived beyond the Jurassic period, when they were thought to have gone extinc
Bones recovered: Gallina and his team of Argentine paleontologists say the 19 vertebrae they recovered in Argentinaís Patagonia region belongs to a new species of Diplodocid they named Leinkupal laticauda, providing what they say is the first evidence that a family of long-necked, whip-tailed dinosaurs survived beyond the Jurassic period, when they were thought to have gone extinc


'It might be that they were simply much more ecologically diverse and that could have helped them survive an extinction,' said Benson, who also noted that smaller creatures did a better job surviving the asteroid impact at the end of the Cretaceous.
Paleontologist David Evans of Canada's Royal Ontario Museum said dinosaur body size evolved relatively quickly early on in their time on Earth as they invaded new ecological niches, but then slowed down among most lineages.
The exception was the maniraptoran lineage that led to birds, Evans added.
More than 1,000 species of dinosaurs have been identified but many are known from only fragmentary fossil remains.
This study estimated the weight of every dinosaur whose remains are complete enough to contain the bones needed for the study's formula, which is based on the relationship between the robustness of the limbs and the weight of the animal, the researchers said.

What lies beneath?

A team of scientists are to embark on a three-year underwater journey to discover more about organisms living in the depths of the world's oceans.
Expedition Aquatilis will cover 35,000 miles and will span the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. The expedition's route is specifically designed around little-explored diving locations - and will focus on the study of gelatinous zooplankton.
Gelata are soft-shelled organisms that live at the very bottom of the sea. They are moved around by the sea's natural current and are vital to the ocean's ecosystems as they are at the bottom of the marine food chain.
Fish, crustaceans and marine mammals depend on smaller gelata as a food source. So far, 1000 species of gelata have been discovered - but it is thought they are a mere 20 per cent of all such creatures in the world's oceans.
Little else is known about the organisms - hence the need for Expedition Aquatilis.
The team of 12 marine scientists will be travelling in a 70 ft custom-built, self-sufficient expedition vessel for their trip. They and are scheduled to depart from Marmaris, Turkey in the summer of 2015. 
Here, we put together a collection of some of the species already found by scientists.

A team of 12 scientists are to embark on a three-year underwater journey to discover more about underwater life - specifically gelatinous zooplankton or gelata. They hope to find out more about the type of organism and its many species including the Cyanea capillata, pictured
A team of 12 scientists are to embark on a three-year underwater journey to discover more about underwater life - specifically gelatinous zooplankton or gelata. They hope to find out more about the type of organism and its many species including the Cyanea capillata, pictured

The team hope to discover more about gelata, which are soft-shelled creatures that float on waves, such as the Pteropod mollusk Limacina helicina, pictured
The team hope to discover more about gelata, which are soft-shelled creatures that float on waves, such as the Pteropod mollusk Limacina helicina, pictured


Just 1,000 species of gelata organisms, including the Salp Cyclosalpa bakeri pictured here with crustacean parasites inside, have so far been discovered by scientists
Just 1,000 species of gelata organisms, including the Salp Cyclosalpa bakeri pictured here with crustacean parasites inside, have so far been discovered by scientists


A Hydrozoan jellyfish Halitholus yoldiaarcticae. The Expedition Aquatilis team cover 35,000 miles and at least three oceans in a bid to learn more about such life forms
A Hydrozoan jellyfish Halitholus yoldiaarcticae. The Expedition Aquatilis team cover 35,000 miles and at least three oceans in a bid to learn more about such life forms


The Hydrozoan jellyfish - an organism so small that it is at the bottom of the marine food chain and is eaten by whales, fish and crustaceans
The Hydrozoan jellyfish - an organism so small that it is at the bottom of the marine food chain and is eaten by whales, fish and crustaceans


A Ctenophora, or Comb jellyfish, pictured in the Sea of Japan off Russia. It is thought only 20 per cent of the ocean's gelata have been found by researchers
A Ctenophora, or Comb jellyfish, pictured in the Sea of Japan off Russia. It is thought only 20 per cent of the ocean's gelata have been found by researchers


A soft-bodied Clione Limacina. Very little is known about this creature and other species of Gelata - hence why the team are embarking on the expedition
A soft-bodied Clione Limacina. Very little is known about this creature and other species of Gelata - hence why the team are embarking on the expedition


A close-up shot of Cyanea capillata tentacles. The scientists will explore some of the least travelled patched of the ocean in a mid to track down more of the creatures
A close-up shot of Cyanea capillata tentacles. The scientists will explore some of the least travelled patched of the ocean in a mid to track down more of the creatures


Alexander Semenov, who took this picture of a Cyanea Capillata, will lead the team of marine specalists in the trip - due to start in summer 2015
Alexander Semenov, who took this picture of a Cyanea Capillata, will lead the team of marine specalists in the trip - due to start in summer 2015


A remarkable, close-up picture of a jellyfish. The team will be travelling in a 70ft custom-built vessel and will set off from Turkey next year
A remarkable, close-up picture of a jellyfish. The team will be travelling in a 70ft custom-built vessel and will set off from Turkey next year


A Cyanea jellyfish - one of the many creature which feed on gelata. Comb jellies and other jellyfish make up areound 70 per cent of their diet
A Cyanea jellyfish - one of the many creature which feed on gelata. Comb jellies and other jellyfish make up areound 70 per cent of their diet


Team member Olga Grum-Grzhimaylo dives under ice to collect scientific samples of gelata in the White Sea, Russia
Team member Olga Grum-Grzhimaylo dives under ice to collect scientific samples of gelata in the White Sea, Russia


Scientist Evgeny Vasilchenko, another member of the team, poses under the water during the dive near British Columbia, Canada
Scientist Evgeny Vasilchenko, another member of the team, poses under the water during the dive near British Columbia, Canada


Alexander Semenov, pictured after a cold-water dive in the White sea Russia, will lead the team of 12 on their epic journey
Alexander Semenov, pictured after a cold-water dive in the White sea Russia, will lead the team of 12 on their epic journey


The Aquatilis ship gets a refit at the Marmaris marina in Turkey. It has been customised and is now ready for the 35,000-mile journey
The Aquatilis ship gets a refit at the Marmaris marina in Turkey. It has been customised and is now ready for the 35,000-mile journey

16 Mei 2014

Spesis Katak


Concept autos show past visions of the future from Ferrari, Porsche, Bugatti and others

A new exhibit shows off past visions of the future with concept cars from decades ago.
The 'Dream Cars' show at the High Museum of Art, in Atlanta, Georgia, features 18 cars from as far back as the 1930s to present day.
One-of-a-kind cars from automakers such as Ferrari, General Motors, Lancia, Bugatti, Porsche and more dot the museum floor.
Concept cars often capture the imagination of young and old alike. From Futuristic roadsters that eventually make their way into private collections to ideas that never saw the open road. They rarely enter mass production and often disappear after leaving the auto show circuit.
The display pairs conceptual drawings, patents and scale models with their finished products. It runs from May 21 to September 7.

Sleek: The 1947 Norman Timbs 'Special' as seen from the side
Sleek: The 1947 Norman Timbs 'Special' as seen from the side


Vroom!: The front of the 1947 Norman Timbs 'Special' has a massive grill and a stylized bumper that adds to its unique look
Vroom!: The front of the 1947 Norman Timbs 'Special' has a massive grill and a stylized bumper that adds to its unique look


Liftoff: A 1953 General Motors Firebird XP-21 is seen in the foreground while a Bugatti concept is seen in the background
Liftoff: A 1953 General Motors Firebird XP-21 is seen in the foreground while a Bugatti concept is seen in the background


Seeing red: The 1956 Buick Centurion XP-301 has a nearly all red interior and futuristic gauges and dials in it's space age dashboard
Seeing red: The 1956 Buick Centurion XP-301 has a nearly all red interior and futuristic gauges and dials in it's space age dashboard


Fins are in: A silver 1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 is seen among other retro-futuristic cars in the display
Fins are in: A silver 1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 is seen among other retro-futuristic cars in the display

From the not-too-distant past: A 2001 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model that never made the production lines
From the not-too-distant past: A 2001 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model that never made the production lines


Italian masterpieces: A 1970 Lancia (Bertone) Stratos HF Zero (R) and a 1970 Pininfarina (Ferrari) Modulo (L) are seen side by side
Italian masterpieces: A 1970 Lancia (Bertone) Stratos HF Zero (R) and a 1970 Pininfarina (Ferrari) Modulo (L) are seen side by side


Kit car: A 2007 recreation of the famed 1935 Bugatti Type 57S Competition Coupe Aerolithe
Kit car: A 2007 recreation of the famed 1935 Bugatti Type 57S Competition Coupe Aerolithe

On display: Cars including the 1951 General Motors Le Sabre XP-8 (R) are part of the exhibit
On display: Cars including the 1951 General Motors Le Sabre XP-8 (R) are part of the exhibit


Here's looking at you: The front of William Stout's 1936 Stout Scarab
Here's looking at you: The front of William Stout's 1936 Stout Scarab


From the side: William Stout's 1936 Stout Scarab is seen at by a curious museum-goer
From the side: William Stout's 1936 Stout Scarab is seen at by a curious museum-goer

It's the lion of long leap

A soaring lion leaps from a ridge to catch a fleeing antelope in mid air.
The extraordinary take-down happened after a pair of lionesses surprised two blesboks running in their direction.
To escape, a frightened blesbok jumped several metres from the ridge - only to be intercepted mid-flight by the hungry female.

Pincer movement: A pair of lions move in for the kill on a fleeing antelope in the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa as the other blesbok watches on
Pincer movement: A pair of lions move in for the kill on a fleeing antelope in the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa as the other blesbok watches on

Predatory pounce: The extraordinary take-down happened after a pair of lionesses surprised two blesboks running in their direction
Predatory pounce: The extraordinary take-down happened after a pair of lionesses surprised two blesboks running in their direction
 
The claws are out: In a bid to escape, one of the blesboks jumped several metres from the ridge - only to be intercepted mid-flight by the hungry female
The claws are out: In a bid to escape, one of the blesboks jumped several metres from the ridge - only to be intercepted mid-flight by the hungry female


Captured: The lioness hauls the antelope to the ground after leaping from a ridge to grab its prey
Captured: The lioness hauls the antelope to the ground after leaping from a ridge to grab its prey


The other blesbok was left to make a lucky getaway, while the captured animal was swiftly devoured by the fearsome predators.
Tour guide Joné Fick, 28, filmed the incredible moment just feet away from her tour bus.
The group had been watching the two lionesses perched on the ridge in the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa.
Joné said: 'Suddenly the lionesses got up and ran full speed at the two blesbok, which were running up the hill towards them.

Front-row seat: Tour guide Joné Fick, 28, filmed the incredible moment just feet away from her tour bus
Front-row seat: Tour guide Joné Fick, 28, filmed the incredible moment just feet away from her tour bus


Dinner is served: One of the blesboks was left to make a lucky getaway, while the captured animal was swiftly devoured by the fearsome predators
Dinner is served: One of the blesboks was left to make a lucky getaway, while the captured animal was swiftly devoured by the fearsome predators

Hunger games: After overpowering the blesbok, the lions dragged it back to the top of the ridge to enjoy a hard-won meal


'The blesbok decided to take the only option out which was jumping towards the road, falling four metres to the ground.
'The second lioness made an amazing jump towards this blesbok and grabbed it mid-air only to slam with it on to the road right next to our vehicle.
'I've never heard of such a sighting - this was pure luck to be in the right place at the right time.'

Lying in wait: The lionesses sit patiently for their prey in the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa
Lying in wait: The lionesses sit patiently for their prey in the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa

Tour guide Joné Fick said: 'In my six years of living and working in the bush, this is definitely my best sighting ever'
Tour guide Joné Fick said: 'In my six years of living and working in the bush, this is definitely my best sighting ever'



Despite hitting the ground hard, the animals continued to fight before the two lionesses overcame the South African antelope.
Joné added: 'In my six years of living and working in the bush, this is definitely my best sighting ever.
'The lioness and blesbok fell so close on the ground next to us that I sure they would fall against the vehicle.
'We were all mumbling words of disbelief and some people were just staring at the scene not able to say anything at all.'
After overpowering the blesbok, the lions dragged it back to the top of the ridge to enjoy a hard-won meal.

DUIT