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VIDEO | What are earthquakes and why do they happen?

VIDEO | What are earthquakes and why do they happen?

Scientists Discover Evidence of Prehistoric Turtle Stampede in Italy

Scientists Discover Evidence of Prehistoric Turtle Stampede in Italy

Scientists have potentially uncovered evidence of a prehistoric turtle stampede on a remote Italian cliff. The discovery was made in 2019 by rock climbers who found thousands of crescent-shaped impressions in limestone cliffs above the Adriatic near Ancona, Italy. Geologist Alessandro Montanari and his team concluded that these marks were left by sea turtles skimming the seafloor with their front flippers approximately 80 million years ago. The team suggests that seismic activity, possibly an earthquake, triggered a submarine avalanche, causing the turtles to flee in panic, leaving behind these impressions. The study, published in Cretaceous Research, acknowledges the difficulty in proving this theory and calls for ichnologists to help confirm the findings. However, some experts remain skeptical, citing the absence of certain features that would typically accompany turtle tracks.

Scientists Discover Largest Collection of Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia

Scientists Discover Largest Collection of Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia

A team of paleontologists has documented 16,600 dinosaur footprints in Toro Toro National Park, Bolivia, marking the largest collection of theropod footprints ever recorded. The footprints, left by dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus rex, were found in a sediment layer that suggests the area was once a coastal superhighway. The study, published in PLOS One, provides insights into dinosaur behavior and movement patterns during the Cretaceous period.

Paleontologists Document 16,000 Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia, Offering New Insights

Paleontologists Document 16,000 Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia, Offering New Insights

A team of paleontologists, primarily from California's Loma Linda University, has documented 16,600 dinosaur footprints in Toro Toro National Park, Bolivia. This discovery, published in the journal PLOS One, represents the largest collection of theropod footprints globally. The footprints, dating back over 60 million years, provide a unique glimpse into dinosaur behavior, including attempts to swim. The site, once thought to be marked by supernatural creatures, is now recognized for its scientific significance. Despite the footprints' preservation, human activities such as farming and quarrying have posed threats to these ancient traces.

Scientists Discover Largest Collection of Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia, Offering New Insights

Scientists Discover Largest Collection of Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia, Offering New Insights

A team of paleontologists, primarily from California's Loma Linda University, has documented 16,600 dinosaur footprints in Toro Toro National Park, Bolivia. This discovery, published in the journal PLOS One, represents the largest collection of theropod footprints globally. The footprints, left by dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus rex, were preserved in ancient lake-bottom sediments. The site offers a unique glimpse into dinosaur behavior, showing evidence of both walking and swimming attempts. Despite the abundance of footprints, the area lacks dinosaur bones, possibly due to human activity or natural causes.

MIT Professor Designs Milan Cortina Olympic Torch, Showcasing Innovative Style

MIT Professor Designs Milan Cortina Olympic Torch, Showcasing Innovative Style

The Olympic torch for the Milan Cortina Games has begun its journey across Italy, starting in Rome. The torch was designed by an MIT professor, who incorporated insights from MIT's Senseable City Lab to create a sleek and modern design. This design reflects a blend of tradition and innovation, aiming to capture the spirit of the Olympic Games while also showcasing cutting-edge design principles. The torch's journey marks the beginning of the countdown to the Milan Cortina Olympics, highlighting the anticipation and excitement surrounding the event.

Paleontologists Reclassify Dinosaur Fossil, Unveiling New Species Ahshiselsaurus

Paleontologists Reclassify Dinosaur Fossil, Unveiling New Species Ahshiselsaurus

An international team of paleontologists, including researchers from Penn State and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, has reclassified a dinosaur fossil originally found in 1916. The fossil, initially thought to belong to the Kritosaurus genus, has been identified as a new species named Ahshiselsaurus wimani. This discovery, published in the Bulletin of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, highlights significant anatomical differences that warranted a new classification. Ahshiselsaurus is part of the hadrosaurid family, known for its herbivorous members like Parasaurolophus and Edmontosaurus. The fossil, comprising an incomplete skull and several bones, was found in New Mexico and suggests that Ahshiselsaurus played a crucial role in its ecosystem during the late Cretaceous period.

Paleontologists Discover Record Number of Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia, Revealing Ancient Behaviors

Paleontologists Discover Record Number of Dinosaur Footprints in Bolivia, Revealing Ancient Behaviors

A team of paleontologists from Loma Linda University has documented 16,600 dinosaur footprints in Toro Toro, Bolivia, marking the highest number of theropod footprints recorded globally. These footprints, belonging to the dinosaur group that includes the Tyrannosaurus rex, were found in the ancient waterways of Toro Toro, a popular national park in the Bolivian Andes. The study, published in the journal PLOS One, highlights the dinosaurs' attempts to swim, as evidenced by 1,378 swim traces. The longest swim trackway measures over 130 meters, the longest of its kind worldwide. The footprints, preserved in excellent condition, provide a unique insight into dinosaur behavior during the Cretaceous period, just before an asteroid impact led to their extinction.

16,000 fossil footprints in central Bolivia reveal dinosaur behavior

16,000 fossil footprints in central Bolivia reveal dinosaur behavior

Legend once had it that the huge, three-toed footprints scattered across the central highlands of Bolivia came from supernaturally strong monsters — capable of sinking their claws even into solid rock

Tsunami Advisories Issued After 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake in Japan

Tsunami Advisories Issued After 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake in Japan

Japan has issued tsunami advisories following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. The advisories have been downgraded from initial warnings, but the situation remains closely monitored by Japan's meteorological agency. The earthquake's impact on coastal areas is being assessed, with authorities urging caution and preparedness among residents.

Paleontologists Identify New Hominin Species Coexisting with Lucy

Paleontologists Identify New Hominin Species Coexisting with Lucy

Scientists have identified a new hominin species, Australopithecus deyiremeda, which coexisted with the well-known Australopithecus afarensis, famously represented by the fossil Lucy. The discovery was made through the analysis of 3.4 million-year-old foot bones found in Ethiopia in 2009, along with more recent fossil finds. These fossils, including a jawbone with teeth, suggest that A. deyiremeda was a more primitive species than Lucy. The study, published in the journal Nature, indicates that A. deyiremeda had an opposable toe, suggesting it was adept at climbing trees. This species likely walked on two legs but had a different locomotion style compared to modern humans. The findings challenge the long-held belief that Lucy's species was the sole ancestor of later hominins, suggesting instead that multiple hominin species coexisted and evolved in parallel.

Southeast Alaska Shaken By 7.0 Quake And 20+ Aftershocks

Southeast Alaska Shaken By 7.0 Quake And 20+ Aftershocks

A shallow magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southeastern Alaska near the U.S.-Canada border, centered about 56 miles north of Yakutat and roughly 230 miles northeast of Juneau at a depth of 6.2 miles. The quake was followed by more than 20 aftershocks, including magnitudes 5.3 and 5.0. Authorities reported no injuries or damage. The series of tremors highlights the seismic activity in the region, emphasizing that significant earthquakes can occur beyond the western U.S., with ongoing monitoring by the USGS and Alaska Earthquake Center.