Stunning Grand Canyon Fossils Reveal Evolution's Weird Experiments
About half a billion years ago, life on Earth really started cooking in an event we now call the Cambrian explosion. The fossil record from that time reveals a spike in bizarre, complex creatures appearing within a relatively short amount of time, laying the roots for most of the major animal groups that exist today.
Frustratingly, fossils from later in the Cambrian period are rarer, so we don't have a clear picture of evolution's experimental second album.
But a newly discovered batch of extremely well-preserved fossils could patch up that gap. These are about 505 million years old – 3 million years younger than the Burgess Shale, the layer in which fossils from the Cambrian explosion appear.
Related:
A team led by researchers at the University of Cambridge found more than 1,500 small, carbonaceous fossils in samples from the Bright Angel Formation (BAF) of the Grand Canyon, which was once a shallow marine environment. The vast majority of the fossils are priapulid worms, along with a couple hundred crustaceans and a few mollusks.
Although ecological resources were plentiful at the time, competition was also on the rise, rewarding species that exploited new niches. Analysis of these fossils revealed a variety of adaptations to do just that.
A worm species called Kraytdraco spectatus, for example, was found to be covered in teeth sporting elaborate filaments, which varied in shape and length based on where they were on the body. The researchers suggest that they used their tougher teeth to scrape and rake surfaces, kicking up food particles that they could then filter out of the water using the longer filaments.
Crustacean fossils featured signs of suspension feeding by way of tiny hairs that pushed food particles towards the mouth to be ground up by molar-like structures.
The mollusks, meanwhile, sported rows of shovel-shaped teeth that could have been dragged front-to-back to scrape algae or microbes from surfaces.
The Cambrian explosion gets plenty of attention because it's so well-represented in the fossil record, but that was just the beginning. The newly described fossils, with their exceptional level of preserved detail, provide a fascinating glimpse into the time soon after that, when complex life was established and comfortable, and had the stability to start innovating with new forms.
And we should be glad it did: most of the major groups (or phyla) of animals got their start during the Cambrian. That includes arthropoda, encompassing all insects, arachnids, and crustaceans. And there's chordata, which includes us and the rest of our backbone-bearing brethren.
The competitive period of the late Cambrian could have cemented the strategies that helped animals stay successful half a billion years later.
"If the Cambrian Explosion laid the foundations of modern metazoan adaptive solutions, it is the scaling up of their competitive interactions that may have enforced directional, long-term trends of functional innovation in the Phanerozoic biosphere," the researchers write.
The study was published in the journal Science Advances.
Related News
Neither Scales Nor Feathers: Bizarre Appendage Discovered on Reptile Fossil
America's Largest Crater Has Surprise Link to Grand Canyon, Study Finds
500-Million-Year-Old Fossil Suggests Ocean Origin For Spiders
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Gwyneth Paltrow is Astronomer's ‘temporary spokesperson' in new video
There's a lot of buzz around Astronomer, the data infrastructure company that skyrocketed into public attention after its executives - now former executives - gave us the viral Coldplay 'kiss cam' moment. With all this recent popularity, the business brought on some extra help, hiring a 'temporary spokesperson' with experience in Coldplay internet fame: Gwyneth Paltrow. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. 'I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300+ employees at Astronomer,' the actress said in the minute-long video posted to social media Friday. 'Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common ones.' The Goop chief executive happens to be the ex-wife of Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin and co-author of the original 'break-the-internet' breakup statement when the pair announced their 'conscious uncoupling' in 2014. If you're searching for answers to the company's real frequently-asked questions, you won't find them in the tongue-in-cheek clip. The questions 'OMG! What the actual f' and 'How is your social media team holding' get comically cut off by Paltrow as she explained the much less juicy details of Astronomer's business. 'We've been thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation,' Paltrow said. Astronomer's chief executive Andy Byron and human resources chief Kristin Cabot both resigned after they were filmed cuddling at a Coldplay concert in Boston earlier this month. They appeared on the arena video board in a 'kiss cam' segment before looking uncomfortable, with Cabot turning around and Byron ducking out of sight as Martin quipped from the stage that the two might be having an affair. Mark Borkowski, a British public relations and crisis consultant, described using Paltrow to front a video parodying the incident as 'utter genius' that shows the company has a sense of humor. 'It's a savvy use of media to create a viral moment,' he told The Washington Post in a phone interview Saturday. 'In a way you're laughing with everybody else.' Astronomer choosing Paltrow will not go unnoticed, Borkowski said. 'Astronomer is a meme now. Owning the ridiculous nature of how it became a meme is far better than apologizing for it.' A representative for Paltrow didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. As for how he advises clients caught in such situations, Borkowski said acting in a dignified way and 'using as few words as possible' is always the best approach. Paltrow's cameo is reminiscent of the scared Peloton wife discourse from 2019. After actress Monica Ruiz's worry-stricken expression in a Peloton holiday commercial became the butt of internet jokes, she laughed it off, later using her horrified face for an Aviation Gin ad. 'We will now be returning to what we do best: delivering game-changing results for our customers,' Paltrow closed out the ad. 'Thank you for your interest in Astronomer.' - - - Tatum Hunter contributed to this report. Related Content Hulk Hogan was a well-known Trump supporter. Their ties go back 40 years. Mendelson reaches deal with Commanders on RFK site amid growing pressure Amy Sherald cancels major Smithsonian show over 'censorship' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
How running for 75 minutes a week could help you live longer — and feel younger
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. It's no secret that regular exercise is good for your health, but new research has uncovered a fascinating link between running and biological aging. In a study of over 4,400 U.S. adults, researchers found that those who jogged or ran for at least 75 minutes per week had significantly longer leukocyte telomeres. That might sound like something out of a science textbook, but it's really just a fancy way of saying your cells look younger on the inside. Telomeres sit at the ends of your chromosomes and act like little caps that protect your DNA. The longer they are, the better off you tend to be when it comes to aging. If you're looking to get started or find the right shoes for your runs, check out our guide to the best running shoes for every type of runner. This Brooks sneaker offers excellent comfort and support for everyday runs. The 27% saving applies to the women's model, but you'll find the same deal on the men's version as well. Just double-check that your size and favorite color are included in the offer before Deal The magic number is 75 minutes a week The study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and grouped people into three categories based on how much they ran each week. Only those who hit 75 minutes or more saw significant benefits to their telomere length, even after researchers controlled for differences in age, lifestyle, and medical history. In fact, the difference was big enough to suggest runners could be roughly 12 years biologically younger than those who don't run regularly. People who ran less than that? Well, they pretty much looked the same as the non-runners. While the results are compelling, it's worth being cautious. The results come from a single snapshot in time and rely on people accurately reporting their exercise, which can sometimes be optimistic. Still, the message is clear and encouraging: making running a regular habit might just be one of the simplest ways to help your cells stay spry. How to make it work for you The best part is that 75 minutes per week breaks down to just over 10 minutes (and 43 seconds if we are being pernickety) a day. That's a realistic goal for many people. If you're just getting started, try alternating walking and running using a beginner-friendly approach like Jeffing. This run-walk method can help you build endurance while easing the impact on your joints. Our fitness editor Jane swapped running for 'Jeffing' for a week and found it surprisingly enjoyable. And if running isn't your thing, other vigorous activities like swimming, cycling, or cardio workouts could offer similar benefits. Whichever route you choose, the science is stacking up in favor of getting your heart rate up. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide Forget the sauna — soaking in a hot tub could be better for your health, says new study No, not crunches — trainer says these 5 bodyweight moves are the secret to building stronger abs Fibermaxxing is the latest gut health trend, but does it really work?
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Astronomer CPO Kristin Cabot Resigns After Attending Coldplay Concert With CEO Andy Byron
Astronomer's Chief People Officer has resigned from her position at the tech company after being caught on video at a Coldplay concert with the then-CEO . "Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer," a spokesperson for Astronomer told Us Weekly on Thursday, July 24. "She has resigned." Cabot's life changed forever after she attended Coldplay's concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on July 16. During the show, lead singer Chris Martin took a pause from performing to introduce the venue's kiss cam. The jumbotron showed Astronomer executives Cabot and Byron embracing each other before they quickly tried to dodge the cameras when they realized they were onscreen. Astronomer Cofounder Breaks Silence on Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot's Coldplay Kiss Cam Controversy 'Whoa, look at these two. All right, come on. You're OK,' Martin said as the pair tried to hide their faces and escape the camera. 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy. I'm not quite sure what to do.' As the camera panned to other audience members — two individuals dressed in banana costumes — Martin had one final thought about what he had just witnessed during his show. 'Holy s***,' he added. 'I hope we didn't do something bad.' Hours after the concert moment was caught on camera, footage began going viral on social media. The internet did some digging and discovered Andy is reportedly married — to a woman multiple outlets identified as — not Cabot. Since the scandal broke, Megan appeared to remove 'Byron' from her Facebook page, according to a screenshot published by Newsweek. She has also deleted her account. Andy resigned from his position as CEO on July 19. Astronomer cofounder Pete DeJoy is now serving as interim CEO. Stars React After Coldplay Jumbotron Seemingly Exposes Affair Between Astronomer Executives Us Weekly previously reached out to Astronomer and both executives for comment. Since November 2024, Cabot has held the title of Astronomer's Chief People Officer. According to the site's website, the tech company aims to empower data teams to bring mission-critical software, analytics and AI to life. Coldplay Fan Addresses Posting Jumbotron Video of Astronomer Executives: 'Play Stupid Games' 'I prefer to think of my role as people strategy versus traditional human resource,' Cabot said in a press release at the time of her hiring. 'I was energized in my conversations with Andy and the Astronomer leadership team about the opportunities that exist here.' Andy also expressed his excitement at the company's new hire. 'Kristin's exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory,' he said. 'She is a proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies and her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer.' Solve the daily Crossword
