Latest news with #Romulus
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This Giant Bird Went Extinct 600 Years Ago. Scientists Say They Can Resurrect It.
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Only a few months after announcing the controversial 'de-extinction' of the dire wolf, Colossal Biosciences has now set its sights on restoring the nine species of giant moa that roamed New Zealand some 600 years ago. The biotech company plans on extracting DNA from moa bones and comparing to them to living relatives—such as the emu and the tinamou—to see what edits need to be made to bring back these flightless legends. Although this project will include more DNA edits than the dire wolf project, many scientists are skeptical that any resulting genetically modified organism will be anything more than a facsimile of the original, leaving them unable to fulfill the moa's original ecological role and relegating them to a life of captivity. Earlier this year, scientists at the Texas-based Colossal Biosciences boldly announced the 'world's first de-extinction' by bringing back the long dead dire wolf. Nicknamed Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, these pups were far from the magnificent animals that prowled North America before the early Holocene. Instead, as Colossal's own chief science officer later clarified, they were really just grey wolves with around 20 gene edits—not the millions that'd likely be needed to actually create a dire wolf (if such a thing was even possible). Now, Colossal is at it again. And this time the company wants to bring back all nine species of the giant moa—a flightless bird native to New Zealand that died out as a result of overhunting some 600 years ago. Of course, this announcement differs from the previous one in a key way: They didn't actually bring the bird back (at least, not yet.) But a media blitz of news coverage, interviews with legendary New Zealand director Peter Jackson, and a flashy announcement video show that Colossal is serious about bringing the giant moa back to the southwestern Pacific island. This diverse group of birds sported a variety of different attributes and (most notably) sizes. The smallest of the bunch—the bush moa (Anomalopteryx didiformis)—was about the size of a turkey, while the the South Island giant moa (Dinornis robustus) and North Island giant moa (Dinornis novaezealandiae) both stood roughly 11 feet tall. Even through they looked like a strange cross between an emu and kiwi, the moa's closest living relative is the tinamou group, which lives in central and South America. With the geographical differences providing a big clue, the word 'closest' is doing a lot of heavy lifting, as the two groups separated roughly 60 million years ago. The Associated Press reports that Colossal will first identify well-preserved moa bones from which DNA can be extracted. For his part, Jackson himself owns the world's largest collection of moa bones (around 300 to 400 specimens). From there, they'll compare the genetic sequences to tinamou and emu, the latter of which will be required for their impressive stature. 'What emus have is very large embryos, very large eggs,' Andrew Pask, a Colossal scientific advisor from the University of Melbourne Australia, told New Scientist. 'And that's one of the things that you definitely need to de-extinct a moa.' Pask also clarified that this project will be more expansive than the dire wolf project, and that there will be 'orders of magnitude' more DNA edits. The other (sort of) positive is that the moa hasn't been extinct for thousands of years like the dire wolf, so its natural ecosystem hasn't evolved far beyond its extinction. Some scientists are critical of the idea. Even with the more DNA edits, the resulting 'Colossal moa' won't be a de-extinct moa, but a genetically modified animal that's a close facsimile to the original. It's also unlikely that these GMO-moas will ever be able to roam their natural habitat. They may look like moas, but they won't be able to fulfill the moa's ecological role, which will relegate them to a life as little more than a living museum piece, like the dire wolves. Despite Colossal's attempts at 'de-extinction,' genetic modification does play an increasingly important role in conservation. Genetic research brought the critically endangered black-footed ferret back from the brink, and that's just one of many examples. The world is currently experiencing its sixth mass extinction, with potentially thousands of species lost every year. Bringing back woolly mammoths, dire wolves, and giant moa (or close approximations of those ancient creatures) is undeniably enticing, but it doesn't do much for the animals and ecosystems that need our help today. Get the Issue Get the Issue Get the Issue Get the Issue Get the Issue Get the Issue Get the IssueGet the Issue Get the Issue You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Once-extinct dire wolf pups have doubled in size in mere months after being brought back from extinction
Dire wolves vanished over 12,000 years ago but science has brought back a genetically modified version of the once-extinct breed, and now the massive creatures - as seen in Game Of Thrones - have doubled in size in mere months. Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi are growing bigger than most gray wolves. The dire wolves were created by Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based genetics company using cutting-edge technology to bring extinct species back to life, including the woolly mammoth, dodos, and Tasmanian tigers. In a newly released video, Colossal Biosciences revealed that male pups Romulus and Remus were over six months-old and weigh more than 90lb each. That is about 20 per cent larger than a standard gray wolf, making them the closest thing to a real-life dire wolf of more than 10,000 years. Romulus and Remus were born last October, while female Khaleesi was born in January, making her the youngest of the pack. In the video uploaded by Colossal, the male pups were seen running and playing together, chasing each other, and showing friendly behavior, which reflects healthy social bonding. They also seemed comfortable in their new outdoor surroundings after leaving the laboratory. Matt James of Colossal said: 'They're nice large wolves that are much more representative of what we saw in the ancient specimens.' The pups are now getting ready for their first full medical checkup, which will include CT scans and blood tests to study their bones, muscles, and internal growth. Scientists say these physical changes, like their unusually large size, show that the dire wolf genes engineered into their DNA before they were born is now actively shaping their development. The team also gave an update on Khaleesi, describing her as 'a little smaller, a little younger'. According to researchers, the female wolves are naturally smaller and tend to grow at a slightly slower pace compared to males. James said: '[Khaleesi] currently weighs about 35lb, but is still tracking about 10 to 15 per cent larger than what we have seen in gray wolves.' Khaleesi's being kept separate for now to ensure she's big enough to safely join her older brothers. Colossal's carefully watching her growth before moving to a gradual, staged introduction. In the footage, James described the pups' growth as impressive, noting they have hit all expected milestones for development. Currently, the pups are eating an adult diet of a high-quality kibble for dogs, game-grade ground meat and bones to help them develop hunting instincts. Paige McNichol of Colossal said: 'Remus is really taking on that alpha role, and Romulus is stepping down and being more subordinate in the pack.' Although Remus is slightly smaller than Romulus, he's proving to be more dominant and constantly watches his surroundings as he thinks before acting, a behavior McNichol described as crafty and calculated. That makes him more of a strategic leader, while Romulus, though physically larger, tends to charge ahead first but follows his brother's lead during interactions, a classic behavior among beta males. McNichol said: 'This dynamic may change as they grow, especially when their younger pack mate Khaleesi is introduced.' The team's slowly introducing her to Romulus and Remus, starting with visits through fences. James said: 'We're looking for really strong indicators that they are socially compatible.' The eventual goal is to release all three on to a private preserve where they can live as a functioning pack. Six months ago, Colossal made headlines when it first announced the births of the wolves, claiming to have 'brought back' the dire wolf. These pups are lab-made hybrid wolves, engineered to revive the ancient predators using advanced DNA-editing tools. Scientists compared the ancient dire wolf's DNA to a gray wolf's, identifying 14 distinct genes and made 20 changes to match DNA, resulting in them being larger and more resembling wolves. Nic Rawlence of the University of Otago said: 'To truly de-extinct something, you would have to clone it. 'The problem is we can't clone extinct animals because the DNA is not well enough preserved.' The process started by extracting ancient DNA from fossils and comparing it to the gray wolf's DNA. Scientists then made changes to mimic the dire wolf, and then they implanted it into a surrogate mother, giving birth to a genetically made dire pup. The three pups were born via this method, which Colossal calls part of its 'de-extinction tool kit'. The company says that the broader plan is to correct past ecological damage caused by human activity, including overhunting and habitat destruction. The company's site said: 'We're committed to rectifying the past and rehabilitating nature on a global scale.' For now, the team revealed the final size of the breed is uncertain, but they're looking for signs that the pups may continue growing toward the size of their ancient counterparts. Historically, extinct dire wolves stood about 3ft tall at the shoulder and reached lengths of up to 6ft, which makes them 30-40 per cent heavier than today's gray wolves. Fossil evidence suggests they could weigh between 130-150lb, according to the National Park Service.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Yahoo
19-year-old suspect in Detroit fireworks shooting arrested, police say
Detroit police say the 19-year-old suspected of opening fire near the city's Ford Fireworks show on Monday, June 23 — injuring two people — has been taken into custody after a two-week search. Alphonso Cooper Jr. of Romulus was arrested Monday, July 7, at a home in Washtenaw County, police said in a statement. Police Chief Todd Bettison said investigators worked "countless hours" on the case and that he is confident Cooper is responsible for the shooting, which injured a 17-year-old boy he was allegedly fighting and a 22-year-old woman who happened to be nearby. Both victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Another person was previously sought as a person of interest by police for allegedly helping Cooper flee the scene. Police did not confirm that person's arrest, but DPD Officer Jalen Nelson said everyone believed to be involved is now in custody, and there are no outstanding suspects or persons of interest. More: Detroit cracks down on curfew violations after several teens, children shot The shooting occurred around 10:04 p.m. near Randolph and Larned streets — about a block from Spirit of Detroit Plaza and Hart Plaza, where thousands had gathered to watch the fireworks. Police said the shooting was not random and stemmed from a dispute between Cooper and the teen victim over "about $200 and some change." DPD credited its Fugitive Apprehension Services Team and the Violent Crime Reduction Initiative for the arrest. A warrant for criminal charges has been submitted to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, police said. "I want to thank the community for all the tips, along with my officers and all of our law enforcement partners who assisted in this process," Bettison said. Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@ Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit fireworks shooting suspect arrested after 2 week search
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Dire wolves brought back from extinction have already doubled in size, new video reveals
Dire wolves vanished more than 12,000 years ago but science has brought them back, and now, the massive creatures made famous by Game of Thrones have doubled in size in mere months. Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, the first genetically engineered dire wolf pups, are growing bigger than most gray wolves. The dire wolves were created by Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based company using cutting-edge genetic engineering to bring extinct species back to life, including the woolly mammoth, dodos, and Tasmanian tigers. In a newly released video, the team revealed that Romulus and Remus, the two male pups, are now over six months-old and weigh more than 90 pounds each. That is about 20 percent larger than a standard gray wolf, making them the closest thing to a real-life dire wolf in more than 10,000 years. Romulus and Remus were born last year on October 1, while Khalessi was born earlier this year in January, making her the youngest of the pact. In the video uploaded by Colossal, the two male pups were seen running and playing together, chasing each other, and showing friendly behavior which reflects healthy social bonding. They seemed comfortable in their new outdoor surroundings after leaving the lab. Matt James, Chief Animal Officer at Colossal, said: 'They're nice large wolves that are much more representative of what we saw in the ancient specimens.' The pups are now getting ready for their first full medical checkup, which will include CT scans and blood tests to study their bones, muscles, and internal growth. Scientists say these physical changes, like their unusually large size, show that the dire wolf genes engineered into their DNA before birth are now actively shaping their development. The team also gave an update on Khaleesi, the only female of the trio, describing her as 'a little smaller, a little younger.' According to researchers, the female wolves are naturally smaller and tend to grow at a slightly slower pace compared to males. 'She currently weighs about 35 pounds, but is still tracking about 10 to 15 percent larger than what we have seen in gray wolves,' James said. Khaleesi is being kept separate for now to ensure she's big enough to safely join her older brothers. The team is carefully watching her growth before moving to a gradual, staged introduction. In the video, James described the pups' growth as impressive, noting they have hit all expected milestones for development. Currently, the pups are eating an adult diet of a high quality dog kibble, game-grade ground meat, and bones to help them develop hunting instincts. Paige McNichol, manager of animal husbandry at Colossal, said: 'Remus is really taking that alpha role, and Romulus is stepping down and being more subordinate in the pack.' Although Remus is slightly smaller than Romulus, he's proving to be more dominant. He's constantly watching his surroundings and thinking before acting, a behavior McNichol described as crafty and calculated. That makes him more of a strategic leader, while Romulus, though physically larger, tends to charge ahead first but follows Remus's lead during interactions, a classic behavior among beta males. 'This dynamic may change as they grow, especially when their younger pack mate Khaleesi is introduced,' McNichol said. The team is carefully and slowly introducing her to Romulus and Remus, starting with visits through fences. 'We're looking for really strong indicators that they are socially compatible,' said James. The eventual goal is to release all three onto a private preserve where they can live as a functioning pack. Six months ago, Colossal made headlines when it first announced the births of Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, claiming to have 'brought back' the dire wolf. The animals, made famous by Game of Thrones, last roamed North America more than 12,000 years ago before going extinct. These pups are lab-made hybrid wolves. They are genetically modified gray wolves, engineered to revive the ancient predators using advanced DNA-editing tools. Scientists compared the ancient dire wolf's DNA to a gray wolf's, identifying 14 distinct genes. They made 20 changes in gray wolf to match the dire wolf's DNA, resulting in larger, more resembling wolves. Nic Rawlence, an associate professor and director of the Otago Paleogentics Laboratory at the University of Otago, told 'To truly de-extinct something, you would have to clone it.' 'The problem is we can't clone extinct animals because the DNA is not well enough preserved,' he said. The process started by extracting ancient DNA from fossils and comparing it to the gray wolf's DNA. Scientists then made changes into gray wolf's DNA to mimic the dire wolf, and then they implanted it into a surrogate mother, giving birth to a genetically made dire pup. Romulus, Remus, and Khlaessi were born using this method, which Colossal calls part of its 'de-extinction toolkit.' The company says that their broader plan is to correct past ecological damage caused by human activity, including overhunting and habitat destruction. 'We're committed to rectifying the past and rehabilitating nature on a global scale,' the company's website states. Experts have warned that creating large carnivores, even in captivity, could have unintended consequences. Between 2002 and 2020, there were 26 reported fatal wolf attacks on humans globally, according to the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. 'If released into the wild in large enough numbers to establish a self-sustaining population, this new wolf could potentially take down prey larger than that hunted by gray wolves,' said Rawlence. He also warned that if these lab-made hybrid wolves were to breed with wild populations, their altered genes could spread, disrupting ecosystems. For now, the team says the final size is uncertain, but they are looking for signs that the pups may continue growing toward the size of their ancient counterparts. Historically, extinct dire wolves stood about three feet tall at the shoulder, reached lengths of up to six feet, which makes them 30 to 40 percent heavier than today's gray wolves. Fossil evidence suggests they could weigh between 130 and 150 pounds, according to the National Park Service.
CBS News
27-06-2025
- CBS News
Detroit police identify two people wanted in fireworks shooting
The Detroit Police Department provided an update on Friday in connection with a shooting that happened during the Ford Fireworks show earlier this week. Chief Todd Bettison identified two people accused of being involved as 19-year-old Alphonso Cooper Jr., of Romulus, and Markalowe Keith Steen Jr., 18, of Brownstown Township. Bettison said Cooper is believed to be the shooter who injured two people — a 17-year-old boy from Romulus and a 22-year-old woman. Bettison said the 17-year-old was the intended target, and the female victim was a bystander. Police say one of the victims was shot in the leg and the other was shot in the hand. The shooting happened at about 10:04 p.m. on June 23 in the area of Randolph and Larned streets Detroit Police Department Bettison said the male victim and Cooper knew each other, and the shooting allegedly stemmed from a debt owed of about $200. He said that after a brief fight, Cooper allegedly fired two shots. Police believe Cooper is hiding in a hotel with the help of some family members and friends and are urging him to turn himself in. "If you help him avoid apprehension and help him leave the state of Michigan, or anything like that, trust me, I will be contacting the U.S. attorney, and I will use every aspect of law enforcement to hold you accountable as well for aiding and abetting, and every charge that I could possibly bring," Bettison said. Bettison also had a message for residents, saying, "When you see his picture or you see him anywhere, I do not want him to have an enjoyable, stress-free weekend. I want him to know that we're out there."
