Researchers discover giant predator predecessor

The fossils of ​​smaller and older cousins of Tyrannosaurus rex unearthed in the Kyzylkum Desert in northern Uzbekistan indicate that the predecessor of ancient animals that infamous've got brains and sophisticated senses that make them a terrible predator.

Researchers said on Monday that the dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period about the size of a horse named Timurlengia euotica, which roamed Central Asia 90 million years ago, give hints on lineage called tyrannosaurs that culminated with T. rex, which roamed in North America more than 20 million years later.

A newly discovered tyrannasour named Timurlengia euotica (illustrated), may hold the key to explaining how its infamous big cousin Tyrannosaurus rex went on to become such a success and reach such massive sizes. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YlzMH)

The researchers used a CT scanner to look inside the brain cavity of Timurlengia and digitally reconstruct the brain, sinus, nerves, blood vessels and the inner ear. According to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the arrangement of the inner ear indicates that Timurlengia, like T. rex, is superior in hearing the sound with low frequency.

Timurlengia size is relatively small but has a more developed brain and senses giant apex predators such as Tyrannosaurus rex that lived at the end of the dinosaur era, said paleontologist Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Fossils of the newly described tyrannosaur were uncovered in the Kyzylkum desert of Uzbekistan. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YlzMH)

"This tells us that tyrannosaurs smarter before they become big," he said. These properties are useful when tyrannosaurs got a chance topped the food chain and become very large after groups of large predatory dinosaurs disappeared.

Timurlengia, which is named after the conqueror of Central Asia in the 14th Century, Tamerlane. It has a size about three to four meters in length and weighs about 270 kilograms. while, T. rex reached 13 meters in length and weighs seven tons.

From just a handful of fossilised bones and a well preserved brain case, scientists have been able to build a picture of what the Timurlengia would have looked like (illustrated). (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YlzMH)

Another paleontologist Hans-Dieter Sues of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington said that Timurlengia, the long-legged hunter is nimble and may be a better runner than a T. rex.

Analysis of its brain casing (pictured) showed it had already developed inner ear structures which would have enabled it to hear lower frequencies, an advantage for top predators when it came to hearing prey and rivals. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YlzMH)

"Timurlengia will be scary creatures, such as the lion is quite scary for us," said Brusatte.

"But if you somehow carry over to an alternate dimension and had the choice between facing Timurlengia or T. rex, you'd pick Timurlengia."

Palaeontologists say that Timurlengia fills a 'frustrating gap' in the tyrannosaur fossil record (pictured) and shows signs of the traits which enabled the T. rex to become such a successful predator and grow to such massive sizes. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YlzMH)

Tyrannosaurus appeared about 170 million years ago and initially the size of a person. Before the discovery of Timurlengia, there is a gap in the fossil record of tyrannosaur between approximately 100 and 80 million years ago that left questions about their evolution.

"Tyrannosaurus just be very large about 80 million years ago," said Sues, as reported by Reuters. The fact that it is still relatively small Timurlengia in 80 million years after the first tyrannosaurus appears showing to enormous size, at the end of their evolutionary history. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILYMAIL]

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Is this ancient animal the Unicorn inspiration source?

Unicorn is a mythical creature with a horse-shaped with single horn on his forehead. Which makes it special, the animal blood was said to be a panacea and is able to make a person live forever. Whether the unicorn is real or mythical mere, not known for sure.

However, recently scientists have discovered fossils of animals were remarkably similar appearance with the Unicorn. The fossilized bones thought to have come from a giant rhinoceros-like creature that died 350 thousand years ago.

The Siberian rhinoceros, Elasmotherium sibiricum (artist's impression pictured), is nicknamed the Siberian Unicorn due to the huge horn it is thought to have had on its head. Scientists previously thought it died out 350,000 years ago, but a new discovery suggests they survived in some areas until 26,000 years ago. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YgbVv)

As quoted by the Daily Mail on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, the scientists say that species named Elasmotherium sibiricum was still alive in some regions in Kazakhstan until about 26 thousand years ago.

That's when the animals could be the size of a mammoth and weighs 5 tons that was known by humans. Early humans began to spread to Asia more than 50 thousand years ago and moved to Siberia at least 35 thousand years ago.

Researchers discovered the fossils alongside those of other prehistoric mammals including bison and mammoths close to the village of Kozhamazhar in Pavlodar Priirtysh, north east Kazakhstan (pictured). (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YgbVv)

"It's probably the area south of Western Siberia a refuge, so this is where the rhino longest preserved compared to other places," said Dr. Andrei Shpanski, a paleontology experts of Tomsk State University, as well as leader of the study. He added that there is another possibility, that these animals migrate and live temporarily in the southern region more broadly.

The researchers analysed the skull fragments of a Siberian rhinoceros, Elasmotherium sibircum, found in the Pavlodar Priirtysh region Kazakhstan. Carbon dating revealed the fossil was just a little over 26,000 years old, meaning the animal had outlived others of its species by more than 320,000 years. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YgbVv)

The researchers found fragments of a giant Siberian rhinoceros skulls near the village Kozhamazhar, Priirtysh Pavlodar region, in northeast Kazakhstan. The findings coincided with the relics of prehistoric bison and mammoths.

Although no horns have been found for
Elasmotherium sibircum, scientists have 
inferred they had them from skulls (horn 
reconstruction pictured at the Natural 
History Museum London). (Picture from:  
http://adf.ly/1YgbVv)

Elasmotherium sibircum allegedly spread widely in Siberia after appeared about 2.6 million years ago and the available evidence leads to the expectation that most of these species went extinct about 350 thousand years ago.

Their home is a vast region stretching from the River Don near Voronezh in Russia to the east side of Kazakhstan today. Fossilized relics show that the animal can reach a length of about 4.6 meters and a height of more than 2 meters.

Thus, this animal is one of the largest rhino ever lived. The size is larger than the woolly rhinoceros thought to have lived in the same timeframe.

Although no horn ever found, the research on the skull showed a bony lump that is suspected to be cornerstone of the keratin horn, similar to that of modern African rhino. And the horn allegedly could reach up to 90 cm in diameter with a length of several meters.

Paleontologists have also explained how they had heard stories about the Tatars in Siberia about the enormous horned unicorn that require the drag board to move. It could be Elasmotherium sibircum trigger a fairy tale about a unicorn. Animals were allegedly using the horns magnitude to drive the competitors and to remove snow from shrubs in the winter. It also has long legs so that it can run like a horse and not just forward ducking like a modern rhinoceros.

By using radio carbon dating, Dr. Shpanski and his colleagues found that the age of the parts of the skull was about 26,038 years old, and still quite young. Skull quite durable with some parts of cracks, but no signs have been worn. "Most likely, it is the males that are very large. The size of this rhino is the largest of which is in the writings, and the proportion is typical," said Dr. Shpanski.

The size comparison between Sibiricum Elasmotherium with modern humans and rhinos. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YgcDc)

He added that the possibility of climate change in Siberia which resulted in many Elasmotherium sibircum dead, although local conditions in Kazakhstan allows the majority to survive.

This is not the first time the scientists find a final settlement of the ice age species suspected had long been extinct. Woolly mammoths thought to be extinct 12,000 years ago, but there are some that can last up to about 4,500 years ago on the island of Wrangle, Arctic sea, just north of Russia.

Dr. Shpanski said, "Our research customize understanding of the environmental conditions in the geological in general. Understanding of the past allows us to make more accurate predictions about natural processes in the future - still about climate change." *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILYMAIL]

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Scientists solve the Tully Monster mystery

Fossils of these animals have the most bizarre form of ever found. So strangely until scientists call it as 'Tully Monster,' and its name derived from Francis Tully, an amateur fossil hunters who discovered the fossil in the central part of the United States in 1958.

Now a group of researchers from Yale University may finally find the answers to some questions about the evolutionary peculiarity of the species is officially called 'Tullimonstrum gregarium'. The results were then published in the current issue of the journal Nature and offers a clearer picture of the 300 million years old sea creatures.

Possible forms of the Tully Monster 300 million years old. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YcGxU)

This creature does look like a monster, because the teeth and mouth at the end of the neck in the form of a trunk and looked more like claws than the mouth. More bizarre, its eyes there is a little above the middle of each side of the body, at the end of something similar rods along its spine. The body length only up to 30 centimeters.

The Tully Monster fossil. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YcHS5)

However, although seems strange, it seems they are quite productive. Scientists have found thousands of Tully Monster fossils. For years, scientists have been puzzled not only by its looks, but also with the category of this sea creature - whether including mollusks, fish, or something else entirely?

3D model of Tully Monster. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YcHS5)

Through high-tech analysis, the researchers concluded that the Tully Monster has gills and spine called a notochord, those are the two new things became known by the scientists. They also found that it looks like the creature is a predator, not surprising with their full molar teeth, and the closest living relative today is the lamprey eel.

But there are still some lingering questions, such as when it appears and when it became extinct. Another mystery is why the fossils of the Tully Monster only found in one place, which is now a coal mine in Illinois, USA. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE VERGE]

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The mystery of "the Flores man" partially revealed

Identity of the Flores man or are often called "The Hobbit" was partially revealed. The French scientists through their research to make sure that the dwarf was clearly not a human being like us. Nevertheless, the results were not put an end to a great puzzle about the identity of "The Hobbit," this human species remains unclear.

The Flores man was discovered in 2003 by an archaeologist from the Indonesian National Archaeology Center (Pusat Arkeologi Nasional/Arkenas) named EW Saptomo who played a major role in the discovery and also makes him one of the world's most influential archaeologists thanks to these findings.

From left, models representing a Flores Man, a Homo Sapiens and a Neanderthal in Lyon, France. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSYml)

Initially, the man thought to have a height of only 1.1 meters was declared as Homo floresiensis. However, soon after its discovery released in the journal Nature, its identity a matter of controversy.

Some scientists believe that "The Hobbit" is a member of the species Homo erectus. However, "The Hobbit" experiencing isolation and evolution so made it shrink. Meanwhile, other scientists assume, the man who weighs an estimated 25 kilograms is Homo floresiensis, totally new species. One group of other scientists said the dwarf was actually a human (Homo sapiens). However, this type had a small brain size is only as big as grapes.

A Homo floresiensis' skull, centre, next to that of a homoserectus from Java, left, and a human skull. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSYml)

Antoine Balzeau, a scientist from the Natural History Museum of France, was re-examining the bones of "The Hobbit". He collaborated with Philippe Charlier, an ancient medical mysteries expert of Paris Descartes University. By using a high-tech scanning devices, Balzeau and Charlier analyze the human skull that found in Liang Bua, Flores, Indonesia.

"So far, we base the conclusion on the image which have not many seen before," said Balzeau as quoted of Telegraph on Tuesday, February 18, 2016. Balzeau said, there are plenty of informations contained in each layer of the skull. However, he said, "There is no characteristic of our species."

Revision of some internal features of Liang Bua 1 on cranial thickness, internal structure. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSYml)

Although they finding the signs of disease, but Balzeau and Charlier not found the sign of the disease associated with a genetic disorder that causes dwarfism.

The results of this research could successfully eliminate several possibility of the identity of "The Hobbit". Now, the choice is only whether "The Hobbit" is Homo erectus or Homo floresiensis indeed. Clearly, it was not Homo sapiens. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TELEGRAPH]

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Hiker found a rare 2,000 years old gold coin

Laurie Rimon was hiking with her friends at archaeological sites in eastern Galilee when viewing shiny object in the grass. After realizing that was a coin, the group guide named Irit Zuk Kovacsi contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Within a few hours, the IAA representative was came and joined the group on the field and took over ownership of the coin.

"It's not every day people find amazing things, but I hope to see the gold was displayed in the museum in the near future," said Rimon.

The front of the rare coin found by a hiker in northern Israel. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSRrp)

The coins found by Rimon was not an ordinary coin. Through a series of tests showed that the coins dating from the year of 107 AD. This coin is part of a series of nostalgic coin minted by emperor Trajan and dedicated to the Roman emperors who led earlier. The only other coin of this kind is believed to be one of the collection of the British Museum.

Chief curator of the coins department of IAA, Donald T. Ariel said that two other gold coins of this emperor has been registered in the country's wealth. One coin comes from Giv'at Shaul near Jerusalem, and other coins from the area of ​​Qiryat Gat. However, they are different details with detail on the coins were found by Rimon.

The back of the rare coin. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSRrp)

"This is a remarkable discovery and surprise. I believe that thanks to Laurie, pretty soon people will be able to enjoy this rare discovery," said Nir Distelfeld, an Inspector of IAA's Antiquities Robbery Prevention Unit.

Danny Syon, a senior collector at the IAA, said one side of the coin shows the symbol of the Roman legions next to the name of  emperor Trajan. On the other side, there is a portrait of the glorified emperor Augustus.

The coin like this could describe the Roman army in the region at the 2,000 years ago. "Maybe in the context of supporting the activities of the Bar Kokhba in Galilee, but it is very difficult to determine just on the basis of one coin," said Ariel.

"Historical sources describe the period records that several Roman soldiers are paid high salaries, amounting to three gold coins, which is equivalent to 75 silver coins as payment per day," said Ariel.

He added that although it has a lot of gold coins, the soldiers have trouble buying goods on the market with such coins, often because traders can not give the money returns to them.

"Bronze and silver coins from the era of emperor Trajan more common in the country, gold coins are very rare," said Ariel. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | NPR]

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The world's oldest dress found in Egypt

Scientists have recently reveal the age of the ancient dress. The dress was first discovered in the early 1900s in an ancient Egyptian tomb. After neglected for a century, the dress was finally examined. Revealed, it was already more than 5,000 years! At 5,100 to 5,500 years old, it dates to the dawn of the kingdom of Egypt.

The dress made from linen was crowned as the oldest in the world. The dress is called Tarkhan was rare. Most of the ancient clothes found much younger, about 2,000 years old. In addition, the tattered condition.

This Tarkhan dress that found in an ancient Egypt tomb touted as the world's oldest dress. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1XLKkb)

The 5,000-year-old clothing were found previously existed. However, the design is very simple, just a cloth wrapped around the body. This tarkhan was special with stitched sleeves, 'V' collar, as well as a neat folds. The design is similar to the dresses on display in the stores now.

By design, the Tarkhan dress definitely created and used by the class. Their folds indicate that the dress was worn, not just for the ceremony.

According to Alice Stevenson, a curator from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology in London revealed that the uniqueness of the dress was realized in 1977.

Jana Jones from Macquarie University, said that the Tarkhan dress was accidentally buried with the person wearing it. In addition to dresses, cosmetics and clothes are also buried.

"I am glad to read that the Tarkhan dress had been determined its age with radiocarbon dating and that science has put it in the best position as the world's oldest dress," Jones said as quoted by the National Geographic on Thursday, February 18, 2016. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | UCL NEWS | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC]

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Scientists have found the fossils of large-mouthed fish

A group of scientists have recently re-discovered fossils of ancient fish with a big mouth who is believed to have lived in the seas nearly 100 million years ago.

Reporting from ScienceDaily on Thursday, February 12, 2016, the discovery of the species of Rhinconichyhys genus are found in Colorado, after previously from the same species have also been found in Japan and the UK.

An international team of scientists have discovered two new plankton-eating fossil fish species, of the genus called Rhinconichthys, which lived 92 million years ago in the oceans of the Cretaceous Period. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1Ob3NzH)

This ancient fish species named R. Purgatoirensis and R. Uyenoi by Kenshu Shimada, a palaeobiology expert from DePaul University, Chicago.

"Based on our research, we now have three different species of the Rhinconichthys genus of 3 different areas. Marked with a skull on the head that are singular," said Kenshu.

Rhinconichthys was estimated to be more than 6.5 feet and fed on plankton. It had a pair of bones called hyomandibulae, which formed a massive oar-shaped lever to protrude and swing the jaws open extra wide, like a parachute, in order to receive more plankton-rich water into its mouth. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1WxxjP)

"With these results, we came to know a little more about the biodiversity on this planet," he added.

According Kenshu, Rhinconichthys species is an ancient fish that have the largest bones ever. It is estimated to reach 6.5 feet in length. With the form of a large and prominent jaw, capable of consuming its prey only with a gusto. More precisely shaped like a parachute until it can easily swallow the plankton. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCIENCEDAILY]

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The mummy of fanged and whip-like tail predator found in Turkey

Archaeologists were surprised to discover the mummy of predators with sinister faces, saber-toothed, saggy skin and a tail like a whip. This mysterious animal found in Turkey and making the experts confusion.

This strange predators found in an old basement and still to be identified by experts in the natural history of this country. The archaeologists have theorized these animals may from prehistoric times, while others believe it could be a kind cat, based on his front teeth.

Archaeologists have theorised the animal (pictured) may be prehistoric, while others believe it could be some kind of cat, based on the shape of its head and incisors. It could alternatively be a hoax. (Picture from: http://dailym.ai/1o0NOPt)

Dr. Lidija McKnight, an expert on ancient Egyptian and animal mummies at Manchester University told DailyMail on Monday, Feruary 2, 2016 said, "It looks like one of the naturally mummified cat we found in the UK, in the walls of the chimney, for example."

With its ferocious fangs (pictured), saggy skin and whip-like tail, a mysterious mummy discovered in Turkey has baffled experts. The bizarre predator was discovered in an old cellar and remains to be identified. (Picture from: http://dailym.ai/1o0NOPt)

"The tarsel bone/carpel that looks long and had been diagnosed as cat species," she added. This strange mummy said to have a length of 1 meter from the nose to the tip of its tail.

Dr. McKnight said further, "One meter long, but if it is a wild cat species, for example, they can be much larger than a domestic cat."

This rigid creature was taken out of solid rock under the house of locksmith Abdullah Ozturk, of Niğde located in central Anatolia region of the country. He has been displaying the mummy in his shop window, after the experts failed to identify these animals. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILYMAIL]

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King Tut mask back on display after being repaired

Nine weeks after repaired the gold mask of King Tutankhamun, has now been completed and re-equiped the artifacts exhibit at Cairo's Egyptian Museum.

The mask of repair process begins by performing the 3D scan using Pattern Projection Light Scanner devices for recording and documenting the mask circumstances, followed by cleaning the glue does not stick perfectly before.

Christian Eckmann, a German conservator was repairing the King Tutankhamun's gold mask. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1OZQGFE)

No chemicals are used to clean this mask, and the team does millimeter-by-millimeter with wooden equipment after raising the temperature of the mask. For this phase alone spent more than 4 weeks.

"The process of repair mask produces two surprising things, the first one is, the beard has an internal tube that connects directly to the face, and the second is the beard reassembling process in 1946 using a soft stained material," said Mamdouh Eldamaty of the Ministry of Antiquities of Egypt.

An ancient technique that should be applied in the repairing process, and made the team used the Beeswax as a glue since ancient organic materials that can reduce the risk of metal damaging in the mask.

In the ancient Egypt culture, the beards were used on the mask of King Tutankhamun is a symbol that signifies that he has a position that is equivalent to Osiris, the Lord of all the world.

During the repairing process, the 3D Hologram of this mask is on display. However, starting on December 17, 2015, the museum visitors can already enjoy the original mask. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC]

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Adorable dinosaur skeleton found

Dinosaurs word roughly translated would be 'terrible lizards.' This name is also in accordance with how the original form. Dinosaurs really is a terrible lizard, because they look like lizards in general. This is evident when we look at his size, teeth and apparent ferocity of some types of dinosaurs were already known.

However, there are several species of dinosaurs are not only spent more than 180 million years continuously to stabbing, biting, clawing each other. There are several species of them look absolutely adorable.

Paleontologists discover adorable horned dinosaur baby. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1KGtAj9)

In 2010, together with Alberta Red Deer River, the paleontologists found some parts of the skull peeking out from limestone. Excavations continue and later revealed more bone, continue to grow until this framework is almost complete, intact, there is a layer of skin on the ribs and a smooth ring of bone that is the formula in exposing the eyes of the dinosaur.

Once this skeleton is cleaned, Phil Currie and colleagues surveyed and later explained that the skeleton is a baby skeleton of the smallest Chasmosaurus and the most complete of the ceratopsid baby discovered ever.

The smallest intact ceratopsid skeleton was recently unearthed in Alberta. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1KGtAj9)

Some parts of the body of these animals have been lost in the 75 billion years ago. Forelimbs and back of this baby may have fallen into the abyss before discovered and the tail end portion of a cute dinosaur has been disconnected.

The size of the skeleton has a length of nearly 5 feet, from the details given by Currie and his colleagues demonstrated this skeleton has a texture typical of the bones of young dinosaur, part of the bones is not fully fused and has a size large skull and frill (tassels) which have not grown out and called epiossifications. All things that are found here makes a small dinosaur is so adorable. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC]

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