The world's oldest fossils found in Greenland

The 3.7 billion years old fossils is found in rocks in Greenland, dubbed as the oldest ones in the worlds and adding the possibility of life on Mars when the both planets were equally deserted.

As quoted by Reuters, the experts found a small mound, measuring from one to four centimeters on the rocks at Isua, southwest Greenland. The rocks contain fossils of microbes similar to that found in the waters of Bermuda to Australia.

Stromatolites from the Isua area of Greenland may be the oldest fossil evidence of life on Earth. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1diLwP)

If it was true, the mound of microbes are 'stromatolite,' will be the oldest prehistoric fossils than those in Australia, which is evidence of life on Earth 220 million years ago.

"This shows that the Earth is not as hot as hell in 3.7 billion years ago," said lead author Allen Nutman of the University of Wollongong on the research published in the journal Nature.

"That's where life could develop," he said further. Earth formed about 4.6 billion years ago and the stromatolite relatives indicated the life evolved quickly after the asteroid bombardment ended about 4 billion years ago.

Allen Nutman (L) of the University of Woollongong and Vickie Bennet of the Australian National University hold a specimen of 3.7 billion-year-old fossils found in Greenland in Canberra, Australia, August 23, 2016. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1diLar)

"Stromatollite contains billions of bacteria, similar to the apartment complex," said Martin Van Kranendonk, one of the authors of the study from the University of New South Wales who discovered the oldest fossils ever, coming from 3.48 billion years ago.

At that time, stromatolite grown into a sticky mass at the bottom of the sea, whereas the Earth like the waters at as Mars, orbiting the Sun that 30 percent dimmer than it is today. 

The findings in Greenland occur after the ice and snow show hidden rocks. In parallel, these findings provided the impetus to study the possibility of life on Mars.

"Suddenly, Mars looks more promising as a place to stay in the past," wrote Abigail Allwood of the California Institute of Technology on the comments column in the journal Nature. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | REUTERS]

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Paleontologists have discovered a major T. rex fossil

A team of paleontologists from the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture along with the University of Washington (UW) found fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex, including a very complete skull. They estimate about 20 percent comes from the fossils of dinosaurs, including the spine, ribs, hips and lower jaw bones.

The partially excavated skull of a T. rex discovered by the Burke Museum and University of Washington paleontologists in Montana. The skull was preserved upside-down in the rock, and a black tooth from the T. rex's upper jaw can be seen protruding from the rock in the center of the photo. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dkX2t)

The team led by the Curator of Burke Museum Vertebrate paleontology at the same time a UW biology professor, Gregory P. Wilson. The team discovered T. rex during an expedition to the Hell Creek Formation in northern Montana (one of the famous as the site of dinosaur fossils).

The excavation site in northern Montana where the Burke Museum and University of Washington paleontologists discovered a T. rex skull. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dkWrh)

Initially, two volunteers from the museum, Jason Love and Luke Tufts found the fossilized bone fragments protruding on a rocky hill. Large bone size and structure of the honeycomb suspected belong to the carnivorous dinosaur fossil. After further digging, the team discovered the skull of T. rex along with the ribs, spine and jaw and pelvis.

T. rex is one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs ever roam the earth. It has an average length of 12 meters and height of 4.5 to 6 meters. T. rex was a fierce predator with a large serrated teeth and jaws. Fossil evidence shows that it even prey on other dinosaurs such as Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, until the prey bones shattered and came into the dirt in the fossils.

Paleontologists prepare to remove a Tyrannosaurus rex skull from a fossil dig site in northern Montana and transport it to the Burke Museum at the University of Washington. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dkWTO)

T. rex findings by a team of Burke/UW dubbed 'Tufts-Love Rex,' to honor two volunteers who found it. The fossil skull has a length of about 1.2 meters, and weighs about 1.1 tons wrapped with the protective plaster. Excavations on the ground revealed the right side of the skull from the base to the muzzle, including the teeth.

The Burke's paleontologists believe there is a possibility the other side of the skull was also found, but must carefully remove the rocks in the fossils area before they can determine completeness. "We think Tufts-Love Rex will become an iconic specimen for Burke Museum and the State of Washington, and he will be the object that is to be seen researchers dinosaurs as well," said Wilson.

The public can see the T. rex (which is still in plaster bandage) along with paleontology field tools, in the lobby of the Burke Museum on August 20 to October 2, 2016. After that, the The Burke's paleontologists team will begin preparing the fossils, namely by removing rocks around the bones, which may take a year or more. The plan, the museum will display the complete skull of T. rex in the Burke Museum in 2019. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCIENCEDAILY]

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Are these Mexican pyramid the largest one in the World?

Pyramid of Giza is often a topic of conversation, but it does not mean it was the largest in the world. The Great Pyramid of Cholula which has the title as the world's largest pyramid. The pyramid is a temple relic of the ancient Aztec in Puepla, Mexico.

Locals knew it as the 'Tlachihualtepetl' (or 'man-made mountains'). It stood as tall as 66 meters (216 feet) wide 450 meters (1,475 feet). the Great Pyramid of Cholula has a size four times larger base of Giza and the volume is twice as large. The archaeologists still do not know who built the mysterious complex, but it is believed the pyramid was built at some point around 300 BC.

The Great Pyramid of Cholula starts at these walls and finished at the tip of the hill. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dWn9P)

As reported by Zaria Gorvett for the BBC, the pyramid was probably built with adobe (kind of bricks made of burned slurry) for six feature layers above it.

The ancient Aztecs most likely use the Great Pyramid of Cholula as a place of worship about 1,000 years before moving to a smaller nearby new location. Before it was replaced by a newer structure, the pyramid painstakingly decorated with insects red, black, and yellow.

Tourists climbing the steps at the base of the Great Pyramid of Cholula, give an insight into its scale. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dWn9P)

"The pyramid began to be abandoned around 7th or 8th century AD," said David Carballo, an archaeologist from Boston University. And the pyramid was not discovered until the early 1900s, when the locals started to build a nearby psychiatric hospital. 

Until about the 1930s, the archaeologists began to uncover the pyramid, creating a series of tunnels that stretches 8 kilometers (5 miles) in length to give them access. Now, more than 2,300 years after the initial construction, the site has become a tourist destination

Then, why the largest pyramid in the world is often overlooked? It could be because the giant structure is actually hidden under layers of trees, making it look more like a natural mountain than as a place of worship. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | IFLSCIENCE]

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What was the oldest pyramid in the World?

The discovery of the tomb in the pyramid-shaped in the region of Sary-Arka, near the city of Karaganda, Kazakhstan was viral in various online media some time ago. Rumors said that this pyramid is the oldest pyramid in the world, but archeologists denied it.

Pyramid of Djoser, the first Egyptian pyramids were built about 4,700 years ago in Saqqara, Egypt. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dXpgY)

"The age precisely was uncertain, but most likely this pyramid was built in the late Bronze Age, over 3,000 years ago, or 1,000 years after the ancient Egyptians built their first pyramids, ie Pyramid of Djoser about 4,700 years ago," said Viktor Novozhenov, an archaeologist of Karaganda University who involved in the excavation of the tomb, as quoted by LiveScience.

The newly discovered pyramid is relatively small, with a height of 2 meters and a length of 14 meters. "The pyramid is made of rock, soil and slabs on the outside," said Novozhenov. If judging from the form of construction, the archaeologists estimate that the pyramid built for the ancient king or clan leader.

The ruins of a 3,000-year-old mausoleum were discovered in Kazakhstan. The mausoleum's burial chamber had been robbed. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1dXprd)

In addition, the structure is also unique. In contrast to most of the Egyptian pyramids that have taper peak, the peak of these new pyramid is actually flat, like the Pyramid of Djoser.

So far, the results of excavations conducted by the archaeologist team showed that the pyramid was created with similar goals with the Egyptian pyramids, the tomb structure in it. Novozhenov was uploaded the picture of the pyramid ruins in his Facebook account.

Unfortunately, the burial chamber in the pyramid has been looted, even though there are still remnants of pottery, knives and another bronze objects. It is uncertain whether or not the human remains are buried there.

Until now, the process of excavation is still ongoing. Archaeologists hope the discovery could provide new information about Begazy-Dandybai civilization that lived in the middle Kazakhstan at the era. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE]

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Is this the real face of Jesus?

Do you recognize the face of the man below? At first glance you may be wondering who actually man's beard and black hair. You may also be surprised if there are claims that this is the real face of Jesus Christ, a key figure in the Christian faith.

Forensic Anthropologist Richard Neave, this is what
Jesus Christ may have looked like. Using information
from skulls found at Israeliachaeological sites, this is
his rendition. What do you think? (Picture from: 
 http://adf.ly/1fgSUs)

The man's face was vastly different from the depictions of Jesus in a wide range of modern Christian literature that exists today. During this time, Jesus was described by the figure of a white man has blond hair and long beard. While the image of the man above is based on data forensics of a skull Jewish men in the first century AD. The author is a British anatomical artist.

The artist Richard Neave, a former professor at Manchester University, made a face image after examining three skulls of Jews around the region of Galilee, Israel. About ten years ago, Neave borrowed the methods used by forensic experts to identify victims of crime to draw a face which he claims to be Jesus.

Indeed, the drawing of the man who claimed to be the real face of Jesus is not new. Having had circulated some time ago, that image is now back busy discussed in social media.

Dr Neave, formerly from the University of Manchester, used techniques typically used to solve crimes, to create the portrait as well as fragments of information, such as a Biblical account saying Jesus closely resembled his disciples. A side view of 'Jesus' is shown. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fgSUs)

Professor Neave who is a forensic anthropology expert, by using computerized tomography to create slices of the skull. By evaluating the skull thickness in certain parts, he makes the skin and muscles of the face.

Dr Neave (pictured) and his team X-rayed three Semite skulls from the time, previously found by Israeli archaeologists. They used computer technology to work out how the muscles and skin should look, upon which they based a 3D model (seen on the computer screen) and a clay bust of Christ (right). (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fgSUs)

Not only that. Neave also researching on the images of ancient archaeological sites to determine the color of the hair of Jesus. He also studied the Bible to estimate how long Jesus's hair.

Italian police 'reveal' what Jesus looked like based on computer forensics and the world’s most famous relic. Using the Turin Shroud, the supposed burial cloth of Jesus, police investigators have generated a photo-fit image from the negative facial image on the material. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1fgUeS)

There is still no definitive answer to questions such as whether the real face of Jesus Christ. Earlier this year, some Italian police investigators also try to reconstruct the face of Jesus with the help of the Shroud of Turin, the supposed burial cloth of Jesus..

However, the results of the reconstruction made by the Italian police were very different from the results of facial reconstruction made by Professor Neave. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILYMAIL | INDEPENDENT]

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Scientists claim to have found the largest dinosaur footprints in Bolivia

A tourist guide in Bolivia found footprints that claimed belong to dinosaurs. The footprints have a size of 1.2 meters and a 80 million year-old relic.

The footprints belonged to a giant prehistoric animals were thought to belong to abelisaurus. The size of the current findings is one of the largest of the prior findings.

Paleontologist Sebastian Apesteguia (R) measures a footprint measuring over a meter made by a meat-eating predator some 80 million years ago, one of the largest of its kind ever found, in Kinsa Saruska, Bolivia. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1cioDq)

As reported by The Guardian on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, the discovery of dinosaur footprints are located around 64 kilometers outside the capital city of Bolivia, Sucre, in early July.

An Argentine paleontologists, Sebastian Apesteguia, who studied the findings said the footprints were thought to belong abelisaurus (two-legged dinosaur that exploring South America).

Fact and picture of Abelisaurus. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1cioWR)

"The footprints were bigger than we've ever found in the region. It is a record related to the discovery of carnivorous dinosaurs in the late Cretaceous period in South America," said Apesteguia.

For info, Abelisaurus is a dinosaur which lived approximately 85 million years ago during the late Cretaceous Period. It was first discovered by Roberto Abel in Argentina and was later named in 1985 by Argentine paleontologists Fernando Novas and Jose Bonaparte. The name of this dinosaur means “Abel’s Lizard”, a tribute to Roberto Abel.

The discovery was not the first time in the region, given the soft clay around Sucre known as dinosaur's footprints. Some previous abelisaurus skeleton has also been found in the area.

Abelisaurus is a group of meat-eating dinosaurs. They have the characteristic of hand rather short, long and narrow head and did not have horns, also the hind legs longer and slimmer. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE GUARDIAN]

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