A group of paleontologists say the tiny freckles they found on a rock could hold the key to understanding the origins of plant life on earth.
The freckles, Virginia Tech researchers say, are actually billion-year-old seaweed microfossils. They substantially push back the current record of the multicelluar green plant by nearly 200 million years, according to the study published on Monday. Previously, the oldest known fossilized green alga was 800 million years old. The fossils are so tiny -- about 2 millimeters in length or the size of a flea -- that they are barely visible without a microscope.
"This is a huge discovery," Xiao said."Algae like this makes oxygen which is a critical element in the atmosphere that allows us and animals to survive. They are also important plants to maintain the habitability of our planet." The seaweeds were green when they were alive, but were buried so deep and at such high temperatures for nearly 1 billion years they lost their color, according to Tang.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Uncharted territory: Carbon dioxide expected to peak at levels last seen during Pliocene EpochFor the first time in human history, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's air reached 400 parts per million. The last time the planet experienced such high levels was more than 3,000,000 years ago.
Les mer »
Gwyneth Paltrow Said She 'Failed as a Mother' When It Came to This Milestone in Daughter Apple's LifeBetween mom Gwyneth Paltrow’s vagina candles and dad Chris Martin’s covert workplace visits, it’s safe to say 15-year-old Apple Martin is routinely embarrassed by her famous parents.
Les mer »
Parents say daughter, 7, died 1 minute into tonsil surgeryParents of a 7-year-old South Carolina girl said she died one minute into a surgery to have her tonsils removed. Paisley Elizabeth Grace Cogsdill died Friday at a medical center in Greenwood, WHNS-TV reported. Family members said the girl snored in her sleep but was otherwise healthy.
Les mer »
7-year-old girl dies during tonsillectomyCNN News, delivered. Select from our newsletters below and enter your email to subscribe.
Les mer »
Rodney Reed, Whose Case Was Championed by Kim Kardashian, Denied Death Row Appeal by Supreme CourtThe now 51-year-old Reed has spent more than 20 years on death row after being convicted of the 1996 murder of 19-year-old Stacey Stites.
Les mer »
46,000 Year Old Bird Found ‘Frozen In Time’ In SiberiaA bird discovered in northeastern Siberia died during the last Ice Age and is providing a crucial glimpse into evolution and the effects of climate change
Les mer »