* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Friday, August 29, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    ‘Big Brother’s’ Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy – El Paso Inc.

    Big Brother’s Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy

    ‘SNL’ Parts Ways With Emil Wakim Amid Rumored Season 51 Cast Shakeup – yahoo.com

    SNL Shakes Up Season 51 Cast with Emil Wakim’s Surprising Exit

    Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of Taylor Swift? – YouGov

    Do You Love Taylor Swift or Not? Share Your Thoughts!

    Upload Season 4 Review – yahoo.com

    Upload Season 4 Review: A Thrilling New Chapter Unveiled

    ‘The Roses’ review: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch sparkle in dark comedy – Yakima Herald-Republic

    The Roses’ Review: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch Shine in Dark Comedy Delight

    ‘When Calls the Heart’ Fans All Want the Same Thing After Seeing the Show’s Latest Update – yahoo.com

    When Calls the Heart’ Fans Rally Together in Excitement Over Exciting New Update!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Japan’s legacy LCD and chip technology find new home in India – Nikkei Asia

    How Japan’s Breakthrough LCD and Chip Technologies Are Driving Innovation in India

    ITSWC 2025: Thursday sessions guide – Traffic Technology Today

    Your Ultimate Guide to Thursday Sessions at ITSWC 2025

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Showcases Manufacturing Innovations – Modern Machine Shop

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Unveils Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Innovations

    US-ROK Technology Cooperation Faces Rising Tensions – The National Interest

    Rising Tensions Put US-South Korea Technology Partnership to the Test

    The Role of AI and Technology in Shaping the Future of Interactive Entertainment – Technology Org

    How AI and Technology Are Transforming the Future of Interactive Entertainment

    Ten upcoming sports stadiums where technology takes to the field – Dezeen

    10 Futuristic Sports Stadiums Revolutionizing the Game with Cutting-Edge Technology

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    ‘Big Brother’s’ Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy – El Paso Inc.

    Big Brother’s Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy

    ‘SNL’ Parts Ways With Emil Wakim Amid Rumored Season 51 Cast Shakeup – yahoo.com

    SNL Shakes Up Season 51 Cast with Emil Wakim’s Surprising Exit

    Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of Taylor Swift? – YouGov

    Do You Love Taylor Swift or Not? Share Your Thoughts!

    Upload Season 4 Review – yahoo.com

    Upload Season 4 Review: A Thrilling New Chapter Unveiled

    ‘The Roses’ review: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch sparkle in dark comedy – Yakima Herald-Republic

    The Roses’ Review: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch Shine in Dark Comedy Delight

    ‘When Calls the Heart’ Fans All Want the Same Thing After Seeing the Show’s Latest Update – yahoo.com

    When Calls the Heart’ Fans Rally Together in Excitement Over Exciting New Update!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Japan’s legacy LCD and chip technology find new home in India – Nikkei Asia

    How Japan’s Breakthrough LCD and Chip Technologies Are Driving Innovation in India

    ITSWC 2025: Thursday sessions guide – Traffic Technology Today

    Your Ultimate Guide to Thursday Sessions at ITSWC 2025

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Showcases Manufacturing Innovations – Modern Machine Shop

    MC Machinery Technology Summit Unveils Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Innovations

    US-ROK Technology Cooperation Faces Rising Tensions – The National Interest

    Rising Tensions Put US-South Korea Technology Partnership to the Test

    The Role of AI and Technology in Shaping the Future of Interactive Entertainment – Technology Org

    How AI and Technology Are Transforming the Future of Interactive Entertainment

    Ten upcoming sports stadiums where technology takes to the field – Dezeen

    10 Futuristic Sports Stadiums Revolutionizing the Game with Cutting-Edge Technology

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Technology

The Strangest Amber Fossils Ever Discovered

March 23, 2024
in Technology
The Strangest Amber Fossils Ever Discovered
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Amber fossils are like a time capsule, preserving the three-dimensional structure of animals, plants, and other prehistoric items of interest. Every once in a while, however, paleontologists stumble upon some particularly bizarre specimens and scenes.

Conventional fossils, with their faintly outlined pancaked specimens, can teach us plenty about the past, but they lack a certain pizzazz. Amber fossils, on the other hand, are filled with all sorts of excitement, exhibiting features that still appear fresh despite being millions of years old. And because many creatures became preserved in amber by inadvertently getting caught in tree resin, their final behaviors and predicaments are often on full display. Here are some of the more unusual amber fossils discovered over the years.

This story was originally published on October 24, 2020.

Ancient Flies Caught in the Bone Zone

Mating flies found in 41-million-year-old amber.

Some 41 million years ago, during the Late Middle Eocene, a pair of long-legged flies (Dolichopodidae) were getting it on when a drop of tree resin ruined their fun. Paleontologists believe it’s the first example of “frozen behavior” in the Australian fossil record, as most amber fossils are found in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Ugliest (or Cutest?) Bug Ever Found Trapped in Amber

The unsightly bug, Aethiocarenus burmanicus.

In 2017, scientists described a new species of insect called Aethiocarenus burmanicus, which was found in 100-million-year-old Burmese amber. The Cretaceous critter exhibited features never seen before in an insect, such as a triangle-shaped head, an awkward pair of googly eyes, and glands on its neck. Though the paleontologists who studied the specimen never admitted it, they had stumbled upon one seriously butt-ugly bug.

Say Hello to Mold Pigs

A mold pig in amber, seen through a microscope.

Amber can also preserve micro-scale creatures, such as these bizarre mold pigs. Discovered in 2019, these tiny animals resemble tardigrades, which are sometimes referred to as water bears. The Cenozoic microinvertebrates were found in the Dominican Republic and dated at 30 million years old. The creatures were named mold pigs on account of their portly appearance and fungi-rich diet.

Double Jeopardy for a Tick Wrapped in Spider Silk

Top and bottom views of the encased tick.

On one fateful Cretaceous day, a hapless tick managed to get itself caught in some spider silk prior to getting stuck in a sticky drop of tree sap. A seriously unfortunate day for the tick, but the discovery marked “the first time that this specific interaction between ticks and spiders has been documented in the fossil record,” according to the researchers.

Lice-Like Bugs Crawling Through Dinosaur Feathers

Mesophthirus engeli crawling on dinosaur feathers.

Research from 2019 detailed a piece of amber containing dino feathers and a louse-like insect named Mesophthirus engeli. Tell-tale damage to feathers suggests the bugs were in fact parasitizing their host, not just hanging out among discarded feathers in the same plop of tree resin. This piece of amber was found in Myanmar and dates back some 100 million years.

Horny Damselfly Strikes a Sexy Pose for Eternity

The male damselfly featured pod-like forearms and hindlegs which it used to attract mates

This male damselfly, caught inside 100-million-year-old Burmese amber, was trying to court a female when nature had other plans. At his moment of death, the damselfly had assumed a special pose in which he could show off his exaggerated forearms and hindlegs, in what the scientists called an extreme example of sexual display.

A Very Erect Penis

Top: The daddy longlegs with penis identified. Below: Close-up of the fully erect penis.

Daddy longlegs, in addition to their extended appendages, are endowed in other ways as well, as this chunk of Cretaceous amber revealed back in 2016. Here’s how I described the discovery at the time:

When it died, this ancient creature was clearly in a state of arousal, and possibly in the vicinity of a female. How it went from a potential union to paleontological posterity is anyone’s guess. Perhaps it fell into oozing resin amid all the sexual excitement. Alternately, the male daddy longlegs may have accidentally fallen into some tree resin as it was going about its daily business, and as it was struggling, its blood pressure rose, forcing its penis to squeeze out accidentally.

This insect’s penis was so unique in terms of its shape, scientists had to create an entirely new family of arachnids, and a new species, Halitherses grimaldii. As the researchers wrote: “This is the first record of a male copulatory organ of this nature preserved in amber and is of special importance due to the age of the deposit,” which dates back some 99 million years.

Meal Interrupted: An Ancient Spider Tries to Eat a Wasp

A spider pouncing on a parasitic wasp that had it coming.

This is one of my favorite amber fossils, both because of the dramatic scene and the exquisite level of preservation. What a moment for the resin to suddenly pour down over the pair, as the spider was about to chomp down on the parasitic wasp, which may have been poaching spider eggs at the time (oof). This piece of amber—the first to document a spider attack—was found in Myanmar, and it dates back to the Late Cretaceous, between 97 million and 110 million years ago.

Mite-on-Ant Action

The mite firmly attached to the ant’s head.

Dating back about 44 million to 49 million years ago, this is the oldest example of a mite attached to its host. The mite is similar to those around today, leading scientists to believe it was parasitizing the ant, rather than attacking it.

A Tiny Dino That’s Actually a Lizard

A preserved skull in 99-million-year-old Burmese amber.

This remarkable amber fossil was originally thought to contain the smallest dinosaur in the fossil record (a kind of hummingbird-like creature), but a reassessment of the fossil, along with newfound evidence, forced a re-think, with scientists concluding that the tiny skull likely belonged to a lizard. Still, it’s a damned cool specimen.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Gizmodo (AU) – https://gizmodo.com.au/2024/03/the-strangest-amber-fossils-ever-discovered-2/

Tags: AmberStrangesttechnology
Previous Post

F1 Team Pieces Car Builds Together Using 20,000-Part Excel Spreadsheet

Next Post

Musk Claims Delayed Tesla Roadster Will Now Be Able to Fly, if It Ever Launches

Drayton Harbor’s bacteria problem – Washington State Department of Ecology (.gov)

Tackling the Bacteria Crisis in Drayton Harbor: What You Need to Know

August 28, 2025
Entomologists, Fellow Scientists Report Negative Impacts of Government Actions – Entomology Today

Entomologists and Scientists Reveal Alarming Consequences of Recent Government Actions

August 28, 2025
Scientists Reveal What’s Inside Mars: It’s Chunky, With a History of Violence – ScienceAlert

Scientists Reveal Mars’ Chunky Interior and Turbulent History

August 28, 2025
These simple life changes can prevent diabetes and dementia – Earth.com

Easy Lifestyle Changes to Lower Your Risk of Diabetes and Dementia

August 28, 2025
Japan’s legacy LCD and chip technology find new home in India – Nikkei Asia

How Japan’s Breakthrough LCD and Chip Technologies Are Driving Innovation in India

August 28, 2025
Sports Betting Market Forecast and Company Analysis Report 2025-2033 Featuring 888, Bet365, Bet-at-Home, Betfred, Betsson, DraftKings, Entain, Flutter, International Game Technology, Kindred Group – Yahoo Finance

Sports Betting Market Outlook 2025-2033: In-Depth Analysis of Leading Industry Players

August 28, 2025
Meet The World’s Best Management Consulting Firms 2025 – Forbes

Explore the Leading Management Consulting Firms Shaping 2025

August 28, 2025
US Economy: 2Q GDP Rises to 3.3%, Jobless Claims Fall – Yahoo Finance

US Economy: 2Q GDP Rises to 3.3%, Jobless Claims Fall – Yahoo Finance

August 28, 2025
‘Big Brother’s’ Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy – El Paso Inc.

Big Brother’s Rylie Jeffries Finally Speaks Out on Katherine Woodman Controversy

August 28, 2025
Healthy Diet, Physical Activity Improve Alcohol-Related Liver Health – HCPLive

How Healthy Eating and Exercise Can Transform Alcohol-Related Liver Health

August 28, 2025

Categories

Archives

August 2025
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jul    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (795)
  • Economy (814)
  • Entertainment (21,693)
  • General (16,728)
  • Health (9,855)
  • Lifestyle (828)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (815)
  • Politics (822)
  • Science (16,024)
  • Sports (21,313)
  • Technology (15,795)
  • World (796)

Recent News

Drayton Harbor’s bacteria problem – Washington State Department of Ecology (.gov)

Tackling the Bacteria Crisis in Drayton Harbor: What You Need to Know

August 28, 2025
Entomologists, Fellow Scientists Report Negative Impacts of Government Actions – Entomology Today

Entomologists and Scientists Reveal Alarming Consequences of Recent Government Actions

August 28, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version