Categories
Animals Evolution Life on Earth Oceans Prehistoric

10 Largest Fish in the World’s Oceans

Venturing into the vast expanse of the world’s oceans, one quickly realizes the incredible diversity and grandeur of marine life. Among the many wonders beneath the waves, some creatures stand out due to their immense size and majesty. The term “largest fish” might evoke images of the famed great white shark or perhaps the formidable tiger shark. Yet, the oceans hold even more giants, some of which are lesser-known but equally impressive. Here are the 10 largest fish in the world’s oceans.

Categories
Life on Earth Animals Climate Prehistoric

Here’s how the darkness and cold killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago

The catastrophic event that ended the reign of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago has been a subject of fascination and research for decades. A groundbreaking study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, detailed in their 2017 article “Baby, it’s cold outside: Climate model simulations of the effects of the asteroid impact at the end of the Cretaceous,” offers a compelling computer simulation of the aftermath of the Chicxulub asteroid impact.

This simulation reveals how prolonged darkness and severe cold, triggered by sulfuric acid droplets blocking sunlight, led to a dramatic global temperature drop and significant ecological shifts, ultimately contributing to the mass extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs and other species. This research not only illustrates the direct consequences of the asteroid impact but also provides insights into the complex climatic and environmental changes that followed, marking a pivotal moment in Earth’s history.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside: How the Darkness and Cold Killed the Dinosaurs

Scientists created a computer simulation of how the afterward effects of the famous Chicxulub asteroid (estimated to be 10 km/6.2 miles wide) killed the non-avian dinosaurs (and also a wide range of other species). According to a new study, after the devastating impact, the darkness and cold killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

On January 13, 2017, an article titled “Baby, it’s cold outside: Climate model simulations of the effects of the asteroid impact at the end of the Cretaceous”, published by the Climate Scientists of Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), revealed a detailed model of what happened to the atmosphere and the climate after the Chicxulub impact.

Categories
Prehistoric Animals Life on Earth

Titans of the past: Largest prehistoric mammals that roamed Earth

Step back in time and delve into the awe-inspiring world of Earth’s largest prehistoric mammals. These colossal creatures, which once roamed the ancient landscapes, captivate our imaginations with their sheer size and extraordinary adaptations. From towering herbivores to formidable carnivores, the fossil record holds evidence of these titans of the past. Unearthed marvels that defy our present-day reality, these magnificent beings offer a glimpse into a bygone era of our planet’s history. Join us on a journey to discover the captivating tales of these ancient giants and unlock the secrets of their remarkable existence.

Categories
Prehistoric Animals Life on Earth

Top 5 largest prehistoric cats

The prehistoric world was home to an array of magnificent and fearsome creatures, and among them, the large cats ruled supreme. These ancient feline predators prowled the Earth with power and grace, displaying unmatched dominance. In this article, we will explore the top 5 largest prehistoric cats that once roamed the planet. From the mighty Smilodon with its deadly saber teeth to the massive American Lion, these awe-inspiring creatures left an indelible mark on the history of big cats.

Categories
Prehistoric Animals Life on Earth

Machimosaurus rex: a giant prehistoric crocodile discovered in the Sahara

The Sahara desert, with its endless stretches of sand and searing heat, may not be the first place you’d expect to find a prehistoric sea monster. But that’s exactly where National Geographic grantee Federico Fanti and his team of paleontologists made an astonishing discovery: the remains of a massive marine crocodile named Machimosaurus rex.

With estimated lengths of up to 30 feet (9.14 meters) and razor-sharp teeth, M. rex was a true apex predator of the Late Jurassic seas. Fanti and his colleagues pieced together the crocodile’s fossilized bones, unlocking clues about its anatomy, behavior, and evolutionary history. This groundbreaking research sheds new light on the ancient ecosystems of North Africa and the fascinating creatures that roamed them millions of years ago.

Categories
Life on Earth Animals Geology Planet Earth Prehistoric

If Earth’s lifetime was the distance from LA to New York City

Our old planet, the Earth is 4.54 billion years old. In fact, the human mind can no longer make any sense of large numbers like that. Numbers like 1, 2, 14, 20, 50 are all quantities that we encounter quite frequently in our daily lives. And our brain evolved to conceptualize numbers like that: our ancestors saw two lions; they hunted five deer in one hunting party, the population of their tribe was 20, etc…

But when the numbers are getting big, i.e. 1,000; 10,000… the problem begins: these numbers become increasingly difficult to conceptualize. Now, what happens when we try to conceptualize quantities like billions, like the Earth’s age? We can’t actually rationalize the immensity of such a big number. Because we haven’t a model of 4.54 billion that’s been compressed into something recognizable to the human mind.