
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak had 'minor' stroke: report
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak suffered a "minor" stroke in Mexico but has left hospital and is returning to the United States, he...
2023-11-10 06:29

A crucial deal aimed at averting a global food crisis has been extended. Here's everything you need to know
A crucial deal aimed at averting a global food crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been extended for two months.
2023-05-18 00:38

Luke Donald urged to stay as European captain for Ryder Cup defense as new generation emerges
European captain Luke Donald was delivering his Ryder Cup victory speech at Marco Simone when his celebrating players standing beside him started a chant that quickly swept through the grandstands
2023-10-02 16:06

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Says AI Is ‘Most Important Step Yet’ For Humans and Tech
Sam Altman, chief executive officer of artificial intelligence startup OpenAI Inc., said there are many ways that rapidly
2023-06-23 01:58

New Chinese premier starts 1st trip abroad to Germany and France
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has started a visit to Germany and France that is his first trip abroad since taking office
2023-06-19 16:14

Scientists find 'giant' dinosaur spider fossil in Australia
If you thought Australia’s spiders were scary, wait until you see the prehistoric version. Scientists have found a fossilised giant trapdoor spider in New South Wales, only the fourth specimen of its kind to be found in Australia. The creature would have roamed and hunted in the surrounding areas which were once a lush rainforest, researchers said in a recently filed report. Last year, scientists unearthed fossils of the rainforest area from millions of years ago, teeming with specimens including plants, trapdoor spiders, giant cicadas and wasps. Now the area is a grassland region known as McGraths Flat. Researchers have named the spider fossil ‘Megamonodontium mccluskyi’. It would have lived in the Miocene period 11m to 16m years ago. “Only four spider fossils have ever been found throughout the whole continent, which has made it difficult for scientists to understand their evolutionary history,” said palaeontologist Matthew McCurry of the University of New South Wales and the Australian Museum. “That is why this discovery is so significant, it reveals new information about the extinction of spiders and fills a gap in our understanding of the past. “The closest living relative of this fossil now lives in wet forests in Singapore through to Papua New Guinea. “This suggests that the group once occupied similar environments in mainland Australia but have subsequently gone extinct as Australia became more arid.” The spider was found among many other Miocene fossils. In some of them, the fossils were so well preserved that subcellular structures could be made out. “Scanning electron microscopy allowed us to study minute details of the claws and setae on the spider's pedipalps, legs and the main body,” said virologist Michael Frese of the University of Canberra. The details meant scientists could confidently place it near the modern Monodontium, or trapdoor spider. However, it is five times larger than its modern day relatives. Megamonodontium mccluskyi's body is 23.31 millimetres long – that is just over an inch. The discovery of the species also tells us something of the past climate of Australia, the report added. The fact that it was found in a layer of rainforest sediment means the region was once much wetter than it is now. That could, in turn, help scientists understand how a warming climate has already altered the country’s life forms – and how it might change them again. "Not only is it the largest fossilized spider to be found in Australia but it is the first fossil of the family Barychelidae that has been found worldwide," said arachnologist Robert Raven of Queensland Museum. "There are around 300 species of brush-footed trapdoor spiders alive today, but they don't seem to become fossils very often. "This could be because they spend so much time inside burrows and so aren't in the right environment to be fossilized." The findings were published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-25 21:50

Estonia's Kallas is reelected to lead party despite a scandal over husband's Russia business ties
Estonia’s ruling Reform Party has reelected Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as its chairperson and confirmed her staying on as the Baltic nation's leader
2023-11-18 22:58

B2Broker: B2BinPay Joins Forces with Ledger to Offer Customized Limited Edition Hardware Wallets
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 19, 2023--
2023-07-20 01:01

'RHONJ' fans troll Joe Gorga after he wins 'frat' competition at daughter Antonia's college celebration
'RHONJ' stars Joe and Melissa Gorga enjoy 'family weekend' at their daughter Antonio's college
2023-10-09 09:07

Underrated AR Has Best Long-Range TTK After Secret Buff in MW3
The MTZ-556 now has the best long-range TTK in MW3 after a secret buff and recent nerf to the Holger 556. Check out the best MTZ-556 loadout.
2023-12-01 02:20

'It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye': Matt LeBlanc honors his on-screen roommate Matthew Perry after his sudden death
Matt LeBlanc also showed his support for Matthew Perry in 2016 as he attended a showing of his playwright debut 'The End of Longing'
2023-11-15 04:00

Waste from Adidas, Walmart, other brands fuelling Cambodia brick kilns-report
By Clare Baldwin and Helen Reid Waste from at least 19 international brands including Adidas and Walmart is
2023-11-20 12:43
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