Three MORE Things You Missed Because of COVID

TL;DR

Astronomers may have discovered the origin of the comet that killed the dinosaurs, ancient art from hominins has been found dating back thousands of years, and scientists have identified a transposable element critical for mammalian development.

Transcript

[♪ INTRO] Another year of the pandemic has come and gone. A lot of science news this year  has been focused on the vaccines, new variants, and the rest of our  ongoing collective misfortune. But science has carried on -- and there  have been plenty of amazing discoveries this year that had nothing to do with COVID. We think they deserve the spotlig... Read More

Key Insights

• 🦕 Astronomers propose that a carboniferous comet knocked off course by Jupiter may have caused the extinction event that killed the dinosaurs.
• 🩵 Ancient art, including bone incisions and hand- and footprints, dating back thousands of years, has been discovered, shedding light on early symbolic behavior and creativity in hominins.
• 🧑‍🔬 Scientists have identified a transposable element critical for mammalian development, specifically in embryo implantation.
• ❓ The discovery of the transposable element has implications for understanding human fertility and the occurrence of miscarriages.
• 🏑 The study of these three topics highlights the ongoing advancements and discoveries in various scientific fields.
• 🦕 Understanding the origin of significant events such as dinosaur extinction enhances our knowledge of Earth's history.
• 🥰 Ancient art provides insights into the symbolic behaviors and cultural development of early human societies.

Questions & Answers

Q: Where do astronomers believe the comet that killed the dinosaurs came from?

Astronomers propose that a carboniferous comet from the edge of the solar system, knocked off course by Jupiter, may have caused the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs. When it got close to the sun, gravitational forces could have broken it apart, sending pieces flying into Earth's orbital path.

Q: What are some examples of ancient art discovered this year?

Archaeologists discovered bone incisions from the Middle East, dating back 120,000 years, which reflect symbolic mediated behavior. Impressions of hand- and footprints made intentionally by children were found in the Tibetan Plateau, dating back between 169,000 and 226,000 years.

Q: What did scientists learn about mammalian development?

Scientists discovered a transposable element critical for mammalian development, specifically embryo implantation. Mice without this element experienced complications during implantation, suggesting its importance for successful reproduction.

Q: What implications does the discovery of the transposable element have for humans?

The discovery of the critical transposable element in mice has implications for human fertility. Many miscarriages in humans have no clear genetic reason, and it's possible that transposons play a role in these cases as they do in mice.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Astronomers propose that a carboniferous comet from the edge of the solar system, knocked off course by Jupiter, may have caused the mass extinction event that killed the dinosaurs.

• Ancient art from hominins, including bone incisions and hand- and footprints, dating back thousands of years, have been discovered in the Middle East and Tibetan Plateau.

• Scientists have found a transposable element critical for mammalian development, specifically embryo implantation, which has implications for understanding human fertility and miscarriages.