5 Mysteries Science Created and Solved

TL;DR

Science has a way of raising questions and solving mysteries, and this video explores five scientific puzzles that were eventually solved, including the origins of the European bison and the true identity of alleged woolly mammoth meat served at a dinner.

Transcript

Thanks to Linode Cloud Computing for supporting this episode of SciShow. Head to linode.com/scishow to learn more and get a $100 60-day credit on a new Linode account. [ ♪ Intro] Science is at it’s best when it’s raising questions. I mean, yes, technically it’s a method of searching for answers. But understanding one thing tends to lead to way more... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤨 Science continually raises questions that lead to new mysteries.
• 🧍 The combination of DNA analysis and other scientific methods can help solve long-standing mysteries.
• ❓ Nature often provides surprising explanations for seemingly unnatural phenomena.
• ♻️ Microbes can adapt and thrive in the harshest environments by utilizing alternative sources of energy.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did scientists solve the mystery of the European bison's origins?

Scientists used DNA analysis and cave paintings to determine that the European bison was a hybrid between ancestors of modern cattle and North American bison. Cave paintings depicted the creature, which helped researchers make the connection.

Q: What are Klerksdorp spheres, and how were they formed?

Klerksdorp spheres are natural concretions formed through crystallization in surrounding sediments. The grooves on the spheres are likely imprints of layers from the surrounding rock. They are not man-made or extraterrestrial objects.

Q: How do microbes in the Antarctic deserts survive in harsh conditions?

Microbes in the Antarctic deserts survive by utilizing trace atmospheric gases, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen gas, and carbon monoxide, as their main source of energy. They can extract carbon from the air and sustain their microbial communities.

Q: How did researchers determine that Tanystropheus lived underwater?

High-resolution CT scans of fossil fragments were used to reconstruct a Tanystropheus skull. The researchers discovered that its nostrils were similar to crocodiles, indicating an adaptation to catching fish. This, along with other skeletal features, pointed to an aquatic lifestyle.

Q: What did DNA analysis reveal about alleged woolly mammoth meat served at a dinner?

DNA analysis determined that the alleged woolly mammoth meat was actually meat from a green sea turtle. The claims of serving the meat of extinct giant ground sloths turned out to be an elaborate prank.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The mystery of the European bison, known as the "Higgs Bison," was solved through a combination of DNA analysis and cave paintings, revealing that it was a hybrid between ancestors of modern cattle and North American bison.

• The Klerksdorp spheres, initially thought to be man-made or extraterrestrial objects, were later identified as natural concretions that form through crystallization in surrounding sediments. The grooves on the spheres are likely imprints of surrounding rock layers.

• Microbes in the soils of the Antarctic deserts thrive by utilizing trace atmospheric gases as their main source of energy, revealing new insights into how life can survive in harsh environments.

• Tanystropheus, an extinct reptile, was believed to have flown through the air until 2020 when high-resolution CT scans of fossil fragments revealed that it lived underwater and had nostrils similar to crocodiles for catching fish.

• The mystery of alleged woolly mammoth meat served at a dinner was solved through DNA analysis, which determined that it was actually meat from a green sea turtle.