Ancient Worm Reveals Simple Hack for Remaining Ageless After 46,000 Years

If you could, would you enter a suspended metabolic state for the chance to reawaken 46,000 years from now, as you are today? For one nematode discovered in Siberian permafrost, the answer is a resounding “yes”. A study published in late July of this year details recent research that expands on a paper published in 2018 wherein scientists announced that they successfully reanimated a small but resilient nematode, or roundworm, who remained alive for tens of thousands of years in a state called cryptobiosis after being frozen in extreme Arctic soil conditions.

Blue roundworm on a black background
Caenorhabditis elegans, a type of roundworm whose dauer larvae are capable of cryptobiosis
Continue reading “Ancient Worm Reveals Simple Hack for Remaining Ageless After 46,000 Years”

Rodents of Unusual Size Lead Scientist to Pleistoscene Petroglyphs

One of my family’s favorite movies is The Princess Bride. It has pirates, sword fights, giants (ok, really only one) and true love. What is not to like?

In fact, I love everything about the movie except for one scene, and that is the fire swamp and its rodents of unusual size (or RUSes as they are referred to in the movie). My complaint about this particular scene is that while the hero is being attacked by one of these creatures, the heroine can do nothing more useful than stand about and scream. As a result, from the first time they discovered the movie my children have been required to recite the following before they can watch it: “If I am ever in a swamp and my companion is attacked by a large rodent, I will NOT stand about and scream; I will pick up the sword and save them.” 

However, after reading a release from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency, about one of their discoveries, I think I may have to amend this statement. CSIRO researcher (and rat expert) Dr. Ken Aplin was searching for fossilized bones of giant rats in a well-know cave in East Timor when he happened to look up Continue reading “Rodents of Unusual Size Lead Scientist to Pleistoscene Petroglyphs”