Scientists Find Ancient Ecosystem In Israeli Cave 105
An anonymous reader writes "Israeli scientists said on Wednesday they had discovered a prehistoric ecosystem dating back millions of years. Scientists were called in and soon found eight previously unknown species of crustaceans and invertebrates similar to scorpions. The cave, which Hebrew University Professor Amos Frumkin said is 'unique in the world,' had been sealed off from the outside world since its surface is situated under a layer of chalk that is impenetrable to water."
Re:Lost World! (Score:1)
Re:Lost World! (Score:2)
That's fun for everyone!
Re:Lost World! (Score:1)
Wow (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Wow (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Wow (Score:4, Funny)
Probably! (Score:2)
Re:Wow (Score:2)
Re:Wow (Score:4, Funny)
Creationist: "See, they were intelligently designed not to have eyes in the first place- more proof of the creator"
The truth: They were placed there as a joke by his noodly appendage. Ramen.
Re:Wow (Score:2)
Food for thought... (Score:2)
Fine and dandy except... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Fine and dandy except... (Score:5, Funny)
Never mind that. The cave has been sealed for 5 million years. It's so dark that everything in it has evolved away from eyesight. We're talking GReat Underground Empire levels of darkness.
> LOOK
Nothing to see here. It is dark. It is so dark that you are not merely likely, you are absolutely certain, to be eaten by a grue.
*** You have died ***
Re:Fine and dandy except... (Score:2)
...and now it's contaminated (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:...and now it's contaminated (Score:1, Informative)
Virii are pretty much always tailored to bypass the protections of one species. The exceptions (bird flu and possibly HIV) are very rare. Since the new species in this cave have been walled off for millions of years - they are pretty much safe from any modern virus infection.
When it comes to bacteria and parasites, it may be a somewhat different question - since they are genetically much more complex. Still, I'd say it's probably no big deal. That new ecosystem just isn't compatible with ours (for the tim
Zoonoses (Score:2)
The reason for this is that it takes a long time for the zoonoses to evolve into forms that spread to humans or between humans and to do that there needs to be large concentrations of humans and the originating animals in contact for a long time.
This is the reason that most epidemic diseases developp
What have they been eating? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:What have they been eating? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:What have they been eating? (Score:1, Offtopic)
Hey! Just because you don't agree with their [marijuanaparty.com] platform, is no reason to insult them!
Ouch! (Score:1)
Thank you, Mr. Sesquipedalian [die.net]; I sprained my tounge.
Re:Ouch! (Score:1)
Re:What have they been eating? (Score:1)
Re:What have they been eating? (Score:2)
the article fails to mention that they found a little guy screaming "who run bartertown!?!?"
Re:What have they been eating? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:What have they been eating? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:What have they been eating? (Score:2)
IIRC.
That's easy. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What have they been eating? (Score:2)
-
stran9e (Score:5, Informative)
The invertebrate animals found in the cave - four seawater and freshwater crustaceans and four terrestial species - are related to but different from other, similar life forms known to scientists. The species have been sent to biological experts in both Israel and abroad for further analysis and dating. It is estimated that these species are millions of years old. Also found in the cave were bacteria that serve as the basic food source in the ecosystem.
The animals found there were all discovered live, except for a blind species of scorpion, although Dr. Dimentman is certain that live scorpions will be discovered in further explorations and also probably an animal or animals which feed on the scorpions.
http://www.playfuls.com/news_001136_Previously_Un
Re:stran9e (Score:1, Insightful)
(Which begs the question of how many Slashdotters still have eyes...)
Re:stran9e (Score:5, Funny)
Because there was no Intelligent Designer in the cave with them.
Mod parent up (Score:2)
Re:stran9e (Score:5, Funny)
The intelligent designer rose from the cave on the third day.
Re:stran9e (Score:2)
He's not what you'd call intelligent, but at least he's nice and friendly. Fun at parties.
Re:stran9e (Score:2)
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Re:stran9e (Score:2)
Re:stran9e (Score:2)
Re:stran9e (Score:2)
The picture is of one of the crustaceans. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:stran9e (Score:1)
No, they were in the main article. (Score:2)
Excellent example in favor or evolution (Score:1)
Re:Excellent example in favor or evolution (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Excellent example in favor or evolution (Score:1)
Re:Excellent example in favor or evolution (Score:1)
Beer-goggles (Score:2, Funny)
Good point. If eyes were so damn great, we wouldn't have had to invent beer to overcome them.
good on them (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:good on them (Score:1)
Sad but true.
Re:good on them (Score:1)
Re:good on them (Score:2)
The Hoover Dam was completed 2 years ahead of schedule.
Re:good on them (Score:1)
Re:good on them (Score:2)
Re:Quarrymen? (Score:2)
Re:good on them (Score:5, Informative)
Re:good on them (Score:2)
Original press release--answers many questions (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Original press release--answers many questions (Score:1)
Picture (Score:2)
O2 (Score:4, Interesting)
Even crustaceans breathe oxygen and expel CO, so what transformed oxygen to O2?
Re:O2 (Score:2)
Re:O2 (Score:1, Funny)
Don't go in there! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Don't go in there! (Score:2)
Not that unique... (Score:4, Funny)
Sealed off from the outside world, probably dark and dirty in that cave, with mysterious life forms growing within. Sounds like a typical /.ers house to me.
(Ducks)
White scorpions? (Score:2)
While the debate that the 'dead' scorpion was blind due to evolution may be one way to think about it, how about the color of the creatures found (so far I've only seen scorpions). Do creatures that live in no-light situations evolve to be colourless as colour is not useful without light? Does this show
Re:White scorpions? (Score:2)
Opinions are silly. Evidence says there is no serious argument.
Re:White scorpions? (Score:1)
I believe the general theory is that generating pigmentation has a certain cost to it, however small; therefore, over time, and in a lightless environment where they convey absolutely no benefit, the genes devoted to wasting that part of the organisms time and energy are either shut off or put to better use.
I could be wrong though, it could really be about the guy who designed them couldn't be bothered to finish the job so swept them under the proverbial rug. Which would also explain why so many caves ha
Re:White scorpions? (Score:1)
Re:White scorpions? (Score:2)
Re:White scorpions? (Score:3, Informative)
Yes, and yes. Pigmentation in water crustaceans is often a matter of camoflage. Producing these pigments has a metabolic cost as does producing eyes. When they are no longer needed for survival, the very slight pressure to conserve energy overwhelms the now missing press
Re:White scorpions? (Score:2)
Re:White scorpions? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:White scorpions? (Score:1)
Apparently goldfish will turn white if you keep them in the dark for long enough.
I can't cite any sources on this, and can't be bothered to even google it.
I read it somewhere when I was a kid, and it sounded reasonable.
Maybe the MythBusters could deal with it.
Obvious answer left out (Score:2)
Alternate area to operate in, under sketchy pretenses of aiding science? In Israel? Of course we do! How about a lovely river bank?
species are millions of years old (Score:1)
Evolution stopping (Score:2)
While evolution may only have slowed down remarkably, in such an environment we might choose to be a little inaccurate and say it has 'stopped' because no noticable change has occured for [insert really long tim
Who cares; let's blow it up (Score:1)
Manfred will come to their rescue (Score:1)
If you have no idea what I mean, try:
http://www.asimovs.com/Nebulas03/Lobsters.shtml [asimovs.com]
Regards.
Uniqueness (Score:1)
This kind of reminds me of The Cave (Score:1)
Personal Experiance (Score:1)
Re:History Validation (Score:1)
Re:History Validation (Score:2)
I do indeed wonder what the local spin is going to be on it.