Latest news with #CSIC
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Darwin Loved Worms. They May Have Just Proved Him Wrong About Evolution.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Is evolution a gradual process or a punctuated one, with rapid evolution taking hold in fits and starts? A new study suggests the latter, as researchers analyzed the genomes of annelids, like earthworms, and found that these creatures experienced rapid evolution when they transitioned to land hundreds of millions of years ago. This supports the idea—first proposed in the early 1970s—of 'punctuated equilibrium,' where evolution kicks in rapidly after a period of relative genetic stability. The famed naturalist and geologist Charles Darwin is, of course, best known for his works on evolution—specifically On the Origin of Species and the Descent of Man. However, one year before his death, he wrote a little-known work excellently titled The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms, which detailed the important contributions of the world's 'lowly' creatures. 'It may be doubted,' Darwin wrote, 'if there are any other animals which have played such an important part in the history of the world as these lowly organized creatures.' Now, worms are poised to change the world again—this time in a way that even Darwin couldn't foresee. In a new study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, scientists from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in Barcelona, Spain, sequenced the genomes of various earthworms. Upon doing so, they found that these species (in the phylum Annelida) didn't quite follow Darwin's ideas of evolution, in which change was a gradual process that played out relatively consistently over time. Instead, they followed an evolutionary path first explored in the 1970s called 'punctuated equilibrium.' The idea is simple. According to Darwin's theory, the fossil record should be filled with 'missing link' species that display minute differences over time. But instead, what we see in our geology appears to be whole missing chapters of a genetic mutation. In an attempt to explain this, punctuated equilibrium posits that rapid evolution can occur periodically after millions of years of relative genetic stability. This would explain why we don't see as many 'missing links' as we might expect. By synthesizing the complete genomes of these earthworms and comparing them to other annelid species (such as bristle worms and leeches), the researchers were able to travel back some 200 million years and find one such episode of rapid genetic evolution—when these ancient animals transitioned to living on land. 'This is an essential episode in the evolution of life on our planet, given that many species, such as worms and vertebrates, which had been living in the ocean, now ventured onto land for the first time," Rosa Fernández, lead researcher at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (part of the CSIC) and senior author of the study, said in a press statement. 'The enormous reorganization of the genomes we observed in the worms as they moved from the ocean to land cannot be explained with the parsimonious mechanism Darwin proposed.' By analyzing the genetic changes happening in this species during this period of rapid evolution, the scientists confirmed that these marine annelids experienced a top-down reorganization of their genetic structure, leaving them unrecognizable. Turns out the humble worm has more to teach us than we thought—though, that likely wouldn't surprise Darwin in the least bit. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Globe and Mail
02-04-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
180 the concept Introduces H6 2.0 – Redefining Facial Contour Anti-Aging
Founded by Gema Cabañero (Forbes Women 2024), a renowned expert in aesthetics and anti-aging, 180 the concept is a Spanish brand at the forefront of advanced nutricosmetic solutions. With over 30 years of dedicated research into the biological and cellular processes of aging, Cabañero has developed the High Precision Aesthetic Method in 6D®, a comprehensive approach that addresses the internal biological factors contributing to external aesthetic concerns. This method integrates insights from nutrition, aesthetics, pharmacy, biology, and chemistry, creating personalized anti-aging regimens tailored to individual needs. A Visionary Recognized for Scientific Excellence Gema Cabañero's pioneering work in the beauty and wellness industry has earned her prestigious accolades, including the Collaborative Innovation Excellence Award from Spain's National Research Council (CSIC). This recognition highlights her authority in developing scientifically-backed beauty solutions. Through extensive clinical research involving thousands of cases, Gema identified that visible aging signs, such as skin laxity and bone loss, are driven by a cascade of dysfunctions in cellular organelles and macromolecular metabolism imbalances. Rather than focusing on isolated aging markers, she pioneered a systemic intervention model, integrating insights from 12 key aging hallmarks into the development of the 6-Dimensional Nutritional System. To further strengthen the scientific foundation of her work,Gema collaborated with Nobel Prize-winning scientists George F. Smoot and Randy W. Schekman, aswell as scientists associated with CSIC research groups. These collaborations cement 180 the concept as a leader in scientific anti-aging innovation. H6 2.0 's New Efficacy: The Three-Dimensional Anti-Aging Network At the core of H6 Capsules 2.0 is the Three-Dimensional Anti-Aging Network, designed to support facial bone structure longevity through three fundamental pillars: 1. Stabilization The upgraded HGH Activation Complex 2.0 works to stimulate endogenous growth hormone production. This addresses age-related bone density loss, reinforcing facial structure and providing a stable foundation for youthful contours. 2. Lifting The proprietary Isometric-Lifting Group restores dermal-fascial anchoring, enhancing the skin-fiber elasticity and mechanical stability necessary for a firmer, sculpted facial contour. 3. Cellular Noutriment The Cell Plant System 2.0 targets mitochondria, optimizing cellular metabolism and reversing mitochondrial dysfunction. This process improves skin vitality and helps maintain a youthful appearance by addressing the root causes of aging at the cellular level. Evidence: Clinically Proven Results The effectiveness of H6 Capsules 2.0 has been validated by SGS, a global leader in scientific testing and certification. In a 28-day clinical study with 56 female participants, aged 30 to 60, visible contour lifting was achieved, with significant improvements in skin firmness and elasticity. The results confirm: - Visible contour lifting in just 28 days, with measurable improvements in skin firmness and elasticity. This clinical validation provides real-world evidence that further solidifies 180 the concept's position as a leader in nutricosmetic innovation and underscores the integration of scientific expertise in developing anti-aging solutions. Shaping the Future of Nutricosmetic Solutions The launch of H6 Capsules 2.0 marks a significant shift in 180 the concept's approach, from general oral beauty to a highly specialized strategy focusing on bone structure anti-aging. By introducing its Six-Dimensional Nutritional Positioning System, the brand leads the next evolution in the nutricosmetic industry, setting a new standard for precision anti-aging. This approach moves beyond superficial skincare and aims for a more holistic rejuvenation, with a focus on scientific rigor, Nobel Prize collaborations, and real-world clinical validation. For more details, visit 180 the concept Official Website: Media Contact Company Name: Globalnewsonline Contact Person: Hysan Jiang Email: Send Email Country: United States Website:
Jordan Times
08-03-2025
- Science
- Jordan Times
Human ancestors making 'bone tech' 1.5 million years ago, say scientists
Bone tools found in Olduvai, photographed in the Pleistocene Archaeology Lab of CSIC (Photo of CSIC) PARIS — Our ancestors were making tools out of bones 1.5 million years ago, winding back the clock for this important moment in human evolution by more than a million years, a study said on Wednesday. Ancient humans -- also called hominins -- such as the robust Australopithecus are known to have used fragments of bones to dig up tubers from termite mounds. Even today our closest living relative, chimpanzees, use sticks in a similar way to dig out termites for a tasty treat. And more than 2 million years ago, hominins were using crude stone tools in Tanzania's Olduvai Gorge, one of the world's most important prehistoric sites. But there were no known examples of anyone systematically making bone tools more than 500,000 years ago -- until now. At Olduvai, a Spanish-led team of researchers found 27 tools made out of the leg and arm bones of big mammals, mainly elephants and hippos. The discovery "sheds new light on the almost unknown world of early hominin bone technology," they wrote in a study in the journal Nature. To the untrained eye, the tools might seem like random bits of bone. But for the researchers, they are proof of the remarkable cognitive abilities of our distant ancestors, showing they were capable of choosing the appropriate material and fashioning it for their needs. "There is a clear desire to change the shape of the bone to turn them into very heavy, long tools," Francesco d'Errico, an archaeologist at France's Bordeaux University and study co-author, told AFP. The unknown hominins used rocks as hammers to shape the bones. The resulting tools ranged from 20 to 40 centimetres long, some weighing up to a kilograme. "In some cases there are even notches in the middle of the bone, possibly so they could hold it better in their hands," d'Errico said. The big, pointy tools are thought to have been used to butcher the carcasses of large animals. From axes to needles At the time, stone tools were being made in a far more rudimentary manner. Very few large stone tools have been found at Olduvai, d'Errico said, possibly because the quartz available at the site was not well-suited to the difficult job of cutting up big animals. It was the Acheulean culture, which was emerging in Africa at around the same time, that first cut stones into hand axes, also called bifaces. This invention represented a major advance, making it possible for ancient humans to properly slice or skin their prey. "The hypothesis of the study is that the bone-cutting at Olduvai is an original invention, during a moment of transition to bifaces," d'Errico said. According to this theory, the bone techniques developed at Olduvai disappeared from the planet for a million years. It would eventually reappear in places such as the area of modern-day Rome, where a lack of good big rocks spurred hominins to carve elephant bones into hand axes. It is also possible that the techniques continued throughout the years "but these bones have not been properly identified in other archaeological sites", d'Errico said. As the human line evolved, so did the sophistication of the tools we carved out of bone. For example, the first needles with eyes were made from bone in China and Siberia, only arriving in Europe around 26,000 years ago, d'Errico said. But that is another "very long story", he added.
Asharq Al-Awsat
06-03-2025
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Tools Made from Elephant, Hippo Bones Show Ingenuity of Human Ancestors
An assemblage of tools found in Tanzania that was fashioned about 1.5 million years ago from the limb bones of elephants and hippos reveals what scientists are calling a technological breakthrough for the human evolutionary lineage - systematic production of implements made from a material other than stone. The 27 tools, discovered at a rich paleoanthropological site called Olduvai Gorge, were probably created by Homo erectus, an early human species with body proportions similar to our species Homo sapiens, according to the researchers. The implements, which were up to 15 inches (37.5 cm) long and came in a variety of sharp and heavy-duty forms, may have been used for purposes including butchering animal carcasses for food, they said, Reuters reported. The adoption of tools heralded the dawn of technology, and the oldest-known stone tools date to at least 3.3 million years ago. There have been examples of sporadic use of tools made from bone dating to about 2 million years ago, but the Olduvai Gorge discovery represents the earliest example of systematic production of such implements - by about 1.1 million years. The Olduvai Gorge bone tools were found alongside various stone implements made around the same time. The addition of bone implements to the human tool kit was an important moment, according to the researchers, reflecting cognitive advances and growing technological skills as well as a recognition that animals can provide a source not only of meat but of raw materials. "Precise anatomical knowledge and understanding of bone morphology and structure is suggested by preference given to thick limb bones," said archeologist Ignacio de la Torre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), lead author of the study published on Wednesday in the journal Nature. Limb bones are the densest and strongest kind. Olduvai Gorge cuts through the southeastern plains of the Serengeti region in northern Tanzania. At the time these tools were created, our ancestors lived a precarious hunter-gatherer existence on a landscape teeming with wildlife. Tools of various types - for instance, for cutting and pounding - were of increasing importance for hominins, the name referring to the bipedal species in the human evolutionary lineage. The hominins who made the Olduvai Gorge bone tools used a technique similar to how stone tools are made - chipping away small flakes to form sharp edges in a process called knapping. "The study indicates our ancestors used subtly different techniques to create tools from different materials. This suggests a level of cognitive ability that we previously lacked evidence for during that period," said University College London archaeological conservator and study co-author Renata Peters. "For instance, when they knapped the tools we examined, the bone was likely to still contain some collagen and water. Collagen provides elasticity to the bone, making it softer to knap - shape - than stone. However, bone can also break if struck too forcefully," Peters said. Collagen is a fibrous protein that serves as the main structural component of bones, as well as muscles and skin. In addition, the outer layers of bone are tough, while the inner layers - composed of a spongy material - are softer. "These characteristics mean that working bone demands different skills from working stone or wood, for example," Peters said. Wood is less durable than either stone or bone. Any wooden tools from this time period likely would have decomposed long ago. The sheer number of tools - bone and stone - found at the site suggests hominins visited there regularly. The tools date to a transition period between simple tools called Oldowan technology and more advanced ones called Acheulean technology including the likes of handaxes. All but one of the 27 tools were made from elephant or hippo bone. Hippos were common in the area but elephants were not, meaning their bones were probably carried to Olduvai Gorge from elsewhere, according to the researchers. No ancient human fossils were found at the site. While Homo erectus is the leading candidate as the maker of the bone tools, another more archaic hominin species, called Paranthropus boisei, also is known to have inhabited the region at the time. "There is no direct evidence of who made the bone tools," de la Torre said.
Ammon
06-03-2025
- Science
- Ammon
Tools made from elephant and hippo bones show ingenuity of human ancestors
Ammon News - An assemblage of tools found in Tanzania that was fashioned about 1.5 million years ago from the limb bones of elephants and hippos reveals what scientists are calling a technological breakthrough for the human evolutionary lineage - systematic production of implements made from a material other than stone. The 27 tools, discovered at a rich paleoanthropological site called Olduvai Gorge, were probably created by Homo erectus, an early human species with body proportions similar to our species Homo sapiens, according to the researchers. The implements, which were up to 15 inches (37.5 cm) long and came in a variety of sharp and heavy-duty forms, may have been used for purposes including butchering animal carcasses for food, they said. The adoption of tools heralded the dawn of technology, and the oldest-known stone tools date to at least 3.3 million years ago. There have been examples of sporadic use of tools made from bone dating to about 2 million years ago, but the Olduvai Gorge discovery represents the earliest example of systematic production of such implements - by about 1.1 million years. The Olduvai Gorge bone tools were found alongside various stone implements made around the same time. The addition of bone implements to the human tool kit was an important moment, according to the researchers, reflecting cognitive advances and growing technological skills as well as a recognition that animals can provide a source not only of meat but of raw materials. "Precise anatomical knowledge and understanding of bone morphology and structure is suggested by preference given to thick limb bones," said archeologist Ignacio de la Torre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), lead author of the study published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, opens new tab. Limb bones are the densest and strongest kind.
