Discovery! Ice age sabretooth cat revealed from bone sent to Scots scientist

Here's a really "cool" prehistoric finding from Scotland!  This appeared in BBC News on Oct. 16.  

Ice age sabretooth cat revealed from bone sent to Scots scientist

Published

 BBC NEWS, OCTOBER 16, 2020

IMAGE COPYRIGHTVELIZAR SIMEONOVSKI

image captionScimitar-tooth cats attacking prey in an artist's impression by Velizar Simeonovski

A Scottish scientist has discovered that a 50,000-year-old bone found in Canada belonged to a sabretooth cat.

The bone was among a number discovered in permafrost in Yukon and was thought to be from ancient cave lions.

But DNA analysis by Inverness palaeogeneticist Dr Ross Barnett identified it as being a bone of an Ice Age scimitar-toothed cat.

He was sent the bones while in Copenhagen on a fellowship looking at the genomics of ancient lions.

• Preserved remains of Ice Age bear found in Siberia
• Mammoth carcass found in Siberia

His preliminary DNA work identified one of the large bones as being from the scimitar-toothed, Homotherium latidens.

Few remains have been found of this species of sabretooth cat.

'Well preserved'

Dr Barnett and colleagues from across Europe and also China, Mexico, New Zealand and India carried out further analysis of the bone.

He said: "This bone was really well preserved so we decided to do some more work on it.

"After the initial DNA extraction we decided to try and sequence the whole genome, which had never been done before."

IMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES

image captionScimitar-tooth cats are believed to have been more sociable than modern big cats such as cheetahs

The team used a specialised technique to capture the broken up small quantities of the cat DNA from that of the bacteria and fungi it was mixed up with in the frozen ground of Yukon.

Their research of the animals' genes, newly published in Current Biology, suggests the cats had good eyesight and hunted during the day.

They were also powerfully built and able to pursue their prey until the other animal was exhausted.

'Vanishingly rare'

On another discovery made, Dr Barnett said: "Homotherium may have been more sociable than most solitary modern cats and could have lived in small groups."

The analysis also suggests there was a "decent sized" population of the cats and probably larger than modern snow leopard, clouded leopard or cheetah populations.

"Homotherium is vanishingly rare in the fossil record so this was a surprise," said Dr Barnett.

"Perhaps we don't have many fossils because of where it was living. Fossils from the ice age are mostly in cave deposits, permafrost regions, and if Homotherium was mostly living somewhere else that could explain it."

He added another possible reason for their being so few fossils was that, just like the bone he was sent, it had been mistaken for a cave lion.

Educational Video from NASA: Looking Down a Well: A Brief History of Geodesy

If you don't know what geodesy is, you will after you watch this short and informative video from NASA. It's helped give us a lot of information about the Earth!

Geodesy is a field of study that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, and it all started when a clever human named Eratosthenes discovered that you could measure the circumference of the Earth by looking down a well. Over time, the field of geodesy has expanded and evolved dramatically, and NASA uses technology like radio telescopes, ground surveys, and satellites to contribute! Learn more about geodesy in this video!

This video is public domain. WATCH: https://youtu.be/_Cj1vgmXr5M

 

Dolly Keeps Sending Signs She's Okay- Another Dachshund!

Spirits connect to our friends because the love we feel for them is like an invisible tether or
energy, and spirits, as energy can follow that trail. That's why they're able to give signs to our friends that we may miss in our grief.

The week Dolly passed, she visited my friend and fellow author Josie Naclerio's house in the Carolinas. Dolly visited because she was bonded to our Dachshunds Franklin (whom passed) and Tyler, and Josie has two dachshunds. So it makes sense that Dolly's spirit would seek out a friend who also has a Dachshund and it's the timing that confirms her visit.

Josie mentioned that her Dachshund Stuie (pictured right) seemed to be in tune with spirits. You'll read about Stuie's spirit sighting experience later in this book in the chapter called "Harley's Dragonfly and Window Appearance."

Dolly passed on Thursday, Oct. 22. Josie said that weekend, Stuie went into a particular room by himself (as if following someone in spirit) and sat on the floor. She said Stuie never barked just sat there until she noticed him. She said, "This is not a normal behavior of his, and he hasn't done it in a long time. He never appears scared, either. I just didn't think much about Stuie going and sitting in the bedroom again, since he hadn't done it in a very long time, until I started reading your friend Jane's story."

Dolly seemed to be making the rounds with my friends, especially the ones who were or are Dachshund parents. The timing is the thing that makes the event understandable. Since Stuie had not gone off like that for quite a while, it makes sense that he was following a visiting spirit, and Dolly was actively trying to get messages to me through my friends right after her passing. Remember, there's no such thing as a coincidence when it comes to spirit.

 

Video Blog: 5 Talented British Dachshunds and Mom on Britain's Got Talent

There's nothing like starting a week off in a good way, so here's a short video clip from Britian's Got Talent and a woman with her 5 talented Dachshunds! Diana Vedyashinka and her adorable dachshund crew will no doubt put a big smile on your face with this cheeky little number! VIDEO: https://youtu.be/-ikO19learA

Idiot of the Week - Black leopard mauls Florida man who paid $150 for ‘full-contact experience’

If there's ever an unusual shortage of Idiot of the week candidates (it's rate but it happens)

and I don't want to keep putting up the same idiots, I have only to go to Google and type in "Florida Man." Lots of them come up. This week's idiot is really about 2 men. One that keeps exotic animals in his private residence and allows people to pay him so they can get close to the wild animals., and the other who is absolutely stupid enough to pay to get in a cage with a wild black leopard. Here's the story: 

 Black leopard mauls Florida man who paid $150 for ‘full-contact experience’

Man mauled by leopard behind Davie home; animal’s owner charged 

Published: Oct. 29, 2020 at 2:53 PM EDT DAVIE, Fla. (WPLG) – . – A man who paid $150 for a “full-contact experience” with a black leopard says he had to undergo multiple surgeries after he was mauled by the fully-grown animal in an enclosure behind a Davie home.

 A picture obtained by Local 10 News shows Dwight Turner’s heavily bandaged head and ear after the savage attack, which detectives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say happened behind a home on Earnest Boulevard on Aug. 31. 

 The man who lives there, identified as Michael Poggi, has a Facebook page saying he runs an animal sanctuary for rare and endangered animals. Authorities say Poggi was charged with allowing full contact with an extremely dangerous animal and was cited for maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe condition. 

 Investigators say Poggi charged the 50-year-old Turner $150 for a “full-contact experience” with his black leopard — to “play with it, rub its belly and take pictures.” FWC’s report says that once Turner walked inside the enclosure, the leopard attacked. The injuries were so severe, the report says the victim’s scalp was “hanging from his head and his right ear was torn in half.” 

 Attempts to speak to Poggi at his home have been unsuccessful. Authorities say he is licensed to have the leopard. They say Poggi admitted to them, though, that what he did was illegal. Turner’s attorney says that the entire experience was illegal, so any waiver his client may have signed before the experience would be void. The attorney says Turner spent a week in the emergency room from his injuries.

Video: https://youtu.be/t_XgHA5DE4c

In the News: UK teenage metal detectorists sell 1,000 year old royal coins at auction

 It's always nice to read good news stories, and one young guy with a metal detector in the United Kingdom hit the jackpot when he found 2 ancient coins. Here's the story from the BBC (Oct. 26, 2020): 

Essex and Norfolk. UK teenage metal detectorists sell 1,000 year old royal coins at auction

Published

1 hour ago

IMAGE COPYRIGHTHANSONS AUCTIONEERS

image captionReece Pickering found the coin (both sides pictured) while metal detecting in the village of Topcroft, between Long Stratton and Bungay

A rare King Harold II coin dating from 1066 that was found by a metal detecting teenager has made £4,000 at auction.

Reece Pickering, of Great Yarmouth, was 16 when he found the silver penny at Topcroft, in Norfolk, in August.

The coin, found while metal detecting with his father, had been estimated to fetch up to £3,000.

A Henry I coin sold for £3,100, after it was found in Essex by a 15-year-old, who was also out with his dad..

The coins were sold at Hansons' Historica auction.

image captionHarold Godwinson ruled England from January 1066 until his defeat and death at the hands of William the Conqueror's forces at the Battle of Hastings in October that year

Reece, a catering apprentice who goes metal detecting most weekends, said: "I wasn't expecting to come across such a scarce and remarkable coin. It's a day I will remember forever.

"I can't imagine finding something as special as this again. You just never know what's beneath your feet."

His father Jonny Crow, a 41-year-old welder, said: "The coin has been recorded with the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Only two others are known to exist."

IMAGE COPYRIGHTHANSONS AUCTIONEERS

image captionThe Henry II coin was found by schoolboy Walter Taylor in a field in south Essex

Also up for auction was a Henry I coin dating from his reign (1100-1135) found by 15-year-old Walter Taylor, while searching in a field in south Essex in September.

A detectorist since he was four, Walter, who is from the Ongar area and goes to Brentwood County High School, said the coin, which fetched £3,100, was his "biggest find".

"I'd been out with my dad and uncle for about four hours when I found it," he said.

"I thought it was a silver penny, but when I swiped the mud off it, I saw a face staring at me."

The auction house said the finds had been reported to the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme, and, after the auctioneer's cut, the money from the sale would be split 50/50 between the detectorists and the landowners.

Check out my friend John's Travel Blog for Ghosts and History

 If you love travel, enjoy learning about places to visit around the world (especially so you can plan to go after the pandemic), and you like haunted places, you can find all of those things in my friend John's Blog called' Travel with Ackbar." 

 John and I have been friends for about 40 years since we were teenagers and he's worked at Disney for decades. He's artistic and has an eye for photography. He's combined those passions with his love for travel, history and the paranormal (not everything on the blog is about ghosts, however, the history and photos are awesome!) . You'll want to make his blog a favorite: https://travelswithackbar.com/ 

    Here's a snippet from his latest post: 

Travels With Ackbar

Nerdy Adventures Around The World

← OLDER POSTS

Spectral Cats and Dogs

Posted on October 19, 2020 by janoseagle

https://travelswithackbar.com/ 

Near The Tower of London, All Hallow’s Church shared in the bloody history of it’s neighbors. Legend states that the beheaded victims of Tower executions were sent there for temporary burial. Among it’s happier memories are the baptism of William Penn and the marriage of John Quincy Adams. Being so close to The Tower of London, one may expect All Hallow’s to have it’s share of headless spirits. This is a different kind of ghost story.

In 1920, the choir noticed a grey haired old lady in old fashioned dress watching them as they practiced Christmas Carols. The choirmaster was surprised to see the woman as he had locked the church’s door. Once they choir rehearsal had ended, the mysterious woman had vanished. The boys heard a strange sound “as if a cat was in the building and was trying to get out.” One of the boys shouted to the choirmaster, ‘There it is sir! I saw a cat rush out of the room and go down towards the south aisle!’ The group searched the aisles for the cat and found nothing, even noting that the front doors were still locked. Several years later, an old man approached the choirmaster. He explained that he thought he knew who the mysterious woman was. As a choirboy at that very church almost 60 years prior, there was an eccentric lady organist with a strong passion for cats. He told him that cats would follow the woman everywhere and she would pay him to help feed the cats.

The Atheneum Club, The Traveler’s Club and The Reform Club are located off of Pall Mall. On our last night in London, we took part in a ghost tour. As we stood in front of these old men only clubs once frequented by the likes of Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, we listened to the story of a phantom dog that caused car accidents. It has been reported that several accidents were caused when a small dog ran out in front of one of the drivers. No sooner than the end of this tale, two cars next to us got into a fender bender.

Tucked away in this square lies the grave of a German Shepherd named Giro. Giro was the companion of the German Ambassador who resided in the area. It is considered the only Nazi memorial in the UK and in recent years there has been discussion of removing it. Could Giro be running around the Mall after dark just trying to be a real dog?

You can read more about Giro and his master here…

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/london-s-hidden-memorial-to-a-nazi-dog

For more information on pets in the afterlife check out my friend Rob’s books…

NEW! !! Rob's 1 hr lecture: Westminster Library Welcomes Rob Gutro on "How Spirit Pets Communicate"

 On Oct. 24, 2020 the Carroll County Public Library System in Westminster, MD presented "Pets and the Afterlife"

Speaker: Rob Gutro, Author, Medium, scientist, dog dad Description Learn how pets in spirit have the ability to send signals to the living and wait for us in the afterlife. Rob Gutro, medium, paranormal investigator, scientist, and author of Pets and the Afterlife - How They Communicate from the Other Side and More and Pets and the Afterlife 2: Stories of Signs from Pets That Passed will discuss how to cope with grief after losing a beloved pet. He will identify the signs they give us and the science behind why living pets can sense entities. By the end of the talk, you will be able to find the signs from your pets in spirit. Rob's website: www.petspirits.com

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/pf7XEkw43R0

BBC News: Hidden camera's hugging tiger wins wildlife photo award!

 Recently, BBC News published a story and amazing photo that I had to share with you:  Hidden camera's hugging tiger wins wildlife photo award! 

(Photo: SERGEY GORSHKOV/WPY2020 image captionSergey Gorshkov's winning WPY image is called The Embrace ) 

To photograph one of rarest creatures on Earth you have to be incredibly skilled and remarkably lucky.

But Sergey Gorshkov is clearly both - as demonstrated by his stunning picture of a Siberian, or Amur, tiger deep in the forests of Russia's Far East.

The image has just won him the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

The female tiger is seen embracing a tree, rubbing herself against the bark to leave her scent and mark territory in Land of the Leopard National Park.

"The lighting, the colours, the texture - it's like an oil painting," says WPY chair of judges Roz Kidman-Cox.

"It's almost as if the tiger is part of the forest. Her tail blends with the roots of the tree. The two are one," she told BBC News.

All the more extraordinary is that this is a camera-trap image. The equipment was set up in the forest and left, waiting to trigger automatically when a tiger came by.

Of course, Sergey had to know where he'd be most likely to frame the animal - and that's where the skill of an experienced wildlife photographer comes into play.

Eastern Russia's tigers were hunted to near-extinction and probably now number only a few hundred individuals. And with their prey - mostly deer and wild boar - also diminished, it means the Amurs must range over vast distances to find food.

It all adds to the difficulty of securing any sort of picture, never mind one that looks as impressive as Sergey's. But consider this: the camera-trap that took the winning picture was left in the field for 10 months before its memory card with its precious image file was recovered.

To be a top wildlife photographer you also have to be extremely patient.

Sergey's grand prize award was announced by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge and TV presenters Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin during an online event organised by London's Natural History Museum.

The NHM runs the WPY competition, which is now in its 56th year.

SOURCE: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54518336