“恐龙鸟”化石被发现
文章来源:未知 文章作者:meng 发布时间:2010-05-11 00:44 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
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A 150-million-year old 'Dinobird' fossil, long thought to contain nothing but fossilized bone and rock, has been hiding remnants(残余) of the animal's original chemistry, according to new research. The sensational1(轰动的,使人感动的) discovery by an international team of palaeontologists(古生物学家) , geochemists(地球化学家) and physicists3 was made after carrying out state-of-the art analysis of one the world's most important fossils - the half-dinosaur/half-bird species called Archaeopteryx(始祖鸟) .

The discovery could revolutionize the field of palaeontology(古生物学) say the team led by scientists at The University of Manchester and the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in the United States.

By recording4 how 'bright X-rays' interacted with the fossil, the team have created maps showing chemical elements which were part of the living animal itself.

The maps, published today in the journal Proceedings5 of National Academy of Science, show that portions of the feathers are not merely impressions of long-decomposed organic material—as was previously6 believed.

Instead, they include fossilized fragments of actual feathers containing phosphorous(磷) and sulfur7(硫磺) , elements that compose modern bird feathers.

Trace amounts of copper8 and zinc9 were also found in the Dinobird's bones: like birds today, the Archaeopteryx may have required those elements to stay healthy.

University of Manchester palaeontologist Dr Phil Manning said: "Archaeopteryx is to palaeontology what Tutankhamen is to archaeology10(考古学) . It's simply one of the icons11 of our field.

"You would think after 150 years of study, we'd know everything we need to know about this animal. But guess what—we were wrong."

Lead author geochemist Dr Roy Wogelius from The University of Manchester said: "We talk about the physical link between birds and dinosaurs12, and now we have found a chemical link between them.

"In the fields of palaeontology and geology, people have studied bones for decades. But this whole idea of the preservation13 of trace metals and the chemical remains14 of soft tissue is quite exciting."

The researchers found significantly different concentrations of elements in the fossil than in the surrounding rock, confirming they are remnants of the Dinobird and not leached(过滤,萃取) from the surrounding rock into the fossil.

SLAC physicist2 Uwe Bergmann, who led the X-ray scanning experiment, said: "People have never used a technique this sensitive on Archaeopteryx before.

"Because the SSRL beam is so bright, we were able to see the teeniest chemical traces that nobody thought were there."

CMW Institute researcher Bob Morton said: "The discovery that certain fossils retain the detailed15 chemistry of the original organisms offers scientists a new avenue for learning about long-extinct creatures.

As a result, say the team, the research could change the way palaeontologists work.

Dr Wogelius added: "We're able to read so much more into these organisms now using this technology - we're literally16 touching17 ghosts.

"Chemistry is the real key in the future of palaeontology. It's a paradigm18(范例) shift."

Dr Manning added: "I wouldn't be surprised if future excavations19(挖掘,发掘) look more like CSI investigations20 where people look for clues at a scene of a crime.

"There's info that's still there that can't be seen with the naked eye.

"We can only see these valuable pieces of data using the x-ray vision that the synchrotron(同步加速器) provides."



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 sensational Szrwi     
adj.使人感动的,非常好的,轰动的,耸人听闻的
参考例句:
  • Papers of this kind are full of sensational news reports.这类报纸满是耸人听闻的新闻报道。
  • Their performance was sensational.他们的演出妙极了。
2 physicist oNqx4     
n.物理学家,研究物理学的人
参考例句:
  • He is a physicist of the first rank.他是一流的物理学家。
  • The successful physicist never puts on airs.这位卓有成就的物理学家从不摆架子。
3 physicists 18316b43c980524885c1a898ed1528b1     
物理学家( physicist的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • For many particle physicists, however, it was a year of frustration. 对于许多粒子物理学家来说,这是受挫折的一年。 来自英汉非文学 - 科技
  • Physicists seek rules or patterns to provide a framework. 物理学家寻求用法则或图式来构成一个框架。
4 recording UktzJj     
n.录音,记录
参考例句:
  • How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间?
  • I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
5 proceedings Wk2zvX     
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报
参考例句:
  • He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
  • to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼
6 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前,先前(地)
参考例句:
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
7 sulfur ps4wC     
n.硫,硫磺(=sulphur)
参考例句:
  • Sulfur emissions from steel mills become acid rain.炼钢厂排放出的硫形成了酸雨。
  • Burning may produce sulfur oxides.燃烧可能会产生硫氧化物。
8 copper HZXyU     
n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的
参考例句:
  • The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
  • Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。
9 zinc DfxwX     
n.锌;vt.在...上镀锌
参考例句:
  • Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
  • Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.锌被用来保护其他金属不受腐蚀。
10 archaeology 0v2zi     
n.考古学
参考例句:
  • She teaches archaeology at the university.她在大学里教考古学。
  • He displayed interest in archaeology.他对考古学有兴趣。
11 icons bd21190449b7e88db48fa0f580a8f666     
n.偶像( icon的名词复数 );(计算机屏幕上表示命令、程序的)符号,图像
参考例句:
  • Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons. 用图标来区分重要的文本项。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
  • Daemonic icons should only be employed persistently if they provide continuous, useful status information. 只有会连续地提供有用状态信息的情况下,后台应用程序才应该一直使用图标。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
12 dinosaurs 87f9c39b9e3f358174d58a584c2727b4     
n.恐龙( dinosaur的名词复数 );守旧落伍的人,过时落后的东西
参考例句:
  • The brontosaurus was one of the largest of all dinosaurs. 雷龙是所有恐龙中最大的一种。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years. 恐龙绝种已有几百万年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 preservation glnzYU     
n.保护,维护,保存,保留,保持
参考例句:
  • The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
  • The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。
14 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
15 detailed xuNzms     
adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的
参考例句:
  • He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
  • A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
16 literally 28Wzv     
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实
参考例句:
  • He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
  • Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候,她不走到真正要昏厥了,决不肯坐下来。
17 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的,使人感伤的
参考例句:
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
18 paradigm c48zJ     
n.例子,模范,词形变化表
参考例句:
  • He had become the paradigm of the successful man. 他已经成为成功人士的典范。
  • Moreover,the results of this research can be the new learning paradigm for digital design studios.除此之外,本研究的研究成果也可以为数位设计课程建立一个新的学习范例。
19 excavations 185c90d3198bc18760370b8a86c53f51     
n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 );开凿;开凿的洞穴(或山路等);(发掘出来的)古迹
参考例句:
  • The excavations are open to the public. 发掘现场对公众开放。
  • This year's excavations may reveal ancient artifacts. 今年的挖掘可能会发现史前古器物。 来自辞典例句
20 investigations 02de25420938593f7db7bd4052010b32     
(正式的)调查( investigation的名词复数 ); 侦查; 科学研究; 学术研究
参考例句:
  • His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查,但没有发现什么。
  • He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。
TAG标签: bone fossil rock chemical
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