August 22, 2023: How sauropods got so big, saving coral reefs in Florida and why we need to teach quantum physics to kids. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | | The iconic long-necked, long-tailed dinosaurs known as sauropods were the largest animals ever discovered to have roamed Earth. Their sizes varied among different species, but they evolved colossal sizes a remarkable three dozen times on six landmasses over the course of 100 million years, according to the latest examination of fossils. The most gargantuan sauropod was the 50-metric-ton titan Patagotitan. Sauropods evolved their hallmark sizes–some reaching 25,000 kilogram masses– early on, and with each new family to evolve, one or more lineages independently reached enormous size.
Why this is amazing: Sauropods grew impressively quickly—on par with the growth rates seen in many large mammals today—attaining adult size in 20 to 50 years after hatching from an egg the size of a melon. Migrating to areas where food was available year-round could have facilitated a constant rate of growth throughout the year and help them reach titanic sizes.
What the experts say: "With an ever improving fossil record, we hope to soon understand some of the evolutionary pressures that led sauropods to become, over and over, the largest land animals of all time," writes Michael D. D'Emic is a paleontologist at Adelphi University. | | | Sauropods evolved their record sizes a remarkable three dozen times on six landmasses over the course of 100 million years. Credit: Michael D. D'Emic, restyled by Jen Christiansen (chart), Scott Hartman (illustrations) | | | A massive effort is underway to save and restore the coral reef off the coast of Florida from record-breaking high ocean temperatures. Divers are spending day after day in the water, collecting thousands of corals from ocean nurseries along the Florida Keys reef tract and moving them to cooler water and into giant tanks on land. There, marine biologists maintain them until the ocean water cools, and they are gathering data on which types of coral survive warmer waters. Researchers transplanted an entire coral tree nursery from shallow waters off Tavernier, Florida, to an area 60 feet deep and 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 Celsius) cooler. Even there, temperatures were running about 85 to 86 F.
Why this matters: Heat has triggered widespread coral bleaching off Florida in particular. Scientists worry they may be seeing the sixth mass bleaching of Caribbean corals since 1995 and the third within the past 12 years, and the heat is likely to continue. Higher temps can also make them more vulnerable to diseases that can ultimately kill them.
What the experts say: "Through careful analysis of the species, genotypes and reef locations experiencing bleaching, scientists and practitioners learn valuable information as they work to protect and rebuild a more resilient coral reef for the future," writes Michael Childress, an associate professor of biological sciences and environmental conservation at Clemson University. | | | Young staghorn corals are retrieved from an ocean nursery for protection after water temperatures hit the high 90s. Credit: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images | | | • New habitats are emerging as mountain glaciers melt away. They represent huge ecological shifts and present new challenges for conservation. | 2 min read | | | • From the moment an African male lion is born it faces a gauntlet of challenges, ranging from snakebite to infanticide. | 6 min read | | | • In groundwater below the fossil fuel fields of Alberta, Canada, researchers discovered abundant microbes that produce unexpectedly large amounts of "dark" oxygen in the absence of light, which may sustain whole underground ecosystems. | 7 min read | | | • Quantum computing undergirds chemistry, biology, engineering and beyond. If we have any hope of creating a technology-literate population and developing a workforce for this emerging field, we need to teach quantum physics in more classrooms, writes Olivia Lanes, North American lead of IBM Quantum Community. Without these efforts, the "more we all stand to lose the immense benefits quantum could bring to our economy, technology and future industries," says Lanes. | 5 min read | | | It's hard to truly grasp the SIZE of the sauropods unless you see their fossils in person (the Titanosaur skeleton at the American Museum of Natural History is so long that its head sticks out of its exhibition room and into the hallway), and plenty of museums around the country have their own sauropods on display. Chilly museums are the perfect summer activity, too. | This newsletter is always evolving. Send your feedback or suggestions any time to: newsletters@sciam.com. Same time tomorrow! | —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters . | | | | Scientific American
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