Dinosaur Feathers Found in Amber

The dinosaur feathers encased in amber

CNN - Dinosaur feathers discovered in 80-million-year-old amber provide new clues about dinosaurs.

Paleontologists made this discovery of feather specimens near Grassy Lake in southwestern Alberta, Canada, and described the results in the journal Science.

Researchers don't know which feathers were actually from birds that flew and which might have been from theropod dinosaurs, but the filament structures resembles those seen in other non-avian fossils.

There appear to be two types in the sample: those resembling the feathers of modern birds, and "protofeathers" which are similar to the hair-like structures found in a halo around dinosaur specimens from China in early Cretaceous rock. Those simpler feathers in the amber, which differ from what modern birds have, may have came from small, meat-eating dinosaurs.

"Sort of finding a dinosaur trapped in the amber itself, it’s the best we can do" said Ryan McKellar, a paleontology graduate student of the University of Alberta and lead author of the study.

Although the feather fragments themselves are tiny - ranging from only 2 to 8 millimeters in length - they are preserved in 3D in extraordinary detail, scientists say.

Even some of the pigment remains, so we know what color feathers may have covered these prehistoric creatures. The dinosaur-looking ones display a pale to dark brown color, while the bird-like feathers have a wide range of appearances: There are white downy feathers, as well as flattened, veined feathers of black, brown, and lots of shades in between.

The dinosaur-looking feathers resemble mammal hair-fur and would be useful for things like insulation, and perhaps camouflage and display. The bird-like feathers are even more specifically formed: Some fragments have structural adaptations for flight, and others show characteristics of being able to pick up water, so they could carry water back to their nests or dive better.

How do feather fragments get so well preserved?

About 80 million years ago, these feathers likely blew into some tree resin and, over time, it hardened into an intermediate stage called copal, which then turned to amber. The resin hardens as its volatile component dissipates, and what's left behind is similar to plastic in structure.

The amber used in jewelry today is usually about 17 million to 40 million years old; more than 65 million years old is too brittle for decorative purposes, meaning there probably aren't dinosaur feathers in your mother's amber necklace.

But insects do often get trapped in amber; in fact, McKellar and colleagues found a feather fragment trapped in a spider web in one of the pieces of amber. That's right, there were spiders making spider webs 80 million years ago.

By 2018 The World Will End 7 Times!

For the next 7 years there are 7 dates on which the world will end. Predictions and scientific theories are telling us when and how will end the world.


According to different soothsayers there are different dates meant to be the end of the world, all of them in various years.


The american prophet, Harold Camping, convinced 200 000 people all over the world that on May 21st 2011 (a few weeks ago) will be fulfilled the biblical prophecy about the Second Coming.
As we can see (thanks God) that didn't happen. But Harold doesn't give up easily, he changed the date to October 2011. 


The most popular and discussed end of the world date is December 21st 2012. The Mayans predict that will be the last day of our civilization. 
On this day, according to ancient text - the Mayan prophecy - will occur so-called parade of planets: Earth, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn will arrange in a line, in the center of which will be the Sun.
Because of the unusual proximity of the Earth to the star will start a chain reaction: in the atmosphere will penetrate energy flows so strong that the surface of our planet will not sustain them.


There is another prediction for the same date - December 21st 2012. This time it comes from the Ancient Sumerians. Nibiru - the mystic planet, will be so close to the Earth, that will cause a shift of the magnetic poles and will completely change the orbit of our planet.
It's giant mass will cause the rise of huge water masses, which in turn will flood thecontinents and will destroy all life on Earth.


The second most discussed end of the world date is Spetembet 22nd 2012. That would be the energetical world end. It's said that it will be caused by natural-technological global catastrophe. According to calculations of a group of scientists from NASA's strong eruption of the Sun, whose electromagnetic pulse will damage virtually all power and electronicequipment for a long period of time will cause the death of billions of people.


Dutch astrophysicist, Pierre van der Meere said, that the Sun will explode in 2013 and this will literally burn the Earth.


Russian astrophysicist, thinks that a new Ice Age will begin in 2014. This will destroy most of the fertile lands on Earth and humanity will gradually die of hunger. 


According to Vanga, the great bulgarian fortune teller, millions of people will be deceased from the festering sores, skin cancer and other diseases due to chemical warfare.


American climatologist, James Hansen, believes that in 2016 the glaciers will melt and flood large parts of land that will become uninhabitable.


2018 is the year for which Nostradamus predicted that will start a global nuclear war that will destroy mankind.


Well, we went so far. We've been through 2000, 2001, 2006, 2010 end of the world predictions.
I believe we will live through this. Of course, the world is going to end someday, but I don't think it's close.


Live your life with happiness, do whatever you want to, enjoy every second. :)  Be happy with what you do and who you are!

Consumers Boost Economy at Year-End

American consumers gave the economy a boost in the fourth quarter of 2010, as they loosened their purse strings.

Gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the nation's economic activity, grew at an annual rate of 3.2% in the last three months of the year, a significant increase from a 2.6% rise in the previous quarter, the government said Friday.

The faster pace came mainly on the backs of American consumers, who headed back to the shopping malls during the holiday season. Personal consumption, a measure of consumer spending, jumped by 4.4% in the fourth quarter -- the strongest increase in that reading in at least four years.

Spending on so-called durable goods like cars and furniture rose a whopping 21.6%. Spending on nondurable goods like food and clothing was up 5%.

While the U.S. is struggling with a massive trade deficit, it improved slightly in the fourth quarter, lifting the overall GDP number. Exports increased at a rate of 8.5%, while imports decreased by 13.6% -- slightly narrowing the trade gap.

The government calculates GDP as a measure of goods and services produced in the United States. The number is backward looking and is often revised multiple times. This is the first reading for the fourth quarter.

For the year as a whole, real GDP was up 2.9%, a complete turnaround from the 2.6% decrease seen in 2009.