Scientists from Chicago’s Field Museum have made a groundbreaking discovery in South America, uncovering nine new species of fossil grapes dating back 19 to 60 million years. This research, led by Dr. Fabiany Herrera, reveals that these ancient grape fossils provide the earliest evidence of the Vitaceae family in the Western Hemisphere. Among these findings is Lithouva susmanii from Colombia, which showcases how grapes began spreading globally after the extinction of dinosaurs. This study not only revises our understanding of the grape family’s evolution but also highlights the resilience of plants through major ecological changes, offering insights into both prehistoric ecosystems and modern biodiversity.
paleontology
As I come up with a daily bedtime story, I have become aware of an increase in my daughter’s dinosaur behests. Not surprising considering we now know that 900 dinosaurs existed. She is fascinated with the Tyrannosaurus, Velociraptor, and the Triceratops. I started asking myself why such intrigue? She learns these long names and repeatedly asks for information regarding the different kinds of dinosaurs. “How did they vanish from planet earth, dad? This is what science refers to as “intense interests” in the world of psychology.