Paleontologists have described a new species of therizinosaur, Kayrasaurus changliensis, based on a nearly complete skeleton from northeastern China. The animal lived about 125 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous period and was part of the famous Jehol Biota.
The individual reached more than 3,6 meter in length and weighed between 117 and 274 kilograms. It had an unusually large number of small teeth — more than 45 in the lower jaw.
The Perseverance rover has discovered in Jezero Crater traces of at least three periods of interaction between rocks and water. First the rocks were altered by carbon dioxide-rich groundwater, then by an ancient lake, and later by heated underground springs.
Such finds help refine our understanding of the climate and possible habitability of early Mars. Carbonates and silica are especially interesting for the search for signs of ancient life.
What else are the Martian rocks and the Cretaceous deposits of Earth hiding?
