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Have you ever wondered what colours prehistoric creatures had? Fossils can't convey their hues, but Burmese amber can offer a peek into the ancient world. A team of scientists has recently found 35 specimens of ancient insects in Myanmar amber that retained their structural colour, causing iridescence. The team found that the nanostructures responsible for producing the colours in the cuticle of the insects' exoskeleton were still preserved in these specimens. The study provides fascinating insights into the vibrancy of nature millions of years ago. In this article, we will delve into the details of this discovery, the scientific process behind it, and the ethical questions it raises.
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What is structural colour, and how does it work? Structural colour is caused by the microscopic structure of an animal's surface, and it produces very intense colours by scattering light of specific wavelengths. Peacock feathers and butterfly scales are examples of structural colour. In the case of the Burmese amber specimens, the structural colour was created by the outer cuticle of the insects' exoskeleton.
What was the study about? The study involved 35 amber specimens containing ancient insects that possessed structural colours. The insects studied were either cuckoo wasps or chalcid wasps. These creatures displayed metallic bluish-green, yellowish-green, purplish-blue, or even vibrant green bodies. The team cut through the exoskeleton of three specimens to see whether the cuticular structures responsible for colour were preserved or not. They found that the colourful fossils had preserved the cuticular structures, while the dull one did not.
The team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Science collected 35 amber specimens containing ancient insects that possessed intense structural colors.
The structural colors of the insects were created by the outer cuticle of their exoskeletons.
The insects in the amber specimens were nearly the same color as modern-day cuckoo wasps.
The research team was able to reconstruct the original colors of the fossils using theoretical modeling.
The palaeontology community is currently debating the value of the scientific information that can be gained from these specimens collected and sold in Myanmar.
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What are the implications of the study? The study provides valuable insights into the colours of prehistoric creatures and the way they evolved. It also highlights the potential for studying fossils using theoretical modelling, which can help us reconstruct the original colours of these creatures. However, the study raises ethical questions about the human consequences of collecting and selling amber specimens.
The Burmese amber specimens offer a fascinating insight into the prehistoric world's vibrant colours, and the study provides valuable scientific insights into the evolution of insects. The preservation of nanostructures responsible for structural colours in these fossils opens up new avenues for studying fossils. However, the ethical implications of collecting these specimens should not be overlooked, and the scientific community must consider the human consequences of such research.
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