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21 Black Rhinos Successfully Moved to New Kenya Home With Space to Breed–Hailing Return of Species After 50 yrs

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A well-trained crew had just sprung into action to revive a rhino after it stopped breathing—then quickly moved out of the way when the animal sprang back up (and no one was hurt) – Photo by Ami Vitale / Courtesy The Nature Conservancy
Rhino released in Feb 2024 – by Margaret Southern / Courtesy San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

The Kenya Wildlife Service celebrated the successful transfer of 21 eastern black rhinos to establish a new viable breeding population for the species that was on the brink of extinction decades ago.

In an 18-day exercise executed by highly trained capture and veterinary experts, the Loisaba Conservancy received the 21 rhinos from three different locations, becoming the 17th sanctuary in Kenya where the mammoth animals can roam and intermingle.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be part of the resettlement of rhinos to a landscape where they’ve been absent for 50 years,” said Tom Silvester, CEO of Loisaba Conservancy.

Kenya had 20,000 black rhinos in the 1970s before poachers decimated them for their horns. By the time the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was established in 1989, rhino numbers had declined to below 400.

Since then, Kenya’s eastern black rhinos have made a remarkable comeback and today there are an estimated 1,004 individuals.

Kenya is a stronghold of the eastern sub species of black rhino, hosting approximately 80 percent of the entire world’s surviving population.

“Surpassing the milestone of 1,000 rhinos within four decades is a significant accomplishment,” said Munira Bashir, Director of The Nature Conservancy in Kenya.

The reintroduction this month of these 21 animals this month is a great milestone in Kenya’s rhino recovery action plan, and was made possible by support from The Nature Conservancy, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, other partners—and the three reserves from where the 21 rhinos originated, Nairobi National Park, Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Lewa Conservancy.

A well-trained crew had just sprung into action to revive a rhino after it stopped breathing—then quickly moved out of the way when the animal sprang back up (and no one was hurt) – Photo by Ami Vitale / Courtesy The Nature Conservancy

“In the recent past, one of the main causes of mortality of rhinos has been territorial fights due to limited space in sanctuaries which has also led to suppressed growth rates due,” explained Dr. Erustus Kanga, the Director General of Kenya Wildlife Service. “I am elated to be associated with this momentous effort to secure more space for this cornerstone species.”

RHINO GOOD NEWS: Specially-Trained Dogs Have Saved 45 Rhinos From Poachers in South Africa—And Counting

Meanwhile, southern white rhinos continue to thrive in Kenya, having increased from 50 individuals that were imported from South Africa in the eighties and nineties to reach the current population of 971 individuals.

Kenya is also playing a critical role in efforts to save the northern white rhino from extinction, as it is host to the only remaining two females of the species left in the world. The international BioRescue project has developed thirty embryos awaiting implantation into surrogate females within the closely-related subspecies of southern white rhino.

“The return of black rhinos to Loisaba, 50 years after the last known individual here was killed by poachers in the 1970s, is a demonstration of how impactful partnerships between governments and conservation NGOs can be for restoring, managing, and protecting our natural world,” said Dr. Max Graham, CEO and Founder of Space for Giants, one of the project partners.

ALSO: Zero Rhinos Poached in Kenya 3 Years Ago – Better Policing is One of the Keys

“And, of course, the return of black rhinos here gives all of us one of the most precious commodities of all: hope.”

SHARE THE HOPE By Reposting the Story on Social Media…

Until Death Do Us Part: Europeans Were Buried With Their Dogs 2,200 Years Ago

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Joint interment of a dog and a human – by S.R. Thompson, courtesy of SABAP-VR Soprintendenza Archeologia - Credit Laffranchi et al., 2024 (CC license)
Joint interment of a dog and a human – by S.R. Thompson, courtesy of SABAP-VR Soprintendenza Archeologia – Credit Laffranchi et al., 2024 (CC license)

People from an ancient community in what is now northern Italy were buried with animals such as dogs and horses. The reasons remain mysterious, but might indicate an enduring companion relationship these men and women had with their animals.

A recent study revealed that archaeologists uncovered 161 burials from the Late Iron Age, around 2,200 years ago, and found 10 percent of the people were buried with animals at the site in Seminario Vescovile, near Verona.

The research team looked for patterns that might explain the animal burials, analyzing the demographics, diets, genetics and burial conditions of the interred humans and animals—but the analysis did not lead to any notable correlations.

“The people interred with animals do not seem to be closely related to each other, which would have suggested that this was a practice of a certain family,” said study co-author Dr Zita Laffranchi of the University of Bern in Switzerland.

She said the lack of patterns among the graves mean that “multiple interpretations” of the human-animal co-burials remain possible.

Four of the people were buried with dogs or horses, including a baby next to a dog, a middle-aged man buried with a small dog, and a middle-aged woman buried with an entire horse and a dog skull.

Some of the graves contained the remains of animals used as food, including pigs, a chicken, and part of a cow, which may have represented “offerings to the dead”.

AMAZING: Thousands of Years Ago, a Woman Underwent Two Surgeries to Her Head – and Survived Both Procedures

“Animals like dogs and horses often had religious symbolism in ancient cultures, but at the same time, specific individuals may also have been buried with their animal companions,” explained Dr. Laffranchi.

The Swiss and Italian research team, whose findings were published in the journal PLOS One, also noted that the human-animal burial practices might have been determined by the interplay between different individual traits and societal customs.

This study, entitled ‘Until death do us part,’ is part of the CELTUDALPS research project, exploring burials of horses and dogs with humans, and may hint at unknown rituals and beliefs during the late centuries BCE in Italy.

DON’T BURY THIS HISTORY–Share the News With Friends on Social Media…

“Do exactly what you would do if you felt most secure.” – Meister Eckhart

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Quote of the Day: “Do exactly what you would do if you felt most secure.” – Meister Eckhart

Photo by: Paul Matheson

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

This New Mud Home Built of Hemp and Earth Demonstrates Super Energy Efficiency in the UK

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CobBauge house in Fakenham, Norfolk – Hudson Architects / SWNS
CobBauge house in Fakenham, Norfolk – Hudson Architects / SWNS

This modern British home with its thick mud walls was built as part of an EU project to pioneer the construction of more energy efficient homes.

Architect Anthony Hudson used a centuries-old construction method to build the bungalow, yet it still complies with modern building regulations.

Its walls, erected in Fakenham, Norfolk, are constructed from three simple ingredients: hemp straw, earth, and water. When mixed together, it is known as ‘cob’, so the project was named the CobBauge.

Walls built with cob is thermally insulated to modern standards.

The 3-bedroom project by Hudson Architects was built by local builders Grocott and Murfit in January, and the team has characterized it as being quite inexpensive (although the total cost was not revealed).

Mud is one of the most sustainable construction materials with some old cob buildings in Britain lasting more than 500 years.

The new house features large, south-facing triple-glazed windows for solar warmth in the winter and an air source heat pump to provide additional heating.

It’s part of an EU-funded project to bring mud construction into the 21st century with a focus on net-zero carbon construction—and this is their first regulations-complaint cob building.

CobBauge test wall section at the University of Plymouth, showing the interlocking materials –Hudson Architects / SWNS

After the EU announced it was looking for architects to come up with new ways of using earth in houses, Mr. Hudson leapt at the opportunity.

“The challenge was to create a home using earth as the primary building material, but which could also be thermally insulated,” said the 68-year-old.

“Earth is a very sustainable way to build, especially because it’s so widely available here in the UK.

Although there is still a way to go before mud houses can be put on the mainstream market, Hudson believes that the homes will become the new normal.

“Although the materials are cheap and easy to source, the building method is very time-consuming. At the moment it all has to be done by hand, so labor costs run high.”

CHECK OUT: These Ancient Chinese ‘Skywells’ Are Keeping Homes Cool as Green Architects Learn from the Past

Laying and compacting the first CobBauge lift within the shuttering formwork system – Hudson Architects / SWNS

Their next step is to figure out how to fabricate building techniques to cut that labor intensity down.

“Once we’ve worked that out, my guess is this will be a very attractive method.”

In March, the mud house will be open to the public for viewing, with its “green roof” to support biodiversity and replace the loss of green space on the site.

LOOK: Skyscraper Bursting with 80,000 Plants Opens to the Public in Singapore–LOOK

DOES YOUR FRIEND Need a Housing Option? Share The Hemp Home on Social Media… 

3-Legged Dog Cured of Cancer by Breakthrough FDA-Approved Treatment With 87% Success Rate

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American Pit Bull Annabel Lee in recovery – Courtesy of Alicia Alderson

A 3-legged American pit bull with a heart of gold and sweet disposition captured the hearts of Alicia and Andrew Alderson when they adopted her in 2017.

“It was absolutely love at first sight—she ran into our arms.”

But their journey took an unexpected turn when last year they discovered a 3-centimeter growth on Annabel Lee’s rear left leg—a mast cell tumor.

Traditional surgical options were ruled out due to the eight-year-old’s unique circumstance of already having only three legs. Luckily, a drug approved by the FDA three years ago has been transforming mast cell tumor treatment, and was a perfect fit for the Florida family.

Dr. Emily Moser, at Town and Country Veterinarians and Pet Resort in Gainesville, said Annabel Lee was an ideal candidate for Stelfonta.

“It’s really cool for cases like hers when surgery is not an option,” Moser explains.

Stelfonta was specifically designed to target mast cell tumors in dogs. It induces necrosis within the tumor while promoting rapid healing of the affected site—all with minimal scarring and a response from 87 percent of pups having complete tumor resolution.

CHECK OUT: Bulldog Spontaneously Regrows Part of its Jaw After Removal From Cancer Surgery

In general, the cost of such an injection is likely similar to the cost of surgery to cut out a tumor, but it’s less invasive—and anesthesia, which is risky for some older dogs, is not required.

The Aldersons expressed deep gratitude for the cancer treatment that saved their ‘little cuddle bug’.

Because the couple cannot have children, their pets are beloved family members, and this option ‘gave their little girl back’.

HERO: Dog That Won’t Stop Digging Saves Entire Neighborhood After They Find Dangerous Gas Leak Underground

Today, Annabel Lee is cancer-free and back to her normal, playful self, with likely years of life in her future.

SHARE the Good News With Dog Parents on Social Media…

More Than 100 New Species of Stunning Marine Life Found Near Underwater Mountains (LOOK)

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Fish in the sea toad family discovered in Nazca-Desventuradas Marine Park – Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute CC license-cropped
Fish in the sea toad family discovered in Nazca-Desventuradas Marine Park – Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute CC license-cropped

More than 100 new species of alien-looking marine life have been discovered living near huge underwater mountains off the coast of Chile.

An international team of scientists visited previously unexplored sea mountains—towering at up to 3,530 meters—and found dozens of never-before-seen species, including deep-sea corals, sponges, sea urchins, amphipods, and squat lobsters.

Led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, the team used a remote-controlled underwater robot to explore the marine life at seafloor depths of up to 4,500 meters deep.

The international research team found that each seamount played host to a vast array of distinct ecosystems, many of which were identified as vulnerable.

These included thriving, deep-sea coral reefs and sponge gardens as well as brightly-colored and mysterious species of fish, lobster and amphipods likely never before seen by human eyes.

“You always expect to find new species in these remote and poorly explored areas, but the amount we found, especially for some groups like sponges, is mind-blowing,” said Dr. Javier Sellanes, of northern Chile’s Universidad Católica del Norte. “We far exceeded our hopes.”

A spiraling coral in a Chile Marine Protected Area – Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute, CC license

Experts are now analyzing the physiology and genetics of the specimens to confirm whether they are new species to science. (See them in the video below…)

During their expedition, which also included two of Chile’s protected marine areas—the Juan Fernandez and Nazca-Desventuradas parks—the scientists used the underwater robot SuBastian, which is capable of descending to depths of 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers).

UNDERWATER MYSTERY: Charlotte the Stingray, Single for 8 Years, Celebrated V-day with ‘Impossible’ Litter of Non-Fertilized Eggs

The Salas y Gómez Ridge is 1800-miles-long (2900km) comprised of more than 200 seamounts that stretch from off the coastline of Chile to Easter Island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.

On their ambitious expedition mapping over 20,000 square miles (52,777 sq km), the team explored the Nazca and Salas y Gómez Ridge, located both inside and outside of Chile’s jurisdiction, to collect data that could be used to support the designation of an international high-seas marine protected area—to save it from mining companies looking for natural minerals, like cobalt, in underwater mountains.

Oblong Dermechinus urchins – Credit: ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute, CC license

A second expedition on the Research Vessel Falkor (too) is set to sail in the coming days to further explore the Salas y Gomez Ridge, with the expedition being live-streamed on the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s YouTube channel. (See some of their astounding video below…)

The California-based nonprofit will also be operating in the Southeast Pacific in the coming year, exploring the waters off Peru.

LOOK: Pristine Coral Reefs Discovered Are Thousands of Years Old And Teeming With Life

“Full species identification can take many years, and Dr. Sellanas and his team have an incredible number of samples from this amazingly beautiful and little-known biodiversity hotspot,” said the Institute’s Executive Director Dr. Jyotika Virmani.

Their partner, the Nippon Foundation, has set a target of finding 100,000 new marine species in the next 10 years for its Nekton Ocean Census Program—and, once identified, these new species will be counted as part of that.

Watch the amazing video from Schmidt Ocean Institute below…

SEND THE MAGICAL Sights to Friends By Sharing on Social Media…

Your Horoscope for the Week – ‘Free Will Astrology’ From Rob Brezsny

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Our partner Rob Brezsny, who has a new book out, Astrology Is Real: Revelations from My Life as an Oracle, provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week of February 24, 2024
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Unlike the Pope’s decrees, my proclamations are not infallible. As opposed to Nostradamus and many modern soothsayers, I never imagine I have the power to definitely decipher what’s ahead. One of my main mottoes is “The future is undecided. Our destinies are always mutable.” Please keep these caveats in mind whenever you commune with my horoscopes. Furthermore, consider adopting my approach as you navigate through the world—especially in the coming weeks, when your course will be extra responsive to your creative acts of willpower. Decide right now what you want the next chapter of your life story to be about. You can make it what you want.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Aries filmmaker Akira Kurosawa was one of the greats. In his 30 films, he crafted a reputation as a masterful storyteller. A key moment in his development as an emotionally intelligent artist came when he was 13 years old. His older brother Heigo took him to view the aftermath of the Great Kantō earthquake. Akira wanted to avert his gaze from the devastation, but Heigo compelled him to look. Why? He wished for Akira to learn to deal with fear by facing it directly. I think you Aries people are more skilled at this challenging exercise than all the other signs. I hope you will call on it with aplomb in the coming weeks. You may be amazed at the courage it arouses in you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
“When a mountain doesn’t listen, say a prayer to the sea,” said Taurus painter Cy Twombly. My Taurus mentor Audrey advises, “If your mind doesn’t provide you with useful solutions, make an appeal to your heart instead.” This counsel should be useful for you in the coming weeks, Taurus. It’s time to be diligent, relentless, ingenious, and indefatigable in going after what you want. Keep asking until you find a source that will provide it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Gemini philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson offered advice that’s perfect for you right now. He said, “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.” Here’s what I will add. First, you very much need to commune with extra doses of beauty in the coming weeks. Doing so will expedite your healing and further your education—two activities that are especially important. Second, one way to accomplish your assignment is to put yourself in the presence of all the beautiful people, places, and things you can find. Third, be imaginative as you cultivate beauty within yourself. How? That’s your homework.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
I bet that sometime soon, you will dream of flying through the sky on a magic carpet. In fact, this may be a recurring dream for you in the coming months. By June, you may have soared along on a floating rug over 10 times. Why? What’s this all about? I suspect it’s one aspect of a project that life is encouraging you to undertake. It’s an invitation to indulge in more flights of the imagination; to open your soul to mysterious potencies; to give your fantasy life permission to be wilder and freer. You know that old platitude “shit happens”? You’re ready to experiment with a variation on that: “Magic happens.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
In February, ancient Romans celebrated the holiday of Caristia. It was a time for reconciliation. People strove to heal estrangements and settle longstanding disagreements. Apologies were offered, and truces were negotiated. In alignment with current astrological omens, Leo, I recommend you revive this tradition. Now is an excellent time to embark on a crusade to unify, harmonize, restore, mend, and assuage. I dare you to put a higher priority on love than on ego!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
My poet friend Jafna likes to say that only two types of love are available to us: too little and too much. We are either deprived of the precise amount and quality of the love we want, or else we have to deal with an excess of love that doesn’t match the kind we want. But I predict that this will at most be a mild problem for you in the coming weeks—and perhaps not a problem at all. You will have a knack for giving and receiving just the right amount of love, neither too little nor too much. And the love flowing toward you and from you will be gracefully appropriate.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
If the devil card comes up for me in a Tarot reading, I don’t get worried or scared that something bad might happen. On the contrary, I interpret it favorably. It means that an interesting problem or riddle has arrived or will soon arrive in my life—and that this twist can potentially make me wiser, kinder, and wilder. The appearance of the devil card suggests that I need to be challenged so as to grow a new capacity or understanding. It’s a good omen, telling me that life is conspiring to give me what I need to outgrow my limitations and ignorance. Now apply these principles, Libra, as you respond to the devil card I just drew for you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
A taproot is a thick, central, and primary root from which a plant’s many roots branch out laterally. Typically, a taproot grows downward and is pretty straight. It may extend to a depth greater than the height of the plant sprouting above ground. Now let’s imagine that we humans have metaphorical taproots. They connect us with our sources of inner nourishment. They are lifelines to secret or hidden treasures we may be only partly conscious of. Let’s further imagine that in the coming months, Scorpio, your taproot will flourish, burgeon, and spread deeper to draw in new nutrients. Got all that? Now I invite you to infuse this beautiful vision with an outpouring of love for yourself and for the wondrous vitality you will be absorbing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Behavioral ecologist Professor Dan Charbonneau has observed the habits of ants, bees, and other social insects. He says that a lot of the time, many of them just lounge around doing nothing. In fact, most animals do the same. The creatures of the natural world are just not very busy. Psychologist Dr. Sandi Mann urges us to learn from their lassitude. “We’ve created a society where we fear boredom, and we’re afraid of doing nothing,” she says. But that addiction to frenzy may limit our inclination to daydream, which in turn inhibits our creativity. I bring these facts to your attention, Sagittarius, because I suspect you’re in a phase when lolling around doing nothing much will be extra healthy for you. Liberate and nurture your daydreams, please!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
“Education is an admirable thing,” wrote Oscar Wilde, “but it is well to remember that nothing worth knowing can be taught.” I vociferously disagree with him, as I ponder your future in the coming weeks. I am sure you can learn many things worth knowing from teachers of all kinds. It’s true that some of the lessons may be accidental or unofficial—and not delivered by traditional teachers. But that won’t diminish their value. I invite you to act as if you will in effect be enrolled in school 24/7 until the equinox.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
The planets Mars and Venus are both cruising through Aquarius. Do they signify that synchronicities will weave magic into your destiny? Yes! Here are a few possibilities I foresee: 1. smoldering flirtations that finally ignite; 2. arguments assuaged by love-making; 3. mix-ups about the interplay between love and lust or else wonderful synergies between love and lust; 4. lots of labyrinthine love talk, romantic sparring, and intricate exchange about the nature of desire; 5. adventures in the sexual frontiers; 6. opportunities to cultivate interesting new varieties of intimacy.

WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com

(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)

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“Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” – John F. Kennedy

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Quote of the Day: “Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” – John F. Kennedy

Photo by: Miguel Henriques

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Indian IT Worker Designs New Eco-Friendly Sewage Treatment Method with the Sacred Cow as His Inspiration

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Andy Corbley
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Martijn Vonk - Unsplash
Martijn Vonk – Unsplash

An Indian entrepreneur has developed a zero-energy, zero-chemical system of wastewater treatment, and true to the traditions of the sub-continent, he used nature as an inspiration—specifically Hinduism’s most sacred animal.

In Bengaluru, a 54-year-old IT security specialist was living pretty in a luxury gated community earned after a long successful career, but he decided to put all he had achieved on the line over a simple clogged drain.

Tharun Kumar began to imagine ways to build a better sewage treatment method that could produce good quality water without chemicals. The nearby Varthur Lake was the perfect example of the need for innovation in this area, as the lake has for years been famous for pollution.

In 2017, Kumar started ECOSTP with the chambered stomach of the cow as his “bovine inspiration.”

Like all ruminants, cows have a 4-chamber stomach, in which the plants they eat are broken down by anaerobic bacteria. If we remember high school biology or PA classes, anaerobic means metabolism without oxygen.

Typical wastewater plants use aerobic bacteria, or metabolism with oxygen, to break down sewage, but this requires the ventilation system that continually runs on energy. Regular sewage treatment also tends to use chemicals, and has the presence of a full-time employee. Kumar has eliminated almost all of these drawbacks.

At the base of the ECOSTP septic tank is a layer of cow dung that provides the bacterial workers. With the water moving via gravity, it enters the second bacterial chamber before passing into the third space which is a filter of sand and gravel. The fourth chamber lies under a garden of select vascular plants which removes suspended solids, pathogens, nitrogen, and phosphorus, the latter two going to feed the plants.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Washington, DC Sewage Plant Spins Human Sewage into Fertilizer Gold

The resulting water is graded by health inspectors as good quality for toilet water and gardening applications. With the aid of a grant from the US-based Biomimicry Solutions, ECOSTP now has 325 clients across 22 states in India, and their septic tanks are unmanned and unpowered, saving thousands in running costs.

“My team and I measure ourselves by three metrics,” Kumar told India Today’s Ajay Sukumaran. “How much bad water did we convert to good water? How much power did we save compared to a normal STP? And how much coal we saved, because 70 percent of India’s electricity comes from coal.”

GREEN INDIA NEWS: Indian Man Quits Tech Job and Becomes Environmentalist–And Turns Infamous Dump into Green Oasis

“We are proud to have reclaimed 2 billion liters of sewage so far without power or chemicals.”

ECOSTP is now seeing if it’s possible to identify anaerobic bacteria that can remove the harmful compounds of industrial effluent.

WATCH a five-minute mini-doc about Kumar and ECOSTP below… 

SHARE This Spark Of Bovine Inspiration With Your Friends… 

LA Firefighters Rescue 1200-Pound Horse Named ‘Lucky’ from Backyard Sinkhole (WATCH)

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Andy Corbley
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Fire Captain Erik Scott LAFD (Twitter)
Fire Captain Erik Scott LAFD (Twitter)

In LA County, fire and rescue had a ton of work to do to lift out a 1,200-pound horse that fell into a sinkhole near Lake View Terrace.

Lucky by name, lucky by nature, this 20-year-old mare managed to avoid any serious injuries to her legs from the fall when the muddy ground of her pasture parted beneath her hooves.

Heavy equipment was called for by the Los Angeles Fire Department, who enlisted 50 staff members to assist in the rescue operation.

“The name of the game is to not hurt the horse, to keep her calm,” LAFD Capt. Erik Scott told ABC 7 Eyewitness News, while the rescue was still underway. “She’s been in mild to moderate distress at this time and we want to get her freed and get more definitive care.”

At first the team thought a helicopter would be the best method of extraction, but eventually changed course to use the boom of an excavator to attach the heavy strapping which formed a makeshift harness around Lucky’s midriff.

MORE ANIMAL RESCUES: Good Samaritan Saves Farmer’s Pig, Calls 911 After Joining Livestream and Seeing Barn On Fire

A large vacuum was used to clear away the sand from the hole before the excavator lifted her partially out and brought her back legs over the solid ground she needed to gain purchase with her hooves and heave herself out.

20 years is old for a horse, and it’s a miracle she wasn’t mortally wounded by the fall. It seems whoever named the mare had good reason for picking ‘Lucky.’

WATCH the rescue below from ABC 7… 

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Pony-Sized Dinosaurs Swam or Floated Across Hundreds of Miles of Ocean from America to Colonize Africa

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Andy Corbley
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An artist impression of the duckbills arriving on the shores of Africa - credit Raul Martin, via SWNS
An artist’s impression of the duckbills arriving on the shores of Africa – Dr. Longrich et al, via SWNS

Describing a “once-in-a-million year event,” an international team of paleontologists has suggested that, though nearly impossible, a herd of pony-sized duck-billed dinosaurs must have either floated or swam across to Africa up to 66 million years ago.

Fossils belonging to three species of duck-billed dinosaurs were found in Morocco, on a proto-Africa that would have been isolated by several hundred miles of ocean from where they evolved in North America.

The researchers also discovered that, once in Africa, the duck-billed dinosaurs not only survived but thrived and became diverse throughout their new continent.

At the end of the Cretaceous period, some 66 million years ago, high sea levels and the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea isolated Africa as a lone island continent, surrounded by water on all sides.

However, the remains of a member of the duck-billed dinosaur family that evolved in North America were recently found in northern Africa—prompting questions as to how they got there.

The fossils, found in modern-day Morocco, revealed a new species of pony-sized, duck-billed dinosaur called Minqaria bata, which measured between 9 and 12 feet long and weighed around 500 pounds.

The anatomy of the new species closely resembles that of the European species, prompting researchers to reluctantly suggest the dinosaurs swam or floated across several hundred miles of open ocean to colonize North Africa.

Dr. Nicholas Longrich, from the University of Bath’s Department of Life Sciences, and his team, made up of international scientists from universities in the UK, Morocco, and Spain, said that though the dinosaurs traversing the oceans to get to Africa was unlikely, it appears to be exactly what happened.

“It’s extremely improbable that dinosaurs could cross water to get to Africa,” he said. “But improbable isn’t the same as impossible. And given enough time, improbable things become probable.”

“Buy a lottery ticket every day, and if you wait long enough, you’ll win. These ocean crossings might be once-in-a-million-year events but the Cretaceous lasted nearly 100 million years.”

“A lot of strange things will happen in that time,” he suggested, “including dinosaurs crossing seas.”

The researchers compared the anomaly of the crossing to the unusual journeys of some modern-day animals, such as a group of at least 15 iguanas swept off the shores of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean by a hurricane and washed up around 200 miles away on the island of Anguilla a month later in 2015, or a tortoise from the island of Aldabra that once drifted ashore in Tanzania, 700 kilometers away.

OTHER NATURAL WONDERS: Dinosaur Evergreens Thought Extinct for 2Mil Years Discovered by Park Ranger–the Grove is the ‘Find of the Century’

Deer, elephants, and hippos are also all known to have swam out to the Greek island of Crete during the ice age.

“These duckbills are maybe the most surprising find of my career,” Dr. Longrich admitted. “If you asked me what kind of dinosaurs we’d find in Africa, then a duckbill is the last thing I would have imagined, let alone three species.”

Dr. Longrich holding one of the duckbill fossils – SWNS

“There’s still so much unknown in the fossil record, but if there wasn’t, we wouldn’t need to keep collecting fossils.”

ALSO CHECK OUT: Scientists Discover Butterflies Originated in America 100 Million Years Ago When Upstart Moths Wanted to Bask in the Sun

The first of the three species in question was named Minqaria bata—Arabic for ‘beak’ and ‘duck’, respectively, and it closely resembles the only previously known African species, Ajnabia odysseus, though the shape of its jaws and teeth are distinct, proving it was a different species.

The other Moroccan species, Ajnabia, was about the same size, and larger bones studied by the team, including an arm and a thigh bone, suggest a third species grew much bigger, to around 15 to 18 feet long.

“Not only did duckbills manage to reach Africa at the end of the Cretaceous,” Dr. Longrich continued, “But once they did, they quickly evolved to take advantage of open niches and became diverse.”

MORE DINOSAUR STORIES: ‘Impossible Fossil’ Preserves the Exact Moment the Dinosaurs Died: ‘It’s Absolutely Bonkers’

Sea levels were high at the end of the Cretaceous period, flooding much of the continents, and the Earth’s land was fragmented by the breakup of Pangaea and continental drift.

This left Africa floating alone in the ocean; an island continent much like modern-day Australia.

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Even Exercising Just Once a Week Can Help You Lose Weight, Says New Study

By
Andy Corbley
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A team of researchers has discovered that even if you only have time to exercise once or twice a week, you can still reap the same benefits as those who exercise more frequently, specifically as regards weight loss, provided you meet certain minimums for duration and intensity.

Guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), and most governments besides, recommend that adults perform at least 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous physical activity.

Plenty of people want to meet this level of exercise but find it difficult to do so because of the fast-paced and time-consuming lives many of us lead.

The study, published in the journal Obesity, found that people labeled ‘weekend warriors’—in other words, those who condense their exercise into just Saturday and/or Sunday—can lose the same amount of weight as those who exercise every day, as long as they meet the recommendations set out by the WHO.

The research team believes their findings will be especially welcomed by people whose jobs mean they sit for most of the day, such as taxi and bus drivers or office workers.

“The weekend warrior pattern is worth promoting in individuals who cannot meet the recommended frequency in current guidelines,” said corresponding author Lihua Zhang, a healthcare scientist at Fuwai Hospital and professor at Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, China.

“These people are struggling to catch up in their exercise plans in daily life to offset the hazard of a sedentary lifestyle but have less free time to get to the gym. Our study could offer them an alternative choice to keep fit.”

Researchers gathered data from more than 9,600 participants, aged between 20 and 59 years old, who took part in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2011 and 2018.

The team assessed the participants’ abdominal and general body fat using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry—a non-invasive body composition scan—and via other measurements such as BMI.

OTHER NEWS FOR WEEKEND WARRIORS: Being A ‘Weekend Warrior’ Boosts Health as Much as Working Out Every Day, According to New Research

Next, they analyzed how these correlated with physical activity levels, using data from three groups: inactive, ‘weekend warriors,’ and regularly active.

Results showed that the ‘weekend warriors’ and the regularly active participants had lower abdominal and body fat, smaller waist circumferences, and lower BMIs.

MORE EASY EXERCISE TIPS: Exercise in the Morning May Stave Off Cancer, As Opposed to Later in the Day, New Study Says

“The main takeaway is that people should be active in any manner that suits their lifestyle,” said Dr. Beverly Tchang, Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York. “All types of exercise are welcome, whether that be running, hiking, cycling, climbing, or other options.”

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“One thing frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That thing is love.” – Sophocles

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “One thing frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That thing is love.” – Sophocles

Photo by: Johnny Cohen

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New Sustainable Florida Homes Survived Hurricane–as Nearby Homes Were Devastated–and Never Lost Power

By
Andy Corbley
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Hunter Point – Pearl Homes Developments
Hunter Point – Pearl Homes Developments

These cute little Florida townhomes are tougher than they look. While they may be as green as a budding daffodil, they have a backbone like reinforced concrete.

Built by the enterprising construction company Pearl Homes, they shook off both Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Idalia, losing power during neither, even when all surrounding structures were heavily damaged.

From smart homes that generate more energy than they consume to energy-efficient rental units that promote affordable living, Pearl Homes claims they are actively showing the world a new way to feather a nest.

Marshall Gobuty, currently Founder/CEO of Pearl Homes, built a huge fashion empire in the 80s/90s around a hugely successful line of women’s private label blue jeans, which he eventually sold to a hedge fund and retired.

He is now building communities of net-positive energy homes that together form a virtual power grid. Through this approach, they create modern, affordable communities for people to enjoy and live in, but also develop communities that are conscious of their impact and overall footprint on the environment.

The houses seen above are part of an 86-unit development called Hunter’s Point. The development includes 30 already completed and occupied units that were rated as ‘Platinum’ by Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED), a third-party efficiency rating agency, and named the first net-zero, single-family modern housing development on Earth.

MORE SUSTAINABLE HOUSING: Sweden Is Trying to Build a Whole City Borough Out of Wood to ‘Show What is Possible’

Hunter’s Point also includes resort, hotel, and commercial space, right on the ocean in Cortez, Florida, although a 1,678 Sq. Ft. unit with a two-car garage runs a cool $1.5 million.

Pearl Homes’ apartment development, called The Met, offers 1 and 2 bedrooms between $1,700 and $2,000 in Bradenton, Florida. Set within walking distance of entertainment, restaurants, shopping, and event space in the Village of The Arts location, it’s also a few blocks from the Gulf.

The 200-unit development used construction materials that are good for the environment and human health, with recycled content and energy-friendly manufacturing practices, including low VOCs and no off-gassing. The apartments exceed Code-required standards for energy efficiency by 30%, meaning that bills will be lower.

A SIMILAR STORY FROM FLORIDA: New Florida Community Survived Hurricane Virtually Unscathed After Being Designed for Resilience

Another collection of Bradenton apartments, sit for around 40% of these prices, and are meant for housing workforce members like teachers, first responders, firefighters, or a variety of medical workers. Called The EPIC, the units prioritize building methods, materials, and the implementation of in-home technology that facilitates healthier lifestyles.

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Tube of Red Lipstick 4,000 Years Old Unearthed in Iran Bears ‘Striking Resemblance’ to Modern Ingredients

By
Andy Corbley
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Mineral composition of lipstick under microscope (by Federico Zorzi, CC license) and lipstick tube (by Massimo Vidale, CC) – Scientific Reports
Mineral composition of lipstick under microscope (by Federico Zorzi, CC license) and lipstick tube (by Massimo Vidale, CC) – Scientific Reports

While the ancient Egyptians may have made eyeliner famous, a stunningly detailed archaeological find shows that ancient Iranians may have held the first patents on lipstick.

Detailed recently in a study in the journal Scientific Reports, a vial of deep red powder found during excavations of a pre-Achaemenid Iranian civilization dating to the Bronze Age seems to hold all the characteristics of modern makeup.

The vial, made of a carved greenish schist called chlorite, was located at a museum in Iran, but first surfaced when the River Hilal in Kerman province flooded several graveyards and dislodged items buried within.

The graves were dug by a powerful and well-documented civilization that predated the Persians known as Marḫaši in Sumerian script, and Paraḫšum in Akkadian.

Using a variety of imaging methods including liquid chromatography, mass spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction, a team of scientists from the universities of Padova and Tehran identified the mineral composition of the purple substance found within the chlorite vial.

Made up of hematite (which produces its deep red color), manganite, braunite, galena, anglesite, and plant-based waxes, the mixture “bears a striking resemblance to the recipes of contemporary lipsticks,” the authors wrote.

Their investigation obtained the first-ever radiocarbon date from a Bronze Age cosmetic in the ancient Near East, and placed its creation around the years 1,936 and 1,687 BCE.

Most of the cosmetic preparations that have been recovered from ancient civilizations are white powders that were used as foundation or eyeshadow, as well as the iconic eyeliners of the Egyptians and Persians made of black kohl or, unfortunately for their neurological health, lead.

“When did people start to paint their lips red? Which pigments were first used for coloring human lips? In the same framework, were people aware of the potential dangers of direct lead ingestion from mouth?” the authors discuss.

“While Ancient Iranian foundations, eye shadows, and rouges were mainly made of lead carbonates, the newly discovered cosmetic has minimal amounts of lead minerals,” they continue.

OTHER WINDOWS INTO THE PAST: Archaeologists Discover a ‘Master Blacksmith’s’ Workshop Dating to the Very Dawn of the Iron Age in Britain

“The contrast between the abundant use of lead-based substances apparently intended for the skin, and much less in this red paint, might suggest the makers of cosmetics were aware of the potential dangers of a direct oral lead ingestion.”

They believe the plant-based substances may have been added to produce a pleasant aroma.

One hypothesis the researchers made, further strengthening the idea that shades of lipstick, like those sold today in prepackaged tubes or kits by Mac or L’Oreal, date all the way back to Ancient Marḫaši, is that the chlorite vial was intricately carved in a manner unlike any other previously identified cosmetics container from the period.

MORE ARCHAEOLOGY FROM THE NEAR EAST: 5,000 Year-Old Tavern Found in Iraq

This, they suggest, meant that this particular product may have been packaged and sold individually—that buyers in high society knew that vials carved into the shape of a reed stalk were made by a particular craftsman.

Whether or not this idea of ancient branding is true, it’s a fascinating window into the beauty routines of a people contemporary with some of the oldest urban civilizations on Earth.

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Couple Converts 40-Foot School Bus into Gorgeous Home for Working and Travel–LOOK INSIDE

By
Andy Corbley
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Josh and Emily Scherrer with their Skoolie – Courtesy of Instagram @aurora.theadventurebus
Josh and Emily Scherrer with their Skoolie – Courtesy of Instagram @aurora.theadventurebus

Renting in cities and owning houses continues to be expensive in the United States, so this is the story of one couple who decided to ditch a sedentary life for one with more freedom and opportunities to travel.

Josh and Emily Scherrer are married in their late 20s. They both work as engineers, and it happened that in 2020 they transitioned entirely to remote work.

Originally bonding over their love of travel and shared ambition to do more of it, they took the plunge and bought a school bus in January 2021 with the intention of turning it into a mobile home. School buses are cheaper than actual mobile homes, and provided more space for the couple who each needed their own office.

Courtesy of Josh and Emily Scherrer @aurora.theadventurebus

Working on the weekends and evenings, it took 18 months to transform the old bus into their “skoolie”—a modern term rapidly infiltrating the American zeitgeist that refers to a school bus that’s been renovated into something new, like this fellow who turned it into a hostel, or this fellow who turned it into an Airbnb.

Now called “Aurora the Adventure Bus” on Instagram the skoolie is equipped with maple wood ceilings, shower, full-service kitchen, solar panels, and satellite internet. The conversion ended up costing $80,000, which the Scherrers admitted to Business Insider is well on the higher end for typical skoolie conversions.

Courtesy of Josh and Emily Scherrer @aurora.theadventurebus
Courtesy of Josh and Emily Scherrer @aurora.theadventurebus

“We don’t have to pay for plane tickets or hotels, so we can experience more for our money,” Emily Scherrer told BI. “Our expenses depend on where we park and the amenities we find.”

The southwestern US has a lot of land available for public use… we like to use that kind of land versus going to campgrounds, which saves us a lot of money,” she said.

Courtesy of Josh and Emily Scherrer @aurora.theadventurebus

It’s a good thing too because “skoolie life” isn’t as cheap as they thought it would be. Diesel costs around $300 per month depending on how often they fill up, while insuring their mobile home for a year is around two grand. The satellite internet is also a hefty fee of $150. Emptying the bus’ septic tank also comes with a fee and must be done around twice a month.

So far, the Scherrers have taken their skoolie to Alaska, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado, and even though the up-front and monthly expenses of their bus were higher than they imagined, they were able to find money in the budget to buy a piece of land in Idaho where they plan to eventually settle down.

The experience of traveling in their 20s has been richly rewarding, and by the time they’re ready to build a house on their land, they both know they’ve got the perfect vacation tool—their skoolie—which isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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Deep Sea Octopus Nursery With 4 New Species Confirmed by Marine Biologists

By
Andy Corbley
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One of the new species - credit, Schmidt Ocean Institute released to the press.
One of the new species, a female brooding on her eggs – credit, Schmidt Ocean Institute released to the press under CC 4.0.

The Schmidt Ocean Institute recently announced a set of absolutely incredible results from one of their expeditions 2 miles below the seas of Costa Rica.

Near a rocky outcrop called El Dorado Hill, the marine scientists identified four new species of octopus photographed a rarely-seen octopus hatchery, and documented their life around a series of hydrothermal vents with video and photographs in a zone where the light doesn’t reach.

The first expedition conducted by the Schmidt Institute took place in June of last year, while the second followed in December, when the team was able to confirm that these nurseries seem to be active year-round.

At the hatchery, the females were photographed incubating their eggs with their suckers pointing out as a defense strategy. According to Smithsonian, it can take years for the eggs to hatch this way, but the water released from the hydrothermal vents warms the area and speeds the process up.

The four species were identified and are currently being described by Dr. Janet Voight, associate curator of invertebrate zoology from the Field Museum of Natural History, and Fiorella Vasquez from the Zoological Museum at the University of Costa Rica. It has already been decided that the brooding species seen in the hatchery will be called the Dorado octopus after the site where it was found.

Mother octopuses brooding over their eggs – credit, Schmidt Ocean Institute released to the press under CC 4.0.

Three other species were identified in the immediate vicinity, but the Dorado was the only one present at the hatcheries.

“Through hard work, our team discovered new hydrothermal springs offshore Costa Rica and confirmed that they host nurseries of deep-sea octopus and unique biodiversity,” said Dr. Beth Orcutt of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in a statement.

An octopus hatchling emerges from a group of eggs at a new octopus nursery – credit, Schmidt Ocean Institute released to the press.

“It was less than a decade ago that low-temperature hydrothermal venting was confirmed on ancient volcanoes away from mid-ocean ridges. These sites are significantly difficult to find since you cannot detect their signatures in the water column.”

MORE MARINE WONDERLANDS: Scientists Discover Pristine Deep-Sea Coral Reefs in Galápagos Marine Reserve ‘Teeming With Life’

The Dorado octopus seems similar to a species found on the California seamount, while two others had traits that placed them reasonably close to other medium-sized members of the genus Muusoctopus. But a fourth had only a single row of suckers per tentacle, and other traits that make it seem, at least for now, like an anomaly.

The science team also found a thriving deep-sea skate nursery at the top of another seamount in Costa Rican waters, nicknaming the site Skate Park.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Scientists Find A Whole New Ecosystem Hiding Beneath Earth’s Seafloor

The team also located three hydrothermal springs in the region, 10 to 30 nautical miles from each other. The springs all have different fluid temperatures and chemistries from one another, indicating unique reaction processes are facilitating their formation.

The captured specimens will not be sent back to the US but instead will be given to institutes in Costa Rica to inspire local deep-sea biologists and conservation in the future.

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“I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.” – William Ernest Henley

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.” – William Ernest Henley (from his poem, Invictus)

Photo by: freestocks (cropped)

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Circular Stone Plaza Moves Up Start of Stone Age Construction in the Andes on Par with Stonehenge

By
Andy Corbley
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supplied by Jason Toohey.
supplied by Jason Toohey.

Reprinted with permission and alterations from World at Large, an independent news outlet covering world news, conflicts, travel stories, conservation, and science news.

In the Cajamarca Basin of Northern Peru, at a place called Callacpuma, archeologists have uncovered a real treasure—a circular stone plaza with human activity dating back farther than almost any other megalithic structure in the Western Hemisphere.

Additionally, its design and construction method are also entirely unique, and the discovery opens up a new prequel chapter in the rich history of human civilization in the Andes Mountains.

Evidence of charcoal and fires found at the base of one of the megaliths was used for radiocarbon dating, since this standard method of estimating the age of objects can’t be used on bare rock.

The charcoal was last burned between 2,632 and 2,884 BCE, placing its construction within the Andean Late Preceramic period, and around the same time as Stonehenge in England.

“This structure was built approximately 100 years before the Great Pyramids of Egypt and around the same time as Stonehenge,” says University of Wyoming Anthropologist, Jason Toohey, who helped lead the excavations and publish the paper on its discovery.

Callacpuma has been investigated for 60 years, but early excavations focused on around 100 instances of carved and painted rock art connected to the site. The site is composed of a large number of features, including domestic and agricultural terraces, platform mounds along the ridge’s summit, and a large cave complex, and though it didn’t exist at the time, it is bounded on the northern side by the famous Inca road network.

“It was probably a gathering place and ceremonial location for some of the earliest people living in this part of the Cajamarca Valley. These people were living a primarily hunting-and-gathering lifestyle and probably had only recently begun growing crops and domesticating animals,” said Toohey.

supplied by Jason Toohey.

The plaza is formed by two concentric walls and measures about 60 feet in diameter. Multiple large stones were placed upright in the circular construction. They are by no measure as large as those used to construct Stonehenge, but would still have required backbreaking labor to move them up to the crest of the hill where the plaza was made.

Excavations also revealed that the earth had been cleared to the bedrock layer before construction began.

SOUTH AMERICAN HISTORY: 300 Epic Ancient Murals ‘Unique in the World’ Depict Creation Myths on Texas Rock: ‘Oldest Books in North America’

The stones were neither shaped nor mortared and instead were placed in a close interlocking order. The plaza was sunken, and an entry point that allowed for descent into the plaza was identified on the western wall. Two to three small, enclosed rooms were present on the interior of the circular plaza and abutted to the eastern plaza edge, where the charcoal was discovered.

When surveying the archeological record of Peru, monumental stone architecture can only be hypothesized at some sites dating to before the plaza in Cajamarca.

Toohey et al. write that large platform mounds, such as those found at the coastal sites of Caral (~2600 BCE), Cerro Lampay (~2400 BCE), and Sechín Bajo (~3300 BCE), and highland sites including Kotosh and La Galgada (~3000 BCE), show that monumental stonework was not a new invention, but typically involved stone-faced walls filled with cobbles and soil.

MORE ANCIENT ARCHEOLOGY: Ancient Mayan City Hidden for Over 1,000 Years Discovered by LiDAR

However, the earliest dated architecture in the region of Cajamarca are the mound complexes at Huacaloma, which date to around 1,600 BCE. While ceramics at Callacpuma were recovered from the surface layer, no such artifacts were present on the foundation layer; one of the evidence points which led Toohey and his team to conclude that the construction predates the invention of ceramic pottery.

To that end, no such design of stonework has ever been found in the pre-ceramic tradition in the Northern Andes, and it represents one of the oldest such constructions identified in the whole Western Hemisphere. Toohey and the team modestly write that the sunken circular plaza of Callacpuma didn’t represent a whole tradition of construction, but perhaps a single offshoot.

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Scientists Spot the Brightest Object Ever–500 Trillion Times More Luminous Than the Sun

By
Andy Corbley
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Artist’s rendition of the record-breaking quasar J059-4351 (Credit: ESO via SWNS)
Artist’s rendition of the record-breaking quasar J059-4351 (Credit: ESO via SWNS)

Quasars are the bright cores of distant galaxies powered by supermassive black holes, and 12 billion light years away, one has been found that is shining brighter than 500 trillion suns.

Growing in mass by the equivalent of one Sun per day, it’s the fastest-growing black hole to date, but at 12 billion light years away, it probably burnt out long ago. The light detected today is merely the echo of its existence.

Using the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have characterised the quasar, called J0529-4351, which was first seen in 1980.

“We have discovered the fastest-growing black hole known to date. It has a mass of 17 billion Suns, and eats just over a Sun per day. This makes it the most luminous object in the known Universe,” says Christian Wolf, an astronomer at the Australian National University (ANU) and lead author of the study published in Nature Astronomy.

The black holes powering quasars collect matter from their surroundings in a process so energetic that it emits vast amounts of light. So much so that quasars are some of the brightest objects in our sky, meaning even distant ones are visible from Earth. As a general rule, the most luminous quasars indicate the fastest-growing supermassive black holes.

The matter being pulled in toward this black hole, in the form of a disc, emits so much energy that J0529-4351 is over 500 trillion times more luminous than the Sun.

This image shows the region of the sky in which the record-breaking quasar J0529-4351 is situated – Credit: ESO / Digitized Sky Survey 2 / Dark Energy Survey / SWNS

“All this light comes from a hot accretion disc that measures seven light-years in diameter — this must be the largest accretion disc in the Universe,” says ANU PhD student and co-author Samuel Lai.

Researchers say that remarkably, this record-breaking quasar was hiding in plain sight.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Astronomers Detect Oldest Black Hole Ever Observed Dating ‘From the Dawn of the Universe’

“It is a surprise that it has remained unknown until today, when we already know about a million less impressive quasars. It has literally been staring us in the face until now,” says co-author Christopher Onken, an astronomer at ANU. He added that this object showed up in images from the ESO Schmidt Southern Sky Survey dating back to 1980, but it was not recognised as a quasar until decades later.

Finding quasars requires precise observational data from large areas of the sky. The resulting datasets are so large, researchers often use machine-learning models to analyse them and tell quasars apart from other celestial objects.

OTHER BRIGHT PHENOMENON: Unprecedented Gamma-Ray Burst is ‘The BOAT’ – Brightest of All Time in Human History

However, these models are trained on existing data, which limits the potential candidates to objects similar to those already known. If a new quasar is more luminous than any other previously observed, the program might reject it and classify it instead as a star not too distant from Earth.

Finding and studying distant supermassive black holes could shed light on some of the mysteries of the early Universe, including how they and their host galaxies formed and evolved.

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