This week on Quirks & Quarks with Bob McDonald:
Insights from fossilized vomit about ancient sea monsters
The plesiosaur, an ancient marine predator, was indeed a sea monster. Comparable in size to a subway car, these long-necked beings would snap at fish and scoop shellfish from the ocean floor. However, the shells they ingested caused them discomfort, prompting them to swim to shore to regurgitate. A recent study of vomit fossils dated to 150 million years ago, discovered in North Sea sediments, has shed light on the dietary habits and behavior of these Jurassic-era predators. Findings by Dirk Knaust, a geologist at the Norwegian energy firm Equinor, were published in Geological Magazine.
An illustration depicting Jurassic-aged plesiosaurs foraging on the sea floor. (Lente Artemieff)
Introducing the Nobel Prize-winning physicist searching for ghost particles at the South Pole
In 1988, Francis Halzen proposed the idea of embedding a particle detector within a cubic kilometre of ice at the South Pole. Although it seemed like a daring and somewhat impractical concept, the right individuals rallied to bring it to fruition. In 2011, after extensive testing and construction, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory was activated, marking the first time researchers could detect high-energy neutrinos from beyond our solar system. Since its inception, IceCube has significantly advanced our understanding of cosmic rays, supermassive black holes, and even our own Milky Way galaxy. Recently, Francis Halzen was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions. We had the opportunity to interview Halzen, a physicist from the University of Madison-Wisconsin, shortly after his achievement.
Last week, we had discussions with the 2026 Nobel Laureates in Medicine or Physiology, Dr. Karl Deisseroth and Peter Hegemann. You can find those interviews here.
Particle physicist Francis Halzen at the Rectorate of the University of Turin. He received the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for his research on the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. (Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images)
Lessons from Jonathan, the 194-year-old tortoise, on defying mortality
An Aldabra giant tortoise named Jonathan holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest-known terrestrial animal. Estimated to be at least 194 years old, he is roughly 100 years older than the average giant tortoise. In a recent investigation, a team of longevity researchers analyzed Jonathan’s genome to uncover secrets behind his remarkable lifespan. The study, led by Dr. Stephen Clark, a neuro-oncologist and chief scientist at the longevity nonprofit Kallel, revealed that the segments of Jonathan’s genome that control gene expression are comparable to those of five-year-old tortoises. The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
Jonathan resides on the grounds of the governor’s residence in St. Helena. (Joe Holland)
Nuclear clocks are now operational and may become the most precise timekeeping devices globally
We have officially entered the nuclear era of timekeeping. Two separate research teams recently announced the successful creation of the first nuclear clocks, which could offer significantly greater precision than atomic clocks. Unlike atomic clocks that measure time based on electron transitions between energy levels, nuclear clocks utilize neutron excitation within the atom’s nucleus to reach higher energy states. This development could expand potential applications, ranging from GPS technology to the search for dark matter, as noted by Thorsten Schumm from the Vienna University of Technology, who shared his research in Nature.
The Vienna University of Technology features one of the initial prototypes of a nuclear clock. Staff member Juliette Schlachet-Lépinay makes adjustments to a laser. (Thorsten Schumm/TU Wien)
Severe wildfires are a permanent challenge. This researcher aims to leverage nature to mitigate them
The escalating intensity of wildfires is proving to be financially burdensome. A recent study from Simon Fraser University, published in the journal Environmental Science, predicts that the costs associated with climate change-induced wildfires in Canada might surpass $2 trillion by the century’s end.
Pyrogeographer Crystal Kolden emphasizes that the most pressing concern regarding wildfires is their growing threat to communities, which is why she is dedicated to exploring how nature-based strategies can help manage them. Kolden, who previously fought wildland fires before transitioning to academia, has recently taken on the role of Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Wildfire Resilience at the University of British Columbia-Okanagan.
A wildfire devastates the hills of West Kelowna, B.C., endangering local residents, on August 17, 2023. (Darren Hull/AFP/Getty Images)
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