#resear

Research alert! New insights into mammalian tooth, jaw, and ear evolution, gleaned from analyzing fossils of two Jurassic-era mammal species from China, are reshaping how scientists think about early mammals. This research, led by scientists at the Museum and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, focuses on two new species of fossil mammals—Feredocodon chowi and Dianoconodon youngi—that offer new evidence about early mammalian evolution.

“Scientists have been trying to understand how the mammalian middle ear evolved since Darwin’s time,” said Jin Meng, a curator in the Museum’s Division of Paleontology and a corresponding author on both papers. “These new fossils bring to light a critical missing link and enrich our understanding of the gradual evolution of the mammalian middle ear.”

Check out our latest blog post to learn more!

A Dune that Swallowed the Town

It's difficult to miss the large green Michigan historical marker set up in the middle of the bustling tourist town of Saugatuck. Most people aren't disappointed, since it tells the rather romantic tale of the town of Singapore, Michigan. Named for the island country in the hopes of luring boat traffic, Singapore was once a hub of industry; the town boasted three lumber mills at one time, and even had a wildcat bank (a bank chartered and regulated by the state and known for their nefarious practices). The great Chicago fire of 1871 created a seemingly limitless demand for lumber, which the Singapore mills were more than happy to oblige. At the time, Allegan county was covered in forests. But as the demand for lumber increased, many of the forests in the area were logged out. They removed any suitable tree they could find, including the trees on the dunes that acted as a soil stabalizing buffer between them and the rampaging western winds of Lake Michigan.

The town was abandoned shortly after the forest resources gave out; by 1877 the bank and the town were defunct and everyone moved out (although some didn't go very far - just upriver a 1/4 of a mile to Saugatuck). While some of the buildings were moved, many of them were simply covered up over the years by the migration of Michigan's denuded dunes, and Singapore started it's new life as one of the more famous Michigan ghost towns.

While the disappearance of Singapore by sand might haunt the imagination like a Stephen King novel, the real star of this show is the sand dune. It seems the town was nearly completely buried with sand in about 4 years (1), although some parts of the town could still be seen as late as 1883(2). The burial of Singapore is a classic example of sand dune movement by the wind, particularly after a dune denuding event.

Shortly after the town was abandoned, Henry Chandler Cowles discovered the importance of dune vegetation to the growth and ultimate stability of the dunes. Cowles is famous for his research in dune succession, or how dunes “grow up” and become larger dunes. He was able to identify groups of plants that were the first to colonize dunes. Ultimately he was able to find a suite of plants that accompanied every stage of dune succession.

Perhaps one of the more interesting discoveries he made was how cottonwood trees could be responsible for building giant dunes. As cottonwoods are covered in sand they are able to grow taller because they send out roots from the buried trunk. Taller trees allow more sand to accumulate. This continual growth and accumulation leads to large, stable dunes that harbor other forms of plant life.

There are many reasons for severe soil denudation, including, but not limited to, strong storm surges, the quick accumulation of sand leading to smothering, fire, and people. This last caused the sudden burial of Singapore and still accounts for shifts in dunes to this day; a walk along any of Michigan's sand dunes will reveal signs asking hikers to stay on paths so that vegetation is not killed and the dunes remain stable.

Interactive Posters ::: Campaigns

Here is yet another example of an extremely visual interactive poster design used in order to promote the donation of blood through the use of a free phone charger, which iterates to the user the true importance of blood, as much as electricity is the lifeline for your phone; blood donation is the only thing that will ‘fuel’ someone in need. Not only this but the campaign reflects upon the priorities of the modern age, as people are more concerned with keeping their phone ‘alive’ rather than keeping their fellow humans alive.

To encourage people to donate blood, ad agency Publicis Sao Pauloand Fundação Pró-Sangue have collaborated to create a special poster. 

Called the ‘Blood Charger Poster’, it serves two purposes—one is to allow people to charge their mobile phones, while the other is to encourage them to donate their blood. 

Designed with the image of an arm, a red charging cord runs from the poster—making it look like blood is being drawn from it.

On the poster is the tagline, which reads, “If you need, we’re here for you. Why not return the favor? We need blood.”

Author: BY SHEILA KAPLAN - Publish Date: February 20, 2021 at 02:30PM