It was long thought that pyrite — a shiny mineral also known as fool’s gold — was the special ingredient that gave fossils embedded in Germany’s Posidonia Shale their golden glow. But now scientists think something else is causing these fossils to shimmer.
Earlier this year, a team of international researchers visited the Early Jurassic site known for its exceptionally well-preserved fossils of marine animals. They collected dozens of samples of fossilized ammonites, bivalves and crustaceans that were about palm-size or larger.
Once the team viewed the roughly 183 million-year-old fossils using a high-powered scanning electron microscope, they struggled to find any pyrite in the fossils poking out of the black shale, according to a study published in the March 2023 edition of the journal Earth-Science Reviews (opens in new tab) .
“It was long believed that everything [at the Posidonia Shale] was pyritized,” study co-author Rowan Martindale (opens in new tab) , an associate professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, told Live Science. “We picked samples that we thought for sure would be all pyrite. And lo and behold there was a little bit of pyrite on a couple of them, but basically it was all phosphatized or yellow calcite. It was pretty much a shock to all of us who worked on the paper.”
After analyzing roughly 70 specimens, it was clear that while the shale surrounding the fossils was “dotted with microscopic clusters of pyrite crystals, called framboids,” it was phosphate minerals with yellow calcite that were the source of the fossils’ golden glow, according to a statement (opens in new tab) .
Related: Trilobites had a hidden third eye, new fossils reveal
“The framboids look like tiny raspberries,” study co-author Sinjini Sinha (opens in new tab) , a doctoral candidate in the Jackson School of Geosciences at UT, told Live Science. “After looking at the specimens under a microscope, I only found a few framboids on the fossils themselves but counted 600 to 800 on the surrounding shale.”
Knowing that pyrite and phosphate are present in different parts of the specimens is crucial since it reveals information about the fossilization environment. For example, pyrite forms in anoxic environments where there’s no oxygen present, whereas phosphate minerals like yellow calcite need oxygen to form, according to the statement.RELATED STORIES—Fool’s gold not completely worthless. There’s real gold inside.
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“The pyritization process only takes place in anoxic environments,” study co-author James Schiffbauer (opens in new tab) , an associate professor of geological sciences at the University of Missouri, told Live Science. “These [specimens] are found in dark, black shales where we expected this to be an anoxic environment.”
The research revealed that even though an anoxic seafloor “set the stage for fossilization,” it took a burst of oxygen to cause the chemical reactions necessary for fossilization to occur. The oxygenation combined with the phosphate minerals helped turn the fossils into what looks like gold, according to the statement.
An actor who appeared in animated series King Of The Hill and hit show Parks And Recreation has been shot dead near his home.
Jonathan Joss, 59, was found injured by police in San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday evening.
Officers tried to save him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The actor’s husband claimed the gunman shouted “violent homophobic slurs” before opening fire, and that Joss had pushed him out the way to save his life.
“He was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other,” alleged Tristan Kern de Gonzales on Facebook.
He said the couple had previously faced harassment from neighbours, much of it “openly homophobic”.
Joss’s husband said they had been checking for mail at his old home – which earlier this year burned down in a fire that killed their three dogs – when they noticed the skull of one of the animals in front of the property.
He said they began “yelling and crying” and claimed they were approached by a man who threatened them with a gun.
“We were standing side by side,” said Mr Kern de Gonzales. “When the man fired Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.”
However, San Antonio police said it had found no evidence that the shooting was a hate crime.
“Should any new evidence come to light, we will charge the suspect accordingly,” said a statement.
A 56-year-old man, Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, has already been charged with murder.
Joss is best known for voicing Native American character John Redcorn in cult show King Of The Hill, which ran for 13 series and more than 250 episodes from 1997 to 2009.
He also had a recurring role in NBC’s Parks And Recreation as tribal elder and casino owner Chief Ken Hotate.
A King Of The Hill reboot is due to start in August and Joss had been in Austin, Texas, for events promoting the comeback the day before he was killed.
He posted a video on Instagram saying he was signing autographs at a comic book store, adding that he had already worked on four episodes of the revival.
“The fans get to revisit King Of the Hill again, which I think is an amazing thing because it’s a great show,” he said in the video.
The suspect is being held in a detention centre in San Antonio, but the lawyer representing him could not be traced as they were not listed in court records.
The third of a quintet of West Virginia solar farms just came online, and while that’s a renewable milestone, there’s a disappointing hitch.
3 out of 5 West Virginia solar farms are online
FirstEnergy subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison have launched a 5.75 megawatt (MW), 17,000-panel solar farm at Marlowe in Berkeley County. The new solar farm sits on about 36 acres of land along I-81 and the Potomac River – land that used to store ash from the retired R. Paul Smith Power Station.
In 2022, FirstEnergy wrapped up a major cleanup effort, pulling more than 3 million tons of ash from the site to be reused in cement manufacturing. With the landfill officially closed, the company cleared the way to turn the former waste site into a clean energy generator as part of its solar program. Fifty-four local union workers constructed the solar farm, which features US-made solar panels, a racking system, and electrical equipment.
It’s the third of Mon Power and Potomac Edison’s five solar farms that will generate up to 50 MW of clean energy combined. The companies completed their first solar farm at Fort Martin Power Station (18.9 MW) in early 2024, and their Rivesville solar site (5.5 MW) came online last fall. In total, the companies now have 30 MW of solar capacity.
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Electrek’s Take
Combined, the five projects will create more than 87,000 Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) available for purchase by customers for 4 cents per kilowatt hour in addition to normal rates. Aside from the essential benefit of cutting carbon emissions, there isn’t anything else in it for customers, apart from spending, on average, an extra $40 or so a month out of the goodness of your heart to go solar. Heck, you don’t even get a T-shirt.
Mon Power and Potomac Edison – why are customers being charged MORE to buy into solar in West Virginia? That’s a stick, not a carrot. (And WV? Coal’s not coming back. It doesn’t matter what Trump says.)
But solar growth anywhere is something to be cheerful about, and solar energy in coal-state West Virginia is progressing. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, as of Q4 2024, 205 MW of solar is installed in West Virginia. So, it’s no surprise that it’s at the bottom – it’s ranked 49th in the US for the amount of solar installed. However, it’s projected to reach 40th place over the next five years with 1,064 MW, so at least it’s expected to improve.
To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check outEnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.
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Is the Kia EV4 GT the affordable electric sports car we’ve been waiting for? Kia’s first global electric sedan is about to get a sporty upgrade. After the EV4 GT was spotted in public, we’re finally getting a glimpse of the interior.
Kia EV4 GT spotted, revealing first look at the interior
The EV4 arrives as one of the most highly anticipated electric cars of 2025. After opening orders in Korea earlier this year, Kia will launch it in Europe later this year and the US in 2026.
Kia’s electric sedan starts at just 41.92 million won, or around $30,000 in Korea. Although prices for Europe and North America have yet to be revealed, the entry-level EV is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000.
Despite its typical four-door design, Kia labels it as an “entirely new type of EV sedan” with a wide stance and fastback silhouette.
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Although the EV4 already has that sports car look, Kia is about to introduce an upgraded GT variant that could be a true Tesla Model 3 Performance challenger.
Kia EV4 GT-Line (Source: Kia)
Who could forget the EV6 GT? It hit the market in 2022 as “the most powerful Kia production vehicle ever.” With 576 hp, the high-performance EV could hit 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 secs, faster than the average Ferrari or Lamborghini.
With significant advancements in battery technology, powertrain, and other areas over the past few years, the EV4 GT will likely offer even more.
Kia EV4 GT-Line (Source: Kia)
The EV4 GT was spotted outside Kia and Hyundai’s facility in Korea, and a few spy photos give us a glimpse of the interior for the first time.
The new video from HealerTV reveals a few interior upgrades the GT model will get over the standard EV4. As you can see, it resembles the EV9 GT interior almost identically. The only slight difference that we can see is the different material on the upper part of the seating.
Kia EV4 GT interior first look (Source: HealerTV)
Like the EV6 GT and EV9 GT, the EV4 GT will also include an adjustable ambient lighting feature, allowing you to customize the interior color and brightness.
Although it’s covered, the EV4 GT is expected to feature Kia’s new ccNC infotainment system. The panoramic curved display includes dual 12.3″ driver and navigation screens.
Kia EV4 GT-Line interior (Source: Kia)
The exterior is likely to receive a more aggressive front-end design and larger wheels, similar to those of other Kia GT vehicles. Although the final specifications have yet to be revealed, the EV4 GT is expected to feature an all-wheel-drive (AWD) dual-motor powertrain.
In Korea, the EV4 is available in two battery options: 58.2 kWh and 81.4 kWh, offering a driving range of 237 miles or 331 miles (533 km). The GT variant is likely to use the larger 81.4 kWh battery pack, similar to other GT models.
2026 Kia EV4 electric sedan (Source: Kia)
Kia will launch the EV4 in the US next year, featuring a built-in NACS port to access Tesla Superchargers and an EPA-estimated driving range of up to 330 miles. Prices will be revealed closer to launch, but the EV4 is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000. The GT variant could cost upwards of $50,000 to $55,000, with the 2025 Kia EV6 GT starting at $63,800.
The Tesla Model 3 Performance starts at $54,990 in the US with 298 miles range and a 0 to 60 mph time in 2.9 seconds.
Will the Kia EV4 GT match it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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