Iguanas Travelled 5,000 Miles to Fiji on Rafts 34 Million Years Ago
A new study suggests that iguanas crossed over 5,000 miles from North America to Fiji around 34 million years ago by clinging to rafts of floating vegetation. The journey, considered the longest-known transoceanic migration by a terrestrial species, is believed to have occurred shortly after Fiji’s islands formed. Researchers speculate that extreme weather events, such as cyclones, could have uprooted trees and carried iguanas across the Pacific. The reptiles, which are the only iguanas found outside the Western Hemisphere, have long been a subject of debate regarding their origins.
Genetic Study Reveals Direct Link to North America
According to the study published in PNAS, researchers found that Fiji’s iguanas share a closer genetic link with species from North America than previously thought. Simon Scarpetta, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at the University of San Francisco, stated in a press release that the evidence supports a direct journey from the West Coast of the United States to Fiji. This challenges earlier theories suggesting the reptiles may have arrived via Antarctica or Australia.
Reportedly, Jimmy McGuire, Professor of Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, said that alternative explanations for their migration did not fit within the geological timeline. It was noted that the iguanas likely reached Fiji soon after land became available in the region.
Adaptations May Have Helped Survival
More than 200 museum specimens were analysed for the research. The findings indicated that the Fijian iguanas, classified under the Brachylophus genus, are closely related to the Diposaurus genus, which includes desert iguanas found in North America. Scarpetta explained that these lizards are highly resistant to starvation and dehydration, which may have increased their chances of surviving the journey.
The estimated timeline of their migration aligns with the formation of Fiji’s islands. Researchers suggest that once land appeared, the iguanas established themselves, highlighting the remarkable nature of their journey.
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Marine mammals rely on oxygen to survive, yet some species stay underwater for long periods without breathing. Scientists at the University of St Andrews wanted to understand how gray seals manage their time underwater without relying on carbon dioxide buildup as a signal. Six adult gray seals were placed in a controlled environment to observe their diving patterns. The seals were only allowed to surface at a designated chamber, where researchers adjusted oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to test their responses.
Research Confirms Oxygen as the Primary Trigger
According to the study published in Science, different air compositions were tested to measure their effect on dive times. The air in the breathing chamber was adjusted across four conditions: normal air, increased oxygen, reduced oxygen, and heightened carbon dioxide levels. When oxygen levels were increased, seals stayed underwater for longer. When oxygen was reduced, they surfaced sooner. Carbon dioxide changes did not alter their behavior, suggesting that oxygen, not carbon dioxide, determines when they come up for air.
Unique Adaptation in Marine Mammals
Researchers says that grey seals have an internal system to track oxygen levels. This allows them to surface before reaching dangerous limits. This ability prevents drowning and may be common among other marine species. Since deep-diving mammals must manage oxygen carefully, similar mechanisms could be present in whales, dolphins and other seals.
Experts Weigh in on the Discovery
Lucy Hawkes from the University of Exeter and Jessica Kendall-Bar from the University of California, San Diego, discussed the study’s impact. They noted that understanding this adaptation sheds light on how marine mammals survive in extreme underwater conditions. Further research could explore how this system works in different species and environments.
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A team of scientists in Japan has developed a new type of “universal memory” technology that could significantly reduce energy consumption while increasing processing speeds in future computing devices. The breakthrough, which centres on an improved form of Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM), addresses a critical challenge in current memory technologies by combining the speed of RAM with the ability to retain information without constant power supply.
Overcoming Previous MRAM Limitations
According to the study published in the journal Advanced Science on December 25, 2024, the newly developed MRAM technology overcomes the high energy requirements that have traditionally limited MRAM implementation. While conventional MRAM devices consume minimal power in standby mode, they require substantial electric current to switch magnetisation directions that represent binary values, making them impractical for widespread use.
Innovative Component Design
The research team created what has been described as a “multiferroic heterostructure” that consists of ferromagnetic and piezoelectric materials separated by an ultrathin layer of vanadium. This configuration allows magnetisation to be controlled by an electric field rather than current, significantly reducing power consumption.
Vanadium Layer Provides Stability
Previous MRAM prototypes struggled with structural fluctuations in the ferromagnetic layer. This made it difficult to maintain stable magnetisation directions. The addition of the vanadium layer acts as a buffer between the materials. This in turn helps in enabling the device to maintain its shape and form while preserving the magnetic state even after the electric charge is removed.
Future Impact and Considerations
As per the researchers, their prototype demonstrated the ability to switch magnetisation direction using minimal electric current. However, the study did not address potential degradation in switching efficiency over time. This is a common issue in electrical devices.
This technology could potentially enable more powerful commercial computing with longer device lifespans, as it requires significantly less power than previous solutions and offers greater resilience than current RAM technologies without requiring moving parts.
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