In the fossilized remains of a shrimp-like animal that hunted through shallow seas about 500 million years ago, scientists at the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada have discovered the world’s oldest brain to date. Scientifically named Stanleycaris hirpex, the roughly hand-sized creature had two compound eyes on stems and a third, significantly larger eye in the center of the head.
The fossils were found in the Burgess Shale, one of the world’s most important fossil deposits, which was named after the Burgess Pass in Yoho National Park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains on the southwestern saddle between Mount Wapta and Mount Field.
What got Canadian researchers excited about the long-extinct Cambrian animal, about the size of a human hand, is what they found inside its fossilized head. In 84 of the fossils examined, they were able to find remains of brains and nerves that have survived for 506 million years.
Brain and nerves still visible
In many of the fossilized specimens, even the soft tissues were still discernible, including brains, nerves and reflective materials in their eyes. “If you cleave one of these shale rocks, you see their eyes — after 506 million years — shining in the sunlight. So when we first started looking at the fossil, it was pretty obvious it had three eyes,” said researcher. Joseph Moysiuk of the Royal Ontario Museum.
This is indeed very unusual, as the find of fossilized soft tissue is quite rare. The vast majority of fossils found are bones or hard body parts such as teeth or exoskeletons, while brains and nerves, which are composed of fatty substances, are usually unfossilized.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
