UV lights are utilized in contemporary era for varied purposes such as illuminating Grateful Dead posters, sterilizing spaces and providing insights about animals (for instance, did you have any idea about wombats’ UV glow?). By highlighting concealed patterns and hues in seashell fossils, UV light is presently unveiling some extremely ancient mysteries.
Klaus Wolkenstein, a paleontologist at the University of G?ttingen in Germany, used UV light to examine shells from the Mesozoic Era that are 240 million years old. The fossilized scallops, which were originally beige and grey, now emit a beautiful glow in hues of red, orange, and yellow. The findings were recently published in the journal Palaeontology.
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When subjected to UV light, these fossilized scallop shells emitted various hues, according to Klaus Wolkenstein. The University of G?ttingen explained that “organic compounds in the fossils are stimulated by UV light, which cannot be seen by the naked eye, and cause them to radiate.” The resultant color patterns included stripes, zigzags, and flames in a range of different variations.
Scallops of today do not emit fluorescence when subjected to UV light. Wolkenstein states that the substances in the fossilized shells that emit fluorescence under UV light were produced during the process of fossilization. The hues that are present vary depending on the area of origin for the fossils.
UV light has been employed by scientists to investigate mollusk fossils from nearer past, however, Wolkenstein’s study proves that the method can be implemented for fossils from much remote times. The oldest fluorescent color patterns ever discovered have been dubbed by the university as the subjects of Wolkenstein’s research.
The radiant shells enhance the vibrant existence of these ancient remains, accentuating the variety and splendor of sea creatures from the bygone eras of our planet.
