Nature August 2021 PMID 34321662

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs.

Elizabeth C Turner

Mentions

592
Peak: 21 in Jul 2021
across 6 sources since Jul 2021

Extended reach

506,530
potential audience

Total likes

2,461

Video views

50,136

Mentions per month

Jul 2021 – Apr 2024

Where it's discussed

  • News513 articles
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  • Blogs23 articles
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  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions emphasize the groundbreaking nature of the research, with posts describing the fossils as possibly being the oldest known animal remains, such as calls to verify if these are truly sponge fossils. Words like 'exciting,' 'perfect evidence,' and 'possible candidate' convey both enthusiasm and cautious optimism, reflecting the novelty and significance of this finding in paleontology and evolutionary biology.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions express agreement or optimism about the significance of the findings, with some referencing the fossil's age as potentially revolutionary for understanding early animal evolution.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high curiosity, with multiple discussions highlighting the age of the fossils and their implications for the history of life, indicating strong interest.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several comments analyze the potential impact of the discovery and discuss the evidence, suggesting some depth in engagement, though mostly at a preliminary level.

ImpactModerate impact

While some feel the discovery could reshape our understanding of early animals, the overall perception is cautious, recognizing it as potentially impactful but awaiting further confirmation.

Abstract in brief

  • Molecular phylogeny suggests that animals emerged during the Neoproterozoic era, but there is a lack of physical fossil evidence from the Proterozoic eon.
  • Researchers have identified vermiform microstructure in 890-million-year-old reefs that may belong to primitive keratose sponges, indicating potential early animal life.
  • If confirmed as sponge fossils, these findings would be the oldest known evidence of animals, showing they predate the Neoproterozoic oxygenation event and survived the Cryogenian glaciation.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Astrobiology
@astrobiology · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/567ZVUhQl4 #astrobiology #paleontology https://t.co/j8KqVYfMUA

Aug 7, 2021 · 14 likes · 5 shares · 35,741 followers View post →
Corey S. Powell
@coreyspowell · X

Up for some serious reading? The full article, "Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs," is available online. https://t.co/qVyCjTD7ns

Jul 29, 2021 · 10 likes · 2 shares · 81,826 followers View post →
Daniel Probst @skepteis@skepteis.social
@skepteis · X

The oldest known animal fossil dates back 558 million years. Now someone found the fossil of a 890 million year old

Jul 29, 2021 · 8 likes · 10,649 followers View post →
Ticia Verveer
@ticiaverveer · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/JRtzPmGfec

Aug 1, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 123,922 followers View post →
Roberto Sáez
@robertosaezm · X

Una esponja pugna por ser el animal más antiguo conocido https://t.co/M4urMm6EvE vía @ABC_Ciencia Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/ohtcxMM6HC https://t.co/c2XWO3RulY

Jul 29, 2021 · 5 likes · 4 shares · 12,446 followers View post →
ParrotfishResearch
@IndoPacScarini · X

Exciting stuff from geologist E. Turner. Ancient #reefs made by #cyanobacteria, she describes Cyanos as having “DELICIOUS SUGARY SNOT ON THEIR OUTER SURFACES”

Aug 13, 2021 · 5 likes · 810 followers View post →

All mentions

Андрей Костыкин
@da_aska · X

RT @G_Mikhailovsky: You may be interested in this @qeios Review of: "Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reef…

Sep 1, 2021 · 2 shares · 6 followers View post →
Qeios
@qeios · X

RT @G_Mikhailovsky: You may be interested in this @qeios Review of: "Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reef…

Aug 23, 2021 · 2 shares · 5,955 followers View post →
George Mikhailovsky
@G_Mikhailovsky · X

You may be interested in this @qeios Review of: "Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs" https://t.co/LxcHfTGFS6

Aug 23, 2021 · 1 like · 2 shares · 355 followers View post →
Theodor Sperlea
@TSperlea · X

What a paper! Single author, no new data, only a -- very cautiously discussed -- novel idea, but one that would change, if I understand it correctly, our picture of what's possible when it comes to life on this planet: Sponges before the Great Oxygenation! https://t.co/pjPTwWHdmr

Aug 20, 2021 · 1 like · 248 followers View post →
ParrotfishResearch
@IndoPacScarini · X

Exciting stuff from geologist E. Turner. Ancient #reefs made by #cyanobacteria, she describes Cyanos as having “DELICIOUS SUGARY SNOT ON THEIR OUTER SURFACES”

Aug 13, 2021 · 5 likes · 810 followers View post →
Astrobiology
@astrobiology · X

RT @astrobiology: Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/567ZVUhQl4 #astrobiology #paleontolo…

Aug 12, 2021 · 5 shares · 35,741 followers View post →
Based Hatter
@BasedHatter · X

RT @PalaeoPictures: Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/d09GjDixPn #palaeontology #paleo…

Aug 11, 2021 · 2 shares · 4,513 followers View post →
ScienceStop
@B0tSci · X

RT @PalaeoPictures: Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/d09GjDixPn #palaeontology #paleo…

Aug 11, 2021 · 2 shares · 4,074 followers View post →
Palaeo Pictures
@PalaeoPictures · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/d09GjDixPn #palaeontology #paleontology #palaeontologist #palaeontologists #palæ #palaeo #fossilfinds #fossilsearch #fossil #fossilwatch #fossilcollecting #science #scicomm https://t.co/fVtaspvhzb

Aug 11, 2021 · 1 like · 2 shares · 476 followers View post →
Sergey Minaev
@sminaev2015 · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs | Nature https://t.co/FuWqgGQ7Rn

Aug 9, 2021 · 2 likes · 31,469 followers View post →
Ken Gusler
@kgusler · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs - https://t.co/DnOzSH9xou

Aug 8, 2021 · 20,039 followers View post →
Jesús Martínez Frías
@J_MartinezFrias · X

RT @astrobiology: Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/567ZVUhQl4 #astrobiology #paleontolo…

Aug 7, 2021 · 5 shares · 6,845 followers View post →
SpaceQ
@CanadaInSpace · X

RT @astrobiology: Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/567ZVUhQl4 #astrobiology #paleontolo…

Aug 7, 2021 · 5 shares · 8,667 followers View post →
Astrobiology
@astrobiology · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/567ZVUhQl4 #astrobiology #paleontology https://t.co/j8KqVYfMUA

Aug 7, 2021 · 14 likes · 5 shares · 35,741 followers View post →
Martin Wollen
@wollen_martin · X

RT @ticiaverveer: Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/JRtzPmGfec

Aug 5, 2021 · 1 share · 1 followers View post →
Francis Villatoro
@emulenews · X

#Nature Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/5G9eeNJRMD "If the Little Dal objects are truly sponge body fossils, they are older than the next-youngest undisputed sponge body fossils (Cambrian) by approximately 350 million years."

Aug 4, 2021 · 45,128 followers View post →
Ticia Verveer
@ticiaverveer · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/JRtzPmGfec

Aug 1, 2021 · 5 likes · 1 share · 123,922 followers View post →
B i y o t e k n o l o j i
@Biyoteknolojitr · X

Nature dergisinde yayımlanan bir araştırmaya göre, dünyanın en eski hayvan fosilleri bir jeolog tarafından Kanada’da bulunan kayalarda keşfedilmiş olabilir.

Jul 31, 2021 · 2 likes · 2,834 followers View post →
Claude Gillono
@sherman1959CG · X

RT @coreyspowell: Up for some serious reading? The full article, "Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs,"…

Jul 29, 2021 · 2 shares · 166 followers View post →
John "Dare Mathy Things" Gilbert
@joh5n · X

RT @coreyspowell: Up for some serious reading? The full article, "Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs,"…

Jul 29, 2021 · 2 shares · 239 followers View post →
Corey S. Powell
@coreyspowell · X

Up for some serious reading? The full article, "Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs," is available online. https://t.co/qVyCjTD7ns

Jul 29, 2021 · 10 likes · 2 shares · 81,826 followers View post →
Sponge Papers
@sponge_papers · X

PubMed: Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/NgKhdaHS7a

Jul 29, 2021 · 145 followers View post →
池尻武仁(博士)
@ikejiri_paleo · X

7/28付けのNATUREに、約8.9億年前の「スポンジ(?)の仲間」と思われる動物化石の研究が。「クライオジェ二アン後期」なので、最古の動物化石の一つといえそうだ。 Turner, E.C. Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs. Nature (2021). https://t.co/KW10USF4p4

Jul 29, 2021 · 3 likes · 716 followers View post →
fernanda castano
@ferwen · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/JIexqdF7FY

Jul 29, 2021 · 2,679 followers View post →
Luisma Pana
@luismaelpana · X

RT @robertosaezm: Una esponja pugna por ser el animal más antiguo conocido https://t.co/M4urMm6EvE vía @ABC_Ciencia Possible poriferan bod…

Jul 29, 2021 · 4 shares · 1,496 followers View post →
Diegloflainez
@diegloflainez · X

RT @robertosaezm: Una esponja pugna por ser el animal más antiguo conocido https://t.co/M4urMm6EvE vía @ABC_Ciencia Possible poriferan bod…

Jul 29, 2021 · 4 shares · 430 followers View post →
GEOsite
@webgeosite · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs | Este podría ser el fósil más antiguo que se conoce. #geology #geologia https://t.co/B9PbQNNhXq

Jul 29, 2021 · 1,821 followers View post →
Daniel Probst @skepteis@skepteis.social
@skepteis · X

The oldest known animal fossil dates back 558 million years. Now someone found the fossil of a 890 million year old

Jul 29, 2021 · 8 likes · 10,649 followers View post →
Jean-Paul Demoule
@JPDemoule · X

RT @robertosaezm: Una esponja pugna por ser el animal más antiguo conocido https://t.co/M4urMm6EvE vía @ABC_Ciencia Possible poriferan bod…

Jul 29, 2021 · 4 shares · 9,549 followers View post →
Roberto Sáez
@robertosaezm · X

Una esponja pugna por ser el animal más antiguo conocido https://t.co/M4urMm6EvE vía @ABC_Ciencia Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/ohtcxMM6HC https://t.co/c2XWO3RulY

Jul 29, 2021 · 5 likes · 4 shares · 12,446 followers View post →
Metin Gunduz
@metingun2 · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs. By Elizabeth C. Turner –Ontario Canada News Nature Journal July 28,2021 (* ) https://t.co/5Gw9leIKni Perfect article and evidence early metazoans-sponge- evolution from Canada . https://t.co/vErVn2fcBh

Jul 29, 2021 · 14 followers View post →
Atilio Fabián
@Montaes7 · X

RT @PhylumBryozoa: Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs | Nature https://t.co/PhHFxCfRH4

Jul 29, 2021 · 1,017 followers View post →
Sergio González Mora
@PhylumBryozoa · X

@Juamas_ ¿Viste este artículo? —Turner, E.C. Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs. Nature (2021). https://t.co/9va1AMaxaJ

Jul 29, 2021 · 1 like · 987 followers View post →
Sergio González Mora
@PhylumBryozoa · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs | Nature https://t.co/PhHFxCfRH4

Jul 29, 2021 · 3 likes · 987 followers View post →
Dr. Dr. Snoeyenbos-West
@ElectricBiome · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs | Nature

Jul 28, 2021 · 2 likes · 1,807 followers View post →
青柳
@FBWM8888 · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/I1uzsb5Iox

Jul 28, 2021 · 730 followers View post →
Dr Vicente Nario
@DrBicentenario · X

Nuevo candidato al animal más antiguo conocido https://t.co/0CdlSt8uTy - De verificarse los hallazgos que esta semana bajo el título Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs se publican en la revista Nature, podríamos enco… https://t.co/VjygHSZIrs

Jul 28, 2021 · 1,552 followers View post →
藝人である“Ju•NIOR”【
@aruberutou · X

Possible poriferan body fossils in early Neoproterozoic microbial reefs https://t.co/1GRwBaQSkw https://t.co/jRVmFsnJmK | #research #manuscripts @nature

Jul 28, 2021 · 203 followers View post →