Scientists from Cambridge University have studied the collections of various British museums and found in the fossils by the age of 80 million years hollow spherical structure. It is assumed that they can perform a protective function for the crinoids. On their study, the researchers reported in the journal Palaeontology.
Unusual for paleontological J Hoyal Cuthill Eli Cretaceous — Uintacrinus socialis and Marsupites testudinarius. Found them next to the structure was similar to the known chemistry of fullerene — molecule, resembling a soccer ball and consisting of atoms linked in six – and pentagons.
Tens of millions of years ago, in kamenskom tier of the Cretaceous period, the ocean is filled with predators that would hunt such small creatures. As a result, the researchers believe that these species have adapted to the changing external conditions, creating a kind of protection from such fullerenealuminum areas.
The authors have reviewed the spheres of both species are identified by their surface points and connected them with each other. Thus, the researchers got different counts, which are then compared with different chemical structures. It turned out that the sink Marsupites testudinarius similar appearance to the ball for American football and looks like a C30 fullerene with symmetry group D5h.
With the help of theoretical calculations, the researchers showed that such fullerenovogo structure is topologically stable and could provide protection to organisms within them. Also the results of the research have shown that these shell animals gradually developed in the course of evolution from simpler structures. According to information received, the sink Marsupites testudinarius was optimal from the point of view of the costs of its creation and strength, but the scope of the Uintacrinus socialis is a failed attempt increasing the size, even despite ongoing instability.
