The Biggest Mystery In Human History Was Just Solved
AsapSCIENCE・10 minutes read
White Sands National Park features unique white sands formed from gypsum deposits, holding ancient footprints that date back 10,000 years before Homo sapiens arrived in North America. The park is also home to diverse animals, including those evolved for better camouflage like the bleached earless lizard, with visitors advised to protect themselves from the sun's reflection off the sand to prevent unusual burns.
Insights
- White Sands National Park features unique white sands visible from space, formed by ancient gypsum deposits shaped into sand by wind and water, with groundwater holding the dunes in place while allowing them to move up to 38 feet yearly.
- The discovery of ancient footprints at White Sands, predating previous human presence in North America by 10,000 years, showcases a pivotal moment in history, revealing insights into human behavior and environmental interactions through preserved ice age footprints of humans, giant sloths, and dire wolves.
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Recent questions
How are the white sands at White Sands National Park formed?
The white sands at White Sands National Park are formed from gypsum deposits left behind by the evaporation of water from the Permian Sea 300 million years ago. The gypsum is washed down by rains and shaped into selenite crystals by wind, eventually becoming coarse gypsum sand.
What unique animals can be found at White Sands National Park?
White Sands National Park is home to unique animals like the bleached earless lizard, evolved over 10,000 years due to mutations for better camouflage. Other adapted species found in the park include sand treader camel crickets and lightened apache pocket mice.
How do the giant pedestal structures in White Sands National Park form?
The giant pedestal structures in White Sands National Park are formed by plants adapting to the moving dunes. The roots of these plants turn gypsum into a hard substance that supports the plant as the dune moves on, creating the pedestal structures.
Why are visitors to White Sands National Park advised to apply sunscreen in specific areas?
Visitors to White Sands National Park are advised to apply sunscreen under their nose, chin, and arms due to the sun's reflection off the sand. This reflection can cause unusual burns, so it is important to protect these areas while exploring the park.
What significant historical discovery was made at White Sands National Park?
Footprints from the ice age were discovered in the alkali flats at White Sands National Park, changing the course of human history. These footprints show that humans lived in America 10,000 years earlier than previously thought, with footprints of humans, giant sloths, and dire wolves found in the sediment layers.
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Summary
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"White Sands National Park: Ancient Footprints Revealed"
- White Sands National Park is a unique desert with pure white sands visible from outer space, featuring mysterious pedestals, diverse animals, and ancient footprints dated 10,000 years before Homo sapiens arrived in North America.
- The white sands are formed from gypsum deposits left behind by the evaporation of water from the Permian Sea 300 million years ago, with the gypsum washed down by rains and shaped into selenite crystals by wind, eventually becoming coarse gypsum sand.
- Groundwater beneath the dunes holds them in place, preventing them from blowing away, while the dunes can move up to 38 feet per year, leaving tracks behind as they shift.
- Giant pedestal structures in the desert are formed by plants adapting to the moving dunes, with roots turning gypsum into a hard substance that supports the plant as the dune moves on.
- The desert is home to unique animals like the bleached earless lizard, evolved over 10,000 years due to mutations for better camouflage, and other adapted species like sand treader camel crickets and lightened apache pocket mice.
- Visitors to White Sands are advised to apply sunscreen under their nose, chin, and arms due to the sun's reflection off the sand, which can cause unusual burns.
- Footprints from the ice age discovered in the alkali flats at White Sands have changed the course of human history, showing humans lived in America 10,000 years earlier than previously thought, with footprints of humans, giant sloths, and dire wolves found in the sediment layers.
- The footprints were preserved during an abrupt warming event that lowered lake levels, with scientists carbon dating seeds found near the footprints to confirm the age of the prints, shedding light on human behavior and interactions with the environment.
