化石の大規模発見ー中国、2万例以上、数多くの軟体動物、新種多数

BBC Huge fossil discovery made in China's Hubei province 24 Mar 2019　By Helier Cheung

「The fossils are estimated to be about 518 million years old, and are particularly unusual because the soft body tissue of many creatures, including their skin, eyes, and internal organs, have been "exquisitely" well preserved.」

　5億1800万年前のクラゲ・ワーム・海藻…が軟体部までくっきり残る，大発見！
　20000件もあって，4351例ほど確認したが，半分くらいは新種という。

「The discovery is particularly remarkable because "the majority of creatures are soft-bodied organisms like jellyfish and worms that normally stand no chance of becoming fossilised", Prof Robert Gaines, a geologist who also took part in the study, said in an email to the BBC.」

　それこそこんな発見があっては，『ガタガール』の方向性をゆがめ得るほどではないか。いやあれは近場の生物に萌えまくる方向でアレな性癖持ちの子たちがメインキャラだから，まあ…あるいみ心配いらないが。

「Scientists are especially excited by the jellyfish and sea anemone fossils, which Prof Gaines describes as "unlike anything I have ever seen. Their sheer abundance and their diversity of forms is stunning".」

　すごいなあ、もう、英単語が全然わからなくても読めるレベルで研究者大興奮。

「"It blew my mind - as a palaeontologist I never thought I'd get to witness the discovery of such an incredible site.」

　現場でどんな奇声を発したか―いや奇声を発する習性があればだが―想像がつく、あるいはそれさえも想像を絶する大発見。すばらしい。