INTERESTING: Prototaxites ruled Earth before trees?

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mystery-prototaxites-tower-fossils-may-represent-a-newly-discovered-kind-of/?_bhlid=b28c50ad6772e1dca2572e0b334b3909d5119e8a

January 21, 2026
Mystery tower fossils may come from a newly discovered kind of life

  • Towering Prototaxites ruled Earth before trees—and they may have been a form of life entirely new to science

By Cody Cottier edited by Sarah Lewin Frasier

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Now, after comparing fossils from these cryptic organisms with fossil fungi from the same rock deposit, the authors of the new study, published today in Science Advances, conclude that Prototaxites was likely a distinct lineage. That would place it on an equal footing with the six currently recognized kingdoms of life: those of plants, animals, fungi, protists, bacteria and archaea.

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I was familiar with plants and animals.  Didn’t realize that fungi was another branch. And, frankly, never heard of protists (a diverse group of mostly unicellular, eukaryotic organisms that do not fit into the animal, plant, or fungi kingdoms).  Also, never got the memo that bacteria and archaea were promoted; kind like the reverse of Pluto being demoted?

Referring to the Johari window http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johari_window, there seems no end to my personal Pane Two (what I can’t see) and an equally large Pane Four (what we both can’t see).

Hopefully something in Pane Four won’t wipe out the human race?

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INSPIRATIONAL: Our gut microbes are the key to the obesity epidemic

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3077507/Everything-think-know-diets-wrong.html

Everything you think you know about diets is WRONG: Counting calories is a total waste of time, it’s bacteria in your gut that make you fat and finally, cheese, alcohol and chocolate can all help

  • Professor Tim Spector, a leading genetics expert, finds compelling evidence as to why calorie-controlled diets don’t work
  • He believes with the right regimen of diet and exercise, we can be happy, healthy – and lean – and keep the pounds off for life
  • Author of new book The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind What We Eat

By JOHN NAISH FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 18:46 EST, 11 May 2015 | UPDATED: 07:30 EST, 12 May 2015

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Calorie-controlled diets don’t work.

Many of us may have suspected as much for years — but now there’s compelling evidence in a new book by Professor Tim Spector, a leading genetics expert at King’s College London.

What’s more, he’s offering a tantalising new theory about what really makes us fat — which could revolutionise our approach to weight loss.

As one of the scientists leading worldwide research into the trillions of bacteria living in our stomachs, Professor Spector believes they hold an amazing power over our health and moods — and that our modern diet may be having a negative effect on them.

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I agree about calorie counting. I watched my Aunt struggle with weight. Calorie counting all the way. Yet, her sisters were all “normal”; one was down right thin.

There has to be more to regulating weight than a simplistic input = output equation.

The body is a complex interrelated system that’s evolved over a gazillion years.

Sigh!

No hope for me. Since I’m the one in the family most like her. Some said we looked alike or that I was her kid.

Argh!

Doomed, I say. Doomed.

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