FlipFact of the Day: The earliest known major extinction event occurred 450 to 440 million years ago, wiping out approximately 60 to 70 percent of all species on Earth. Sea jellies (or jellyfish, as they’re typically called) have been around for much longer, though — 500 million years, at least.
That’s right: These (literally) brainless bags of water are the oldest multi-organ animal group on the planet, and have somehow managed to survive not one, not two, but five mass extinction events, plus a bunch of minor worldwide wipeouts.
Learn more about sea jellies (and how they became the true rulers of seas over hundreds of millions of years) here.
Today’s Science History Milestone: On August 18, 1868, French astronomer Pierre Jules César Janssen discovered helium.
Still remember your 5th-grade science classes? Test your knowledge and see if you still remember these facts and fundamental concepts in human anatomy, biology, botany, and other branches of science. Click here to try the “Are You Smarter Than A Pinoy Fifth-Grader” Challenge.
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Cover: National Geographic
References
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/08/jellyfish-brain-sting-prehistoric-animals/
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
