Science Friday Ancient Bone Proteins May Offer Insight On Megafauna Extinction
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Jun 24, 2025 Join Carli Peters, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Algarve specializing in ZooMS, as she uncovers the secrets of Australia's extinct megafauna. From giant wombats to bizarre marsupials, she discusses how ancient collagen analysis provides insights into their extinction around 50,000 years ago. Peters dives into the connections between these species and early human presence, also touching on broader ecological changes. Alongside astrophysicist Till Sawala, they explore new findings about our Milky Way's future, making for captivating cosmic and ecological revelations!
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Australia's Gigantic Extinct Animals
- Australia's ancient megafauna included giant wombats and kangaroos, much bigger than today's animals.
- These creatures were unique, like the Palorchestes with claws and a small trunk, now extinct.
Extinction Causes Still Debated
- Many Australian megafauna went extinct around 50,000 years ago, coinciding with human arrival.
- Debate exists whether human colonization, climate change, or both caused the extinction.
ZooMS: Identifying Fragmented Bones
- Use ZooMS to identify animal species from fragmented bones using collagen peptides.
- This increases data points to better understand extinct species and their extinction timing.