Goodable

June 6, 2024, marks 80 years since D-Day, a pivotal moment that laid the foundation for the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Operation Overlord, as it was codenamed, saw tens of thousands of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada landing on five beaches in Normandy, France, transforming the course of history.

The planning for D-Day began over a year in advance, involving meticulous military deception to mislead the Germans about the invasion's timing and location. Originally set for June 5, 1944, the operation faced a one-day delay due to storms, finally commencing on June 6 at 6:30 a.m. Despite the challenges, the Allies successfully landed on Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches, securing a foothold that allowed them to push further into Europe.

D-Day demonstrated unprecedented international cooperation, with over 2 million troops prepared for the invasion. Not only did American, British, and Canadian forces participate, but troops from Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and Poland also played crucial roles. This collaboration showcased the global unity and determination to overcome tyranny and restore peace.

Despite the initial heavy losses, particularly at Omaha Beach, the Allies' perseverance led to a crucial victory. The successful landings paved the way for the liberation of France and the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany. D-Day stands as a testament to courage, strategic brilliance, and the collective effort of nations united against a common enemy. This remarkable day reminds us of the power of collaboration and the enduring spirit of freedom.

80 Years Since D-Day: How the Normandy Landings Led to the Nazi's Defeat in World War II

Sunny Skyz

A California family’s attempt to help their daughter find work has turned into something much bigger — a pizza shop with a mission, and a message.

In the small town of Alpine, just outside San Diego, the Baker family opened Pizzabilities, a restaurant that creates real jobs for people with special needs. The idea came from their 19-year-old daughter, Grace, who has Down syndrome and struggled to find employment.

“Finding a job is just very hard with someone with special needs,” said Grace’s father, Josh Baker. So instead of waiting for the right opportunity, the Bakers created one.

They had no background in restaurants. But they knew Grace loved two things: pizza and people. That was enough to get started.

Last summer, Pizzabilities opened its doors. Grace works there as a proud co-owner, helping to make pizzas from scratch and topping them with her favorite ingredient — pepperoni.

But the restaurant has become about more than just pizza. According to Amy Baker, Grace’s mother, the number of job applications from people with special needs has been overwhelming. So many, in fact, that the family believes they could open several more locations based on interest alone.

Josh says the most emotional part of the process happens during job interviews.

“Tears just start flowing when the kids say, ‘You mean I am really hired?’” he said. “Then you look at their families, and they’re crying because they see their kid get to have an opportunity like the rest of us.”

Pizzabilities hasn’t just earned support because of its mission. Customers keep coming back because the food holds up. One customer said he originally stopped in to support the cause but became a regular because of how good the pizza was — from the sauce to the crust.

Now the Bakers are thinking bigger. They dream of expanding Pizzabilities into hundreds of locations across the country, and maybe beyond.

Printed on the back of every employee’s shirt is a motto that sums it all up: “Where pizzas and abilities rise together.”

This Family Opened a Pizza Restaurant To Employ Individuals With Special Needs

Talker News

Dark chocolate might be doing more than satisfying a sweet tooth — it could be helping to slow down aging.

Scientists at King’s College London say they’ve found evidence that theobromine, a naturally occurring compound in cocoa, may have anti-aging effects. Theobromine is the chemical most commonly associated with dark chocolate — and also famously known as being toxic to dogs.

The study, published in the journal Aging, analyzed blood samples from 1,669 people and compared their levels of theobromine with biological markers of aging. These markers, which reflect how old a person’s body seems based on health and cellular function rather than actual years lived, are based on changes in DNA methylation and telomere length.

Participants with higher concentrations of theobromine in their blood had biological ages lower than their chronological ages, researchers found.

“Our study finds links between a key component of dark chocolate and staying younger for longer,” said Professor Jordana Bell, senior author of the study. “While we’re not saying that people should eat more dark chocolate, this research can help us understand how everyday foods may hold clues to healthier, longer lives.”

To assess biological aging, researchers used two established tests. One estimated age based on chemical changes to DNA. The other measured the length of telomeres — protective caps at the ends of chromosomes — which tend to shorten as we age. Shorter telomeres are associated with age-related diseases and faster biological aging.

The study also explored whether other compounds found in cocoa or coffee had similar effects, but the results pointed specifically to theobromine.

“This is a very exciting finding, and the next important questions are what is behind this association and how can we explore the interactions between dietary metabolites and our epigenome further?” said Dr. Ramy Saad, lead researcher on the project.

The researchers believe plant-based compounds, like alkaloids, may influence how our genes are expressed over time. Theobromine is one such alkaloid and is already known to have other health benefits, such as improving heart health. But until now, its potential connection to the aging process hadn’t been closely studied.

“This study identifies another molecular mechanism through which naturally occurring compounds in cocoa may support health,” said Dr. Ricardo Costeira, a research associate at King’s College London. “While more research is needed, the findings from this study highlight the value of population-level analyses in aging and genetics.”

One theory the researchers are now looking into is whether theobromine works alone or in combination with other compounds in chocolate — like polyphenols, which are also known to support human health.

That said, the team made it clear this doesn’t mean people should start bingeing on chocolate bars.

Dark chocolate, while rich in theobromine, also contains sugar and fat. The researchers emphasized that more work is needed before any health recommendations can be made based on these findings.

Still, for those who already enjoy a square of dark chocolate now and then, the news might be a sweet bonus.

Study Suggests Dark Chocolate Could Slow Aging, Thanks To This Key Chemical

People

The Toronto Raptors may have lost to the New York Knicks on Tuesday night, but a pint-sized fan in the crowd made sure no one left Scotiabank Arena without a smile.

During a timeout in the quarterfinal of the NBA In-Season Tournament on Dec. 9, cameras zoomed in on a young Raptors supporter—and that’s when the real show began.

Wearing a mini Scottie Barnes No. 4 jersey, the boy lit up the Jumbotron with a full-on dance performance: pumping his fist, bouncing in place, twisting from side to side, and clapping along to the music. At one point, a nearby fan leaned in for a fist bump, and the tiny dancer didn’t miss a beat.

The NBA shared the video on social media with the caption, “This young Toronto fan showed off his moves during a timeout,” and the clip quickly went viral. Fans flooded the comments with love for the moment. “He stole the whole game. Adorable,” one person wrote. Another joked, “The Raptors lost, at least he kept us entertained all night.”

His mom later showed him the footage on the arena screen, and the kid’s reaction was just as joyful—he clapped his hands, bounced around again, and threw his fist in the air like a seasoned showman.

The NBA also posted the video in a joint Instagram post with the Raptors, adding a slow-motion close-up of the boy smiling, waving, and sticking out his tongue. “First he does it with the dance moves, then with the smile and wave 🥹 This @raptors fan is adorable!” the caption read.

The Raptors fell to the Knicks 117–110, but if the scoreboard didn’t go their way, at least one little fan walked away a winner.

Young Raptors Fan Charms Crowd With Adorable Dance Moves During Timeout

A 17-year-old Girl Scout from Virginia is auctioning off a valuable family painting to help save a small museum in the Scottish Highlands.

Amelia Cimbalo has spent her summers volunteering at the West Highland Museum in Fort William, a place she now considers her “second home.” For her final Girl Scouts project, she decided to do something bigger than just earning a badge—she started a charity and put a family heirloom up for sale to support the museum’s £6.2 million redevelopment effort.

The painting, titled Travellers on a Country Path, Possibly Ayr Beyond, is by the celebrated Scottish artist Alexander Nasmyth. It’s expected to sell for between £3,000 and £5,000 through Lyon & Turnbull, one of the UK’s top fine art auction houses.

“I love coming to the Highlands and to the museum, which celebrates the rich history and culture of the West Highlands,” Amelia said. “I really wanted to make a contribution to the Museum’s future and am so excited to see what the painting fetches at auction.”

Amelia’s charity, American Friends of Highland Culture, is aimed at supporting cultural institutions across the Highlands. Its stated goal is to “educate and inspire a deeper appreciation for Highlands heritage,” while raising money for local organizations.

Her father, Jeff Cimbalo, says he couldn’t be prouder. “I’m so proud of Amelia and of her drive and determination to set up the charity to benefit a whole range of causes, beginning with the West Highland Museum. We’ll both be on tenterhooks on the day of the auction!”

The museum, located in Fort William’s Cameron Square, has become a popular stop for Outlander fans, thanks to its extensive Jacobite-era collection. But like many small museums, it’s facing financial pressures. The planned redevelopment will expand gallery space, protect its historic collection, and add new educational facilities for the local community.

The painting Amelia is donating isn’t just any landscape. Alexander Nasmyth, born in Edinburgh in 1758, was a pioneer of the Scottish landscape tradition and a close friend of Robert Burns. He’s widely regarded as one of Scotland’s most important early artists.

“What an amazing Girl Scout Amelia is, to have established not only a charity for her final Scout project, but one that will support Highland heritage,” said Alice Strang, a senior specialist at Lyon & Turnbull. “Travellers on a Country Path, Possibly Ayr Beyond is a gem of a painting by one of Scotland’s most important artists and its sale will help the West Highland Museum’s exciting redevelopment plans.”

For Amelia, it’s a personal cause. While she lives across the Atlantic, her heart—and her charity—are focused on the Highlands.

An American Teen Sold Her Family Painting to Help the British Museum's Redevelopment and Future

Gizmodo

A team of researchers in the UK says they've found the earliest known evidence that humans knew how to make fire—by choice, not by chance. And it didn’t happen 50,000 years ago, as previously thought. Try more than 400,000.

The discovery, published in Nature, pushes back the timeline for fire-making by at least 350,000 years. The site in question is a former Paleolithic settlement in Barnham, England, where ancient humans appear to have mastered one of the most powerful tools for survival: creating fire whenever they needed it.

Until now, scientists believed early humans mostly used fire they scavenged from natural sources like lightning strikes or wildfires. But the team behind this study, led by British Museum curator Nick Ashton and project curator Rob Davis, believes the new findings change that picture entirely.

So what did they find? Among the soil layers dating back more than 415,000 years, researchers unearthed heat-shattered flint handaxes, a large patch of burned clay that had been repeatedly exposed to extreme temperatures, and two small pieces of iron pyrite. None of these were random.

The heated clay—burned to over 700 degrees Celsius (1,292 Fahrenheit)—was found in the same spot as the handaxes and pyrite. That’s not just a campfire. It’s repeated use in the same location, likely a hearth, suggesting early humans knew how to keep the fire going—and maybe even how to start it.

Here’s why that matters. Iron pyrite is a mineral that sparks when struck against flint. And it’s not local to Barnham. That means whoever left it there likely carried it in, knowing exactly what it was for. “This rare presence of pyrite in an area where it doesn’t occur naturally suggests intentionality,” the authors wrote.

While the team didn’t find physical wear marks on the pyrite or flint to prove they were used to create sparks, the context makes the case compelling. “Fire-making is a uniquely human innovation,” the researchers wrote. “Controlled fire use provided adaptive opportunities that had profound effects on human evolution.”

The benefits of fire are obvious—warmth, protection, cooking, light. But the ability to make fire is something else entirely. It freed early humans from having to guard a flame for days or weeks on end. It allowed them to set up camp wherever they liked. And it let them eat cooked food on demand, a critical factor in developing larger brains.

The timing is notable. Around 400,000 years ago, humans across Europe were undergoing major changes. Archaeological sites in the UK, France, and Portugal all show signs of intensified fire use from that period. Some experts now believe this is when humans truly started to use fire as a deliberate, daily tool.

Before this discovery, the oldest known evidence of fire-making came from Neanderthal sites in France dating to about 50,000 years ago, where handaxes were believed to have been used to strike pyrite and make sparks. The Barnham site predates that by over 350,000 years.

Ségolène Vandevelde, an archaeologist at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, reviewed the paper and noted that without direct use-wear evidence on the pyrite or handaxes, the claim of intentional fire-making remains just shy of bulletproof. But she agreed the findings were significant.

Even with that caveat, the broader implications are hard to ignore. Being able to make fire on demand could have helped humans colonize colder regions, supported social bonding at night, and even helped lead to innovations like adhesive glue for hafted tools.

And in a detail unlikely to be missed in Britain: the discovery wrestles the fire-making title away from long-time rivals in France. For a certain kind of archaeologist, that’s likely as satisfying as the science itself.

The research adds to growing evidence that fire became a central part of human life much earlier than previously thought—and that the skill of making it wasn’t an accidental discovery, but a deliberate turning point in human evolution.

The Earliest Evidence of Fire-Making was Just Found in England, and Its Rewriting Human History

Artnet

A painting by Pablo Picasso, valued at over $1 million, could be yours this spring — for the price of a single raffle ticket.

That’s the pitch from a French charity aiming to raise millions for Alzheimer’s research by raffling off Tête de Femme, a 1941 portrait by the Spanish artist, through an online draw held by Christie’s Paris on April 14.

Each ticket costs €100 (about $116), and only 120,000 will be sold, capping the total pot at €12 million ($14 million). Most of that will go to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, with around €1 million ($1.1 million) set aside for Opera Gallery, the current holder of the painting. If the raffle doesn’t sell enough tickets to cover the cost, buyers will be reimbursed.

The painting, which depicts a distorted woman’s head in muted, ghostly tones, dates back to World War II and represents one of Picasso’s lesser-known but still valuable wartime works. The winner will walk away with a piece of 20th-century art history, while everyone else contributes to research into one of the world’s most devastating neurodegenerative diseases.

“This is a way to further Picasso’s own lifelong commitment to the most vulnerable,” Claude Picasso, the artist’s son, said before his death in 2023. “The public’s enthusiasm deeply moved me.”

The raffle is the brainchild of French TV producer Péri Cochin, who launched the first of these high-stakes charity draws over a decade ago, inspired by her mother’s fundraising work. Unlike exclusive art auctions limited to elite buyers, Cochin’s raffles open the door to anyone with an internet connection and a credit card.

Her first raffle, in 2013, offered L’Homme au Gibus, a 1914 Picasso drawing, and raised €5 million ($5.8 million) to preserve Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Lebanon. The winner? A 25-year-old man from Pennsylvania.

A second raffle in 2020 offered Nature Morte (1921), a still life of a newspaper and a glass of absinthe. That campaign also raised €5 million, which funded clean water and hygiene programs across Africa. The winner was an accountant in Northern Italy who got the ticket as a Christmas gift from her son.

This year’s raffle marks Cochin’s most ambitious target yet. The Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, founded in 2004, is the leading funder of Alzheimer’s studies in France. The group supports clinical trials, postgraduate fellowships, and research teams across Europe. With the funds raised, the foundation plans to launch a major international call for new research projects in Europe, the U.S., and Canada.

Despite decades of research, Alzheimer’s — the most common form of dementia — still has no cure. An estimated 55 million people worldwide are currently living with the disease, with numbers expected to rise sharply in the coming decades.

By turning a rare Picasso into a public fundraiser, Cochin hopes to not only make high art more accessible, but also funnel attention and money into science that could change lives.

Raffle tickets for Tête de Femme are available now through the official website, with the draw set to take place on April 14 at Christie’s in Paris. For someone out there, it might be the best $116 they ever spend.

You could own a $1 million Picasso for $116 — and help Alzheimer’s research at the same time

Suffolk, England — When Daisy Greenwell’s eight-year-old daughter asked for a smartphone because “everyone else has one,” it sparked more than just a family discussion. It launched a global movement.

Together with her partner Joe Riory, Greenwell co-founded Smartphone Free Childhood, a grassroots campaign urging parents to delay giving children smartphones — and social media — until they’re older. What started as a single Instagram post has now grown into a community with chapters in 39 countries.

“That post went viral,” Greenwell told CBS News. “Thousands of parents joined the group overnight.”

The couple’s motivation is simple: they want their kids looking up at the world around them, not down at a screen. And they’re not alone. The group’s core message — “no smartphones before 14, no social media before 16” — is resonating with thousands of families worldwide, especially as concerns about online safety and mental health gain momentum.

“This isn’t an anti-tech movement, it’s a pro-childhood movement,” Riory said. “We’re not saying no smartphones ever. We’re just saying children don’t need unrestricted internet access in their pockets 24/7.”

Greenwell, a mother of three, began researching the issue after her daughter’s request. She found a growing body of evidence linking early smartphone use to mental health struggles in children and teens. The more she read, the more determined she became to help shift the cultural norm.

The movement’s success is in part due to its community-first approach. Parents who join are asked to make a pact: no smartphones for their kids until 14, and no social media until 16. The idea is that when families act together, it removes the pressure of being the “only one” holding out.

“If children know several classmates are also delaying smartphones, the peer pressure dissolves,” Greenwell said. “It becomes easier for families to wait a few years. A brick phone in the meantime isn’t that hard. We can do this.”

Sales data suggests the message is landing. In the United States, purchases of basic “brick phones” — which allow calls and texts but not social media apps — have jumped 150% among 18 to 24 year olds, according to a study published in the Partners Universal Innovative Research Publication journal.

The shift reflects a growing unease about digital dependency among both parents and young adults. The movement’s message has even inspired a viral U.S. advertisement, where a parent tells a child: “There’s a box in the corner with all the pornographic material ever made. I’m trusting you not to look in there, okay?” The punchline is clear — giving a child unfiltered internet access is a gamble many parents are rethinking.

Governments are beginning to take notice. This week, Australia became the first country to ban social media accounts for anyone under 16. The law forces companies like Meta and TikTok to enforce age limits or face major fines. In the UK, Culture Minister Lisa Nandy said the government is monitoring Australia’s move, though there are no current plans to adopt similar legislation.

At the local level, though, parents like Greenwell say change is already happening — not through mandates, but through collective action.

“It’s really tough,” Greenwell admitted, when asked what she’d say to working parents who rely on smartphones for convenience. “But delaying the smartphone is free, it’s simple, and it gives your child the best chance to thrive.”

According to Ofcom, one in four British children between the ages of 5 and 7 already own a smartphone. But Greenwell believes that with enough local momentum, those numbers can change.

“There’s still a cultural norm to disrupt,” she said. “But we’ve seen what happens when communities come together. If you want to delay the phone, you don’t have to do it alone.”

For now, she and Riory are focused on growing the movement, one town and one school at a time — encouraging parents to reclaim childhood for what it used to be: time outdoors, with real friends, and fewer screens.

These UK Parents are Leading a Global Push for Smartphone-Free Childhoods

BBC News

Comedian Ricky Gervais has donated nearly £2.5 million to 22 animal charities across the UK and beyond, including two in Kent and one in West Sussex, using profits from his most recent stand-up tour.

Gervais, 64, known for The Office, Extras, and After Life, announced the donations in a Facebook post this week, writing: “These are the lovely charities I’ve chosen. Merry Xmas, critters.” He called the donation a way to “celebrate the spirit of Christmas.”

Among the beneficiaries is Flori’s Friends Animal Rescue in Chartham Hatch, Kent, which received £100,000. The organisation specialises in rescuing paralysed dogs and fitting them with custom wheelchairs.

“This is absolutely incredible news,” said founder Natalia George, speaking to BBC Radio Kent. “I think Ricky was looking for an up-and-coming charity carrying out specialist work. Our mission is to normalise disabilities in dogs. Ricky has made such a difference to so many paralysed dogs.”

Another Kent-based group, Retreat Animal Rescue in High Halden, also received a share of the funds. And in West Sussex, Safe Haven for Donkeys in Haywards Heath was given a boost, with CEO Andy Foxcroft highlighting the donation’s impact on their work in the Middle East.

“Ricky’s generosity comes at a time of exceptional pressure for our teams supporting donkeys in Gaza and the West Bank,” Foxcroft said. “With demand for urgent veterinary care continuing to rise, this donation will help us keep our life-saving work going in extremely challenging conditions.”

In total, four charities received £150,000 each, 17 were given £100,000, and the final £132,000 was donated to Nowzad, a UK charity supporting animal welfare in war zones.

Gervais took a typically irreverent tone when explaining the gesture: “My mum always used to say ‘you can’t take it with you’. No I can’t mum. But I could’ve bought 30 speedboats and raced them round the Med with my mates. Anyway. Too late now.”

This is not Gervais’ first major donation to animal charities. In 2023, he gave away £1.9 million from a previous tour. A long-time animal rights advocate, Gervais has frequently used his platform to campaign against trophy hunting, animal testing, and cruelty in farming.

The donations come at a time when many small and medium-sized animal charities are struggling with rising costs and growing demand. Gervais’ contribution offers a lifeline, especially for groups doing specialist or emergency work.

Ricky Gervais Just Donated £2.5m To Animal Charities

GoodGoodGood

Giving to charity doesn’t always require opening your wallet. Sometimes, it’s as easy as opening a new browser tab.

Tab for a Cause, a free web browser extension that turns your internet habits into donations, has now raised more than $2 million for nonprofit organizations around the world. The milestone, announced this week, shows how small, everyday actions can add up to a powerful force for good.

“The milestone reflects a simple goal: lowering the barrier to charitable giving so more people can participate,” the organization said in a statement.

Built by Gladly, a company that creates digital tools to support nonprofits through online activity, Tab for a Cause has become one of its most impactful products. It’s part of a suite that includes other tools like Search for a Cause and Shop for a Cause.

Here’s how it works: once installed, every time a user opens a new tab on their browser, they’re shown a customizable landing page. It looks like any normal “new tab” screen, with options to add bookmarks, write to-do lists, and even change the background image. But it also includes a few unobtrusive banner ads. The ad revenue generated from those views goes directly to charity.

It costs users nothing, and they don’t need to change how they browse. Yet collectively, it’s made a measurable global impact.

Some of the nonprofits that benefit include Action Against Hunger, The Humane League, Conservation International, Room to Read, GiveDirectly, and Water.org. Gladly released figures showing what the $2 million in ad revenue has helped accomplish:

• 20,000 pounds of ocean plastic removed via the Ocean Cleanup Project
• 100,000 trees planted through Eden Reforestation Project
• 8,000 acres of land preserved with Conservation International
• 150,000 vaccines administered by Save the Children
• 450,000 emergency nutrition packets distributed through Action Against Hunger
• 18,000 people provided with access to clean water, thanks to Water.org

“We built Tab for a Cause so that anyone, regardless of their available income or time, can contribute to important causes,” said Alex Groth, Co-Founder and CEO of Gladly. “Crossing the $2 million raised mark shows how those small actions add up, and can represent a powerful force for good in the world.”

The browser extension works on Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and other Chromium-based browsers like Brave and Epic. Installation takes just a couple of clicks, and users can choose which causes they want their tab activity to support.

Gladly says the idea behind the extension is to give users more control over how the value of their online activity is used.

“Online platforms generate enormous value from people’s time and attention, often without users having any say in where that value goes,” the company said in a statement. “Gladly’s tools give users a small measure of agency within that system: They allow people to direct a portion of the ad and affiliate revenue they generate every day toward causes they care about.”

The team is already looking ahead to the next milestone and hopes more users will join the platform in the coming months.

“By integrating charitable giving into browsing and shopping,” Gladly said, “Tab for a Cause offers a way for users to reclaim a bit of that value and put it to work for good.”

Interested users can download the extension for free on TabForACause.org.

A Simple Click for Good: This Free Browser Tool Has Raised $2 Million for Charity

The National Climate

An extraordinary fossil site in Qatar has revealed one of the richest collections of ancient marine mammal remains in the world, shedding light on the crucial ecological role sea cows played over 20 million years ago—and still do today.

The site, located in Al Maszhabiya in south-western Qatar, contains hundreds of fossil deposits belonging to extinct relatives of dugongs, the modern-day marine mammals that graze on seagrass in shallow coastal waters. Researchers say the dense fossil “bone bed” not only offers a glimpse into the region’s biodiversity millions of years ago, but could also hold answers to the Gulf’s future as climate change and human activity put increasing pressure on marine ecosystems.

In a paper published in the journal PeerJ, researchers from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, in collaboration with Qatar Museums, identified a new species of ancient sea cow, naming it Salwasiren qatarensis after the nearby Bay of Salwa. The animal was roughly the size of a panda—about one-eighth the size of a modern dugong—but played a similar ecological role.

“We discovered a distant relative of dugongs in rocks less than 10 miles [16km] away from a bay with seagrass meadows that make up their prime habitat today,” said Nicholas Pyenson, curator of fossil marine mammals at the Smithsonian. “This part of the world has been prime sea cow habitat for the past 21 million years—it’s just that the sea cow role has been occupied by different species over time.”

Dugongs today are found along coastal waters from western Africa through the Indo-Pacific and into northern Australia. The Arabian Gulf is home to the largest known individual herd. As they feed on seagrass, they leave behind feeding trails that release nutrients into the water, boosting surrounding marine life.

The ancient sea cows of Al Maszhabiya had a straighter snout, smaller tusks, and still retained hind limb bones—features that modern dugongs and manatees have lost through evolution. But their role in the marine ecosystem was similar.

“The density of the Al Maszhabiya bone bed gives us a big clue that Salwasiren played the role of a seagrass ecosystem engineer the way that dugongs do today,” said Pyenson. “There’s been a full replacement of the evolutionary actors but not their ecological roles.”

The fossil site includes more than 170 distinct locations across Al Maszhabiya, filled with bones that were initially misidentified as reptiles when first discovered during oil and mining surveys in the 1970s. “The area was called ‘dugong cemetery’ among the members of our authority,” said Ferhan Sakal, head of excavation and site management at Qatar Museums. “But at the time, we had no idea just how rich and vast the bone bed actually was.”

It wasn’t until the early 2000s that paleontologists confirmed the fossils belonged to ancient dugong relatives. The team dated the site to approximately 21 million years ago, when the region was covered by a shallow sea teeming with prehistoric sharks, dolphins, barracuda-like fish, and turtles.

“The fossils formed from the sturdier bones of ancient herbivores offer researchers insights into past marine ecosystems,” said Sakal. “If we can learn from past records how the seagrass communities survived climate stress or other major disturbances like sea-level changes and salinity shifts, we might set goals for a better future of the Arabian Gulf.”

Today, dugongs and their habitats face growing threats. Rising sea temperatures, increased salinity, and coastal development have all put pressure on seagrass meadows. Dugongs can also become accidental bycatch in local fisheries.

Despite these challenges, researchers believe that studying the fossil record could help guide conservation efforts. Sakal and his team are now working to nominate the Al Maszhabiya site as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

“The most important part of our collaboration is ensuring that we provide the best possible protection and management for these sites, so we can preserve them for future generations,” he said.

The discovery adds Qatar to a shortlist of globally significant marine fossil sites, including Cerro Ballena in Chile’s Atacama Desert, where a graveyard of ancient whales was found. In terms of richness, researchers believe Al Maszhabiya is on par.

What makes the find especially compelling is how little has changed in terms of marine ecology. Dugongs today continue to shape seagrass environments in much the same way their extinct relatives did millions of years ago—proof, scientists say, of the enduring relationship between these creatures and the shallow seas they call home.

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