Prototaxites: The Mysterious Giants of Ancient Earth
Mysterious Giants of Ancient Earth
Imagine towering structures up to eight meters tall dominating Devonian landscapes 400 million years ago, long before trees ruled the planet. These enigmatic fossils, known as Prototaxites, have puzzled scientists since their discovery over 165 years ago. Unearthed in sites like Scotland's Rhynie chert, they resembled massive logs but defied easy classification as plants, fungi, or algae.[1][3]
Unraveling the Prototaxites Enigma
Recent analysis in Science Advances examined a 410-million-year-old specimen from Aberdeenshire, revealing interwoven tubes that branch unlike fungal hyphae and feature banded walls akin to vascular plants. Chemical fingerprints, detected via machine learning on 87 Rhynie chert samples, showed no chitin typical of fungi but traces resembling lignin. This evidence excludes Prototaxites from known kingdoms, suggesting it belonged to an entirely extinct evolutionary lineage.[2][4]
A Lost Branch of Life
As the first giant terrestrial organism from 420 to 370 million years ago, Prototaxites likely played a pivotal ecological role, serving as food for ancient arthropods amid early land colonization. Its disappearance marks a unique chapter in life's history, reminding us that Earth once hosted forms beyond our recognition.[3][5]
About the Organizations Mentioned
Science Advances
**Science Advances** is a **peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal** published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) that has become one of the most significant platforms for multidisciplinary research communication.[1][2] ## History and Growth Announced in February 2014, Science Advances published its first articles in early 2015.[1] The journal experienced remarkable growth, surpassing *Science Magazine* in monthly submissions by 2019 and becoming the largest member of the Science family of journals.[1] As of 2023, the journal received over 21,000 submissions and published nearly 2,100 papers, with its editorial board expanding from six founding academics to 45 deputy editors and approximately 350 associate editors.[5] ## Scope and Mission Science Advances covers all scientific disciplines, including life sciences, neurosciences, physical sciences, social sciences, computer sciences, environmental sciences, and space sciences.[1] Its mission is to provide **fair, fast, and expert peer review** while making research freely accessible to readers worldwide.[2] ## Distinctive Features Science Advances operates differently from other Science family journals in two critical ways.[5] First, it is entirely **gold open access**, funded through article processing charges (APCs) rather than subscriptions, ensuring all content is freely available under Creative Commons licensing.[1][5] Second, unlike traditional journals with professional editors, its editorial board comprises **practicing academic scientists** who are leaders in their fields, enabling peer-led evaluation of submissions.[5] ## Current Structure In 2023, the journal announced a new management model with five section editors leading topical areas: Social and Interdisciplinary Science, Neuroscience, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Physical and Materials Sciences, and Biomedical and Life Sciences.[5] This restructuring reflects the journal
