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UPDATE: I heard from Dr Vanden Brooks that while the Paleozoic dragonflies had wingspans reaching up to 70cm in width, his dragonflies are only 15 per cent larger than normal ones. Disappointing, but at least we can sleep tight tonight.
Raising Giant Insects to Unravel Ancient Oxygen
ScienceDaily (Oct. 30, 2010) — The giant dragonflies of ancient Earth with wingspans of up to 70 centimeters (28 inches) are generally attributed to higher oxygen atmospheric levels in the atmosphere in the past. New experiments in raising modern insects in various oxygen-enriched atmospheres have confirmed that dragonflies grow bigger with more oxygen, or hyperoxia.
"Our main interest is in how paleo-oxygen levels would have influenced the evolution of insects," said John VandenBrooks of Arizona State University in Tempe. To do that they decided to look at the plasticity of modern insects raised in different oxygen concentrations. The team raised cockroaches, dragonflies, grasshoppers, meal worms, beetles and other insects in atmospheres containing different amounts of oxygen to see if there were any effects.
One result was that dragonflies grew faster into bigger adults in hyperoxia. However, cockroaches grew slower and did not become larger adults.
Originally posted by Kailassa
Yet another link, for the idiots who assume everything is a hoax . . .
...
Scientists Create Paleozoic Sized Dragonflies.,
Originally posted by DrLovecraft
Once the air was right for breeding, Dr John VandenBrooks and his team then successfully managed to breed dragonflies with wingspans of roughly 70cm.
UPDATE: I heard from Dr Vanden Brooks that while the Paleozoic dragonflies had wingspans reaching up to 70cm in width, his dragonflies are only 15 per cent larger than normal ones. Disappointing, but at least we can sleep tight tonight.
As far as the giant roaches, we already have them here in Florida; they call them "palmetto bugs"
Originally posted by tarifa37
reply to post by DrLovecraft
Two words" NO WAY". I simply don't believe it. This would be world wide news if true. Where is the link to the story? All you have is a woman holding a large dragonfly model. This should be moved to the Hoax forum.edit on 2-11-2010 by tarifa37 because: (no reason given)