Dinosaur DNA Found Remarkably Preserved in 75 Million Year-Old Fossil

Scientists have discovered organic material within 75-million year old dinosaur fossils, including cartilage cells, proteins, chromosomes, and DNA.

Paleontologist researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and North Carolina University published a paper on National Science Review detailing the discovery, which was found within skull fragments from a Hypacrosaurus. This duck-billed herbivore lived during the Cretaceous period and was a ‘nestling’, meaning it was still very young when it died.

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The fragments contain some preserved cartilage cells, which are host to structures that appear to be chromosomes. After detailed tests and comparing the results against samples from modern emu skulls, it appears that antibodies from a protein commonly found in animal cartilage can be detected in the fossils.

Tests were also run for DNA. A staining substance that binds to DNA was applied to the Hypacrosaurus cells, and the result was similar to what would be expected of modern cells. This is surprising as modern day thinking suggests that DNA will only survive for about a million years, but the fossils date back 75 million years.

“These new exciting results add to growing evidence that cells and some of their biomolecules can persist in deep-time,” says Alida Bailleul, who is one of the lead authors of the paper. “They suggest DNA can preserve for tens of millions of years, and we hope that this study will encourage scientists working on ancient DNA to push current limits and to use new methodology in order to reveal all the unknown molecular secrets that ancient tissues have.”

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This isn’t the first time scientists have discovered elements like this in ancient fossils. A few years ago scientists at Imperial College London found blood cells in a fossilized dinosaur claw. In other discoveries, the oldest meat-eating dinosaur was recently discovered in Brazil.

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Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

Last Chance To Grab The Division 2 For $3 Before Warlords Of New York Arrives

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 features a ton of content, both story-related and endgame, and it was a good value at its full $60 launch price. Until tomorrow, however, you can get the game for a ridiculous $3.

The deal is available across the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live, as well as on PC through both Uplay and the Epic Games Store. It will remain live until March 3 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET, at which point the game will jump back up to its standard price. Physical copies can also be found at retailers at huge discounts, though not as low as $3.

The Division 2’s low price is even more impressive because the game’s post-launch DLC has been free for all players. The game has been continuously updated with more story content and missions, and ditched the season pass model used by the original game.

Its next expansion is Warlords of New York, which moves back to the first game’s New York City setting and features original antagonist Aaron Keener. It launches tomorrow, and will set all players at the same level to keep it balanced. Unlike the other free DLC additions, it’s a full expansion and will cost $30.

The Division 2 is available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. A Google Stadia version will be available in the future. In GameSpot’s The Division 2 review, Edmond Tran praised the world, combat, and endgame content, along with the rewards and progression system.

The Division 2 deals

Now Playing: 15 Minutes Of The Division 2: Warlords Of New York Gameplay

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Riot’s Next Game, Valorant, Is A Tactial Shooter

Riot, the creator of League of Legends, will be releasing a new 5v5 tactical shooter game titled Valorant. Gunplay is a big part of it, and your technical abilities to shoot precisely will matter a lot. The twist though, is that each character, called “Agents,” will also have special powers and abilities, so winning will depend on a combination of precise shooting, a creative usage of powers, and of course, teamwork.

Riot’s aiming for a summer release according to the tweet above. It’ll also only be available on PC and will be free-to-play.

Like many people have commented, the game’s vibes are a combination of Overwatch and Counter-Strike. It remains to be seen if the full gameplay turns out that way. You can check out the game’s developers playing an internal version below.

Riot has a couple of new games in the works, and its new free-to-play card game, Legends of Runeterra, was also recently released in open beta. It’s set in the League of Legends world, much like how Blizzard’s Hearthstone is set in the World of Warcraft universe. Card decks in Legends of Runeterra are centered around heroes and minions are now “followers” that buff the hero or negate attacks by the opponent. Legends of Runeterra’s open beta is available on PC and iOS right now, and is also available for pre-register in Google Play.

Now Playing: Valorant – Riot Games Gameplay Reveal Preview

343 Industries Teases Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary PC Launch

Halo: The Master Chief Collection PC players currently only have access to the prequel Halo: Reach, but it appears that will be changing soon. Developer 343 Industries has shared a teaser video for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the second piece of the collection to hit PC.

The teaser video opens at the very beginning of the original game, with the Master Chief in a cryo-chamber after humanity’s escape from Reach. The Covenant have managed to track the Pillar of Autumn ship through a slipspace jump, but the alien invaders don’t know what’s in store for them.

343 Industries has not confirmed when Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary will come to PC yet, but the teaser and a new Microsoft Store listing suggest it will be very soon. Xbox Game Pass for PC players are given an option to install the game, as well, though they’re receiving an error message at the moment. When it arrives, it will have the option for classic Halo multiplayer sounds along with the updated version.

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary began a PC beta test back in February, though only for a limited number of players. All games coming to Halo: The Master Chief Collection will get beta tests prior to launch. That includes Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo 4. As Halo 5: Guardians is not included in The Master Chief Collection, it will remain the sole Halo game only playable on Xbox One.

That will still be true this holiday season with the launch of Halo Infinite, which will release simultaneously across Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. Halo Infinite will be the first game in the series to launch alongside an Xbox system since the original game in 2001.

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Baldur’s Gate 3 Screenshots Show D&D Adventure In Action

Baldur’s Gate 3 had its first gameplay reveal at PAX East, and Larian Studio has marked the announcement with a huge batch of screenshots showing the Dungeons & Dragons adventure.

Larian Studios has talked about taking on the Baldur’s Gate legacy, including some of its own changes. It’s using a turn-based combat system instead of real-time, which it says simply made sense for this game. It will also allow you to romance any companion, but other characters will also be pursuing their own romantic interests.

Baldur’s Gate 3 will use the Divinity 4.0 engine, built on the work Larian did for Divinity Original Sin and Divinity Original Sin 2. Those games were highly-regarded in their own right and helped cement the studio as the one to take on the Baldur’s Gate franchise. Divinity Original Sin 2 is one of only a handful of games to have been awarded a 10/10 review from GameSpot.

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Baldur’s Gate 3 puts you in the unfortunate role of someone infected with a Mind Flayer parasite, corrupting you from within. But unexpectedly, it also imbues you with a building power that you’ll tap as you proceed on your quest. It’s coming to PC and Stadia, with an Early Access period planned.

Now Playing: Baldur’s Gate III – Opening Cinematic Reveal Trailer

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New Artemis Fowl Trailer Is A Lavish Mix Of Fantasy And Sci-Fi

Artemis Fowl is an upcoming adaptation of the first novel in Eoin Colfer’s popular young adult fantasy series. The movie was shot back in 2018 and originally set to be released last summer; however, it was delayed until May this year. It’s a big budget mix of Harry Potter-esque fantasy with Men in Black-style sci-fi comedy, and the lavish new trailer has now been released.

The trailer sets up the basic plot. Artemis is a 12-year-old genius, whose father (also named Artemis) is kidnapped by mysterious shadowy villains. Artemis discovers that his dad has led a “complicated” secret life and is introduced to a world filled with dwarves, fairies, and monsters, as well as some seriously advanced technology. Check the trailer out below:

Ferdia Shaw stars as Artemis, and while this is his acting credit movie, he is the grandson of legendary Jaws star Robert Shaw. The cast also includes Colin Farrell as Artemis senior, plus Josh Gad, Tamara Smart, Judi Dench, and Nonso Anozie. It’s directed by Kenneth Branagh (Thor, Murder on the Orient Express) and hits theaters on May 29.

In an interview with Collider, Branagh spoke about what drew him to the Artemis Fowl adaptation. “It felt very original,” he said. “I loved its Irishness. Frankly, I love that part of that country. The collision sometimes with the proximity of worlds, very few worlds. I like that creatively. It always feels like it’s a good, risky place to be.

“I’ve had some experience with it making the film Thor, where a very contemporary feeling, still heightened world of science is right next door to a world of magic,” he continued. “So, it was very fascinating to me. It means you can be very poetic. It means you can have a size that does invite an audience to go to the movies to go to a big screen with a lot of other people, because somehow the subject matter expands away from the norms.”

For more, check out GameSpot’s guide to the biggest upcoming movies of 2020.

Now Playing: Artemis Fowl (2020) – Official Trailer

What’s New To Netflix This Week? Castlevania Returns For Season 3

It’s a new month, and that means there is plenty of new content coming to Netflix for the month of March. If you’re looking for new movies, TV shows, or original series to watch, the streaming service has it this week, including the return of the vampire-hunter Trevor Belmont. Check out this week’s releases below, along with a few of our recommendations.

On March 1, many movies landed on Netflix, including the 1999 documentary Beyond The Mat. If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the world of professional wrestling, this is easily the best and most honest take on the industry. The film follows numerous wrestlers–including Mick Foley and a drug-addicted Jake Roberts–as they wrestle in matches, go on the road, and deal with family life. Warning: this movie is exceptionally depressing.

The biggest release of the week is Season 3 of Castlevania, which comes to the streaming service on Thursday. The first trailer for the latest season is pretty crazy–and bloody. Trevor Belmont has some brand-new friends, and together, they’ll all be taking on Alucard and the other vampires who want to enslave the human race. Make sure to come back to GameSpot later this week for a review of the new season.

Below, you’ll find everything coming to Netflix for the week of March 1.

New on Netflix this week:

Sunday, March 1

  • Go! Go! Cory Carson: Season 2
  • Always a Bridesmaid
  • Beyond the Mat
  • Cop Out
  • Corpse Bride
  • Donnie Brasco
  • Freedom Writers
  • Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
  • GoodFellas
  • Haywire
  • He’s Just Not That Into You
  • Hook
  • Hugo
  • Kung Fu Panda 2
  • Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
  • Life as We Know It
  • Looney Tunes: Back in Action
  • Outbreak
  • Resident Evil: Apocalypse
  • Resident Evil: Extinction
  • Richie Rich
  • Semi-Pro
  • Sleepover
  • Space Jam
  • The Gift
  • The Interview
  • The Shawshank Redemption
  • The Story of God with Morgan Freeman: S3
  • There Will Be Blood
  • Tootsie
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Velvet Colección: Grand Finale
  • ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas

Tuesday, March 3

  • Taylor Tomlinson: Quarter-Life Crisis

Wednesday, March 4

  • Lil Peep: Everybody’s Everything

Thursday, March 5

  • Castlevania: Season 3
  • Mighty Little Bheem: Festival of Colors

Friday, March 6

  • Guilty
  • I am Jonas
  • Paradise PD: Part 2
  • The Protector: Season 3
  • Spenser Confidential
  • Twin Murders: The Silence of the White City
  • Ugly Delicious: Season 2

Now Playing: Best Things To Stream For March 2020 – Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video

One Of The Longest-Running TV Shows Ever Is Ending

Judge Judy, one of the longest-running TV shows in history, is coming to an end. Variety reports that the show, which is hosted by Judy Sheindlin, will come to an end after its upcoming final season. Sheindlin is expected to make the announcement officially on Monday during Ellen.

The show will be on for its 25th season in the 2020-2021 TV season, but it will end after that, according to the report. Sheindlin is going to announce a new show, Judy Justice, according to the report, though there are no details yet on where it will air or what format it might take.

Sheindlin has a lucrative contract where she earns $47 million per year on Judge Judy. That makes her one of the highest-paid TV stars in the history of the medium.

Judge Judy is produced by CBS Television, which is a subsidiary of GameSpot’s parent company, ViacomCBS. Re-runs will continue to air on TV stations in America.

Judge Judy premiered in 1996. In addition to massive ratings, the show went on to win three Emmy awards and it became a pop culture reference point known to millions.

Now Playing: Best Things To Stream For March 2020 – Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video

Dead Or Alive 6 Will Let You Change Hair Colors On PS4–For A Price

The 1.20 update of Dead or Alive 6 will allow PS4 players to change characters’ hair color for the first time, though each change will use a Premium Ticket at a cost of $1 each.

As picked up by Kotaku, the update was initially welcomed by the community, until players realized that previously purchased colors would not remain unlocked once paid for.

This update works more like a real-life hair salon, charging a fee every time you change your hair–even if it’s a color you had before. Dead Or Alive community forum Free Step Dodge reached out to Team Ninja to confirm the system was working as planned and the repeated payments were not a bug, which the team then confirmed.

Players of Dead or Alive on PC already have the ability to change a character’s hair color through mods, which is a likely reason this update is exclusively for PS4. Team Ninja has confirmed with Free Step Dodge that the update will not be rolling out for PC or Xbox One players.

Team Ninja recently released Core Fighters, a free-to-play version of Dead or Alive 6 that gives players access to a limited number of fighters and stages for free. Additional characters and other game modes, like Story Mode, can be purchased separately for free-to-play players.

The game has long been notorious for expensive, cosmetic-heavy DLC, with the game’s first season pass costing a staggering $93. Yet even for a community seemingly used to expensive DLC, Dead or Alive fans are not happy about how this one has been implemented. Free Step Dodge is asking fans to send their feedback straight to Team Ninja, and to send it often in the hopes of being heard.

Now Playing: Dead Or Alive 6 – Launch Trailer

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Birds Of Prey Nearing $200 Million Globally, Which Is More Than Double Its Budget

Birds of Prey–or Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey, depending on what your cinema is calling it–is closing in on another box office milestone. The movie added another $4 million in North America this weekend and more from international markets to push the movie’s total to $188.38 million globally, meaning it should reach $200 million over the next weekend or two.

Birds of Prey is 2020’s fourth biggest movie so far, trailing Sonic the Hedgehog ($265 million), 1917 ($362 million), and Bad Boys for Life ($405 million) in terms of global box office results.

According to reports, Birds of Prey carried a gross budget of $97 million, but that came down to $84 million thanks to tax credits in California, where the movie was filmed. Some sources dispute this, as Variety reported that the budget was actually closer to $100 million “due to elaborate sets and CGI.”

The box office results for Birds of Prey so far are about $100 million ahead of the reported production budget, but the figure does not include marketing expenses, which were surely substantial.

Birds of Prey may end up making the lowest amount of money for a DC Extended Universe movie, but it’s production budget was also the smallest. The budgets for Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, and Shazam! were all in excess of $100 million.

According to Variety, Birds of Prey will need to make $100 million in North America and $300 million worldwide to break even. Other sources told the site that the breakeven number is around $250 million globally. Looking at the numbers that way, if they are indeed correct, Birds of Prey may struggle to break even, as the movie currently stands at $78.8 million in North America and $188 million worldwide.

Unlike previous DCEU movies, Birds of Prey has no release scheduled for China, which is the world’s second largest movie market. It is indeed a massive market, as Wonder Woman made $90.5 million from China, while Aquaman reached $291 million there.

Several movie theatre chains changed the name of Birds of Prey to Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey in an attempt to drum up more interest in the movie. The movie’s official title remains Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).

Now Playing: Birds of Prey Spoiler Review & Easter Eggs – Why It’s Our Favorite Modern DC Film Yet