Scientists discovered a 425-million-year-old penis
August 27, 2024 11:46 PM Subscribe
"It's very rare that you can gender fossils": How scientists discovered a 425-million-year-old penis. When a UK palaeontologist examined rocks collected from rural west England in the 1990s, he found something unexpected: a tiny fossil with a perfectly preserved penis.
Somehow, seeing in the same sentence a word "penis" and a number, I took the latter to state the length of the former, and, having been practically always right, only made sure to notice the units used.
So, seeing this number and the magic word at the end of the title, all minutae such as "year-old" in between such a formidable length and the object measured understandably got none of the attention they deserved.
But those two unnoticed words had the last laugh, the one I was getting ready to have, when, just to be sure, the re-reading of the title brought me my disappointment.
But only imagine what could've been, were I right this time also
posted by Green-eyed grenade at 1:18 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
So, seeing this number and the magic word at the end of the title, all minutae such as "year-old" in between such a formidable length and the object measured understandably got none of the attention they deserved.
But those two unnoticed words had the last laugh, the one I was getting ready to have, when, just to be sure, the re-reading of the title brought me my disappointment.
But only imagine what could've been, were I right this time also
posted by Green-eyed grenade at 1:18 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
If your penis remains hard for more than 400 million years, seek the assistance of a doctor paleontologist.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:42 AM on August 28 [11 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:42 AM on August 28 [11 favorites]
a tiny fossil with a perfectly preserved penis
That’s no way to refer to Leslie Jordan.
posted by saturday_morning at 4:38 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
That’s no way to refer to Leslie Jordan.
posted by saturday_morning at 4:38 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
That’s no way to refer to Leslie Jordan.
It seems more like a joke that Tracy Jordan/Morgan would make on 30 Rock.
"Hey Liz Lemon! Look! I bought this tiny fossil with a perfectly preserved penis!"
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 5:27 AM on August 28 [2 favorites]
It seems more like a joke that Tracy Jordan/Morgan would make on 30 Rock.
"Hey Liz Lemon! Look! I bought this tiny fossil with a perfectly preserved penis!"
posted by Your Childhood Pet Rock at 5:27 AM on August 28 [2 favorites]
I'm sorry but this is a paleontologist's version of pure clickbait. The slide in TFA correctly identifies the title structure as a "copulatory appendage."
I think there is some debate about whether the penis is a common feature of amniotes. That is, are the organs of intromission of reptiles and birds really penes? But calling this structure a "penis" is like calling the claws at the end of a spider's legs "hands."
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 7:39 AM on August 28 [3 favorites]
I think there is some debate about whether the penis is a common feature of amniotes. That is, are the organs of intromission of reptiles and birds really penes? But calling this structure a "penis" is like calling the claws at the end of a spider's legs "hands."
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 7:39 AM on August 28 [3 favorites]
But calling this structure a "penis" is like calling the claws at the end of a spider's legs "hands."
You’re really picky about shaking hands, I bet.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:52 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
You’re really picky about shaking hands, I bet.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:52 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
The phrase "copulatory appendage" just makes me feel dirty. Well, dirtier.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:15 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:15 AM on August 28 [1 favorite]
MetaFilter: just makes me feel dirty. Well, dirtier.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 1:43 PM on August 28 [1 favorite]
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 1:43 PM on August 28 [1 favorite]
If I wanted to read about old pricks I would have bookmarked the politics thread.
posted by escabeche at 4:05 PM on August 28 [1 favorite]
posted by escabeche at 4:05 PM on August 28 [1 favorite]
Gender? If I had a dollar for every stupid conflation of gender and sex....
posted by neonamber at 7:41 PM on August 28 [2 favorites]
posted by neonamber at 7:41 PM on August 28 [2 favorites]
> "Hey Liz Lemon! Look! I bought this tiny fossil with a perfectly preserved penis!"
well you can’t have a lemon party without Old Dick
posted by dis_integration at 6:20 AM on August 29
well you can’t have a lemon party without Old Dick
posted by dis_integration at 6:20 AM on August 29
MetaFilter: a tiny fossil with a penis
posted by mule98J at 7:03 AM on August 29 [1 favorite]
posted by mule98J at 7:03 AM on August 29 [1 favorite]
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