A newly discovered 47 million year old fossilized moth reveals that prehistoric moths were highly colorful specimens, and not at all like modern day moths that we see every evening hovering around outdoor lights today. The remains of several moth species were found in the Messel oil shale in west central Germany which is well known for yielding well-preserved intricate fossils. The specimens belonging to a group called lepidopterans, which also includes butterflies, is also giving scientists insights into how the moths used escaped their predators millions of years ago.

Research scientists working with mice have announced a genetic breakthrough that may one day allow people to enjoy much longer life spans. The new approach to fighting the effects of aging is the discovery that a special category of cells, known as senescent cells — aging cells which no longer divide — basically speed up the aging of bodily tissues. So: just get rid of the body’s senescent cells and our bodies will no longer age quite so fast, and all those horrid diseases of aging will be postponed. Sounds easy, but a lot more tests need doing before this statement can be confirmed.