The new Australopithecus screened synchrotron.

Fossilized remains of Australopithecus found in South Africa.Keywords: Sedibe Australopithecus, GRENOBLE, SOUTH AFRICA, Paul Tafforeau.

A good half of the fossil bones have been analyzed in depth.
This is an exceptional event for several reasons. One of the two skeletons the new species Australopithecus found in South Africa, presented on April 9, Stayed on French soil in late February. More specifically, the fossilized remains of Australopithecus Sedibe young male, who lived there just under 2 million years, remained a fortnight in Grenoble, Facilities in the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF). There, a good half of the fossil bones have been analyzed in depth, without damage to them by the very specific beams of X-rays of the gigantic apparatus. And it will take months of work to analyze the billions of data collected by microtomography (with details from a few millionths of a meter to tens of millionths of a meter), the initial results are very encouraging, especially those concerning the examined within the skull and those on the teeth.
"Normally," explains Paul Tafforeau, paleoanthropologist at ESRF, such parts can not leave the country where they were discovered. Unless techniques to examine more precisely can be implemented in this country within ten years. This is the case here. Of the forty existing synchrotrons in the world, only three are capable, in theory, to examine such fossils. And the ESRF is the only one with really technical resources. "
Accompanied by their "father," paleoanthropologist Lee Berger of the University of South Africa Witts, the bones have traveled by diplomatic pouch trunks specially equipped. Then they won the ESRF in a motorcade with police escort. They were then stored in a closet tanks before being subjected to very powerful synchrotron X-ray.

Preservation Outstanding:
"The skull of the young Sedibe was scanned for 4 days, 24 hours on 24, and other parts, bones, vertebrae, teeth, etc.9 more days," explains Paul Tafforeau. In all, a little over 40% of a complete skeleton were scrutinized. Has there been any particular emotion before the fossilized skeleton? "For me, admits he's feeling before parts of this type is primarily aesthetic, due to their exceptional preservation. But they remain primarily research objects. "Because the fossils of great value are not the first to cross the doors of this laboratory. Thus, one of the oldest hominid ancestors, discovered in Chad, has been there. "The techniques applied this year Sedibe derived from those developed for ToumaiSays Paul Tafforeau. The improved version of today sought three years of work. "
The teeth, particularly three molars, will provide precise information on the age of the specimen to his . A 3D reconstruction of the skull has already been obtained. And browsing a few "shots" allowed to see that there within the fossil skull known as an area of low density. "This could be a kind of casting brain after he recanted," suggests Paul Tafforeau cautiously. Were also detected traces of fossil insects eggs, no one can even date them.