Archaeologists have discovered a marine archaeological site from the Middle Ordovician Period dating back 462 million years at Castle Bank, Wales, according to a new study published Monday.
The site contains 150 different fossilized species, many of which had never been discovered before this find.
A peer-reviewed study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution details some of the expected fossil finds. The fossils discovered
The site is believed to be beautiful, as soft tissue and many complete organisms were preserved in good condition. In some of the specimens, organs and digestive systems are still completely intact, which is extremely important. This allowed researchers to gain unprecedented insight into the evolution of marine life.
Many of the fossils discovered come from the Cambrian period, which was 485-542 million years ago, the oldest period in which animal fossils can be identified.
All of the fossils appeared in post-Cambrian rocks, meaning that paleontologists are limited in their understanding of how marine life evolved from the Cambrian to the post-Cambrian period. Cambrian rocks were home to the earliest diversified fossilized species and are credited with the first appearance of most animal phyla that have fossil records.
The newly discovered species include opabiniids, protoarthropods with long noses, wiwaxiids, thought to be an early relative of mollusks that are armoured with scales, a creature thought to be an early ancestor of barnacles and cephalocarid shrimp. Of the discovered species, most are considered very small, measuring between 1 and 3 mm.
One of the most important finds, a newly discovered type of shale fauna, will fill a gap in scientific understanding about the change from Cambrian fauna to Paleozoic fauna and the shift from ecosystems to the diversified ecology seen today.
The Ordovician period
The Ordovician lasted about 45 million years. During this period, the area north of the tropics was almost entirely ocean, and most of the world’s land was concentrated in the southern supercontinent Gondwana, according to UC Berkeley. Sea levels were up to 600 meters higher than today.
Archaeologists have discovered various marine invertebrates, including graptolites, trilobites, brachiopods and conodonts from the period
Review: Top 10 Cloud Services in the USA
Cloud computing has transformed how businesses operate, offering scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions for storage, computing, and application management. The U.S. leads the global cloud market, with providers delivering innovative services tailored to startups, enterprises, and everything in between. Below is a comprehensive review of the top 10 cloud service providers in the USA for 2025, based on market share, service offerings, and customer feedback.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)AWS dominates with a 31% global market share, generating $24.2 billion in Q4 2023 revenue. It offers over 200 services, including compute (EC2), storage (S3), AI (SageMaker), and analytics. AWS’s 33 regions and 105 availability zones ensure low latency and high reliability. Its pay-as-you-go pricing starts at ~$0.0832/hour for a t3.large instance (2 vCPUs, 8GB RAM). Ideal for businesses needing scalability and cutting-edge AI tools.
Microsoft AzureAzure holds a 24% market share and is the fastest-growing major provider, with 30% revenue growth in 2023. It offers 200+ services, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, with strengths in AI, IoT, and enterprise integration. Azure’s pricing for a 2 vCPU, 8GB RAM instance (D2s v3) starts at ~$0.096/hour. Its hybrid cloud solutions and Microsoft ecosystem make it a top choice for enterprises.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)GCP, with an 11.5% market share, excels in AI, machine learning (TensorFlow, BigQuery), and data analytics. It offers 150+ services across 24 regions and 73 zones. Pricing for an e2-standard-2 instance (2 vCPUs, 8GB RAM) starts at ~$0.070/hour, with up to 57% discounts for committed use. GCP is favored by data-driven businesses and developers.
IBM CloudIBM Cloud provides IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS with a focus on enterprise-grade security, AI (Watson), and hybrid/multi-cloud deployments. It serves industries like healthcare and finance, offering 170+ services. Pricing varies, but its pay-as-you-go model is competitive. IBM’s strong partner ecosystem and AIOps solutions enhance business transformation.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)Oracle Cloud is gaining traction with its high-performance computing and database services. It offers cost-effective pricing, with a free tier and discounts for committed use. OCI’s focus on enterprise applications, like ERP and CRM, makes it ideal for large organizations. Its global network includes 40+ regions.
DigitalOceanDigitalOcean targets startups and developers with simple, affordable cloud hosting. Plans start at $2.50/month for 0.5GB RAM, 10GB storage, and 1 vCPU. Its managed databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and monitoring tools ensure reliability. DigitalOcean’s free credits and Hatch program support early-stage businesses.
VMware CloudVMware, now under Broadcom, specializes in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud solutions. It supports AWS, Azure, and GCP, offering consistent management across environments. VMware’s virtualization expertise and low-cost migration tools make it a top pick for enterprises modernizing data centers.
SalesforceSalesforce focuses on cloud-based CRM and customer service solutions. Its Service Cloud automates workflows and integrates with AI for personalized customer experiences. With 1.5 million users, it’s a leader for businesses prioritizing customer engagement. Pricing is subscription-based, tailored to business size.
CloudflareCloudflare is a CDN and security-focused provider, offering DDoS protection, DNS, and content delivery. Its user-friendly interface and integrations with WordPress and Shopify appeal to businesses needing fast, secure web performance. Pricing includes a free tier and pay-as-you-go plans.
Linode (Akamai) Linode, acquired by Akamai, offers developer-friendly cloud hosting with transparent pricing and a free tier. It integrates with Akamai’s CDN for enhanced performance. Plans start at $5/month for 1GB RAM, 25GB storage, and 1 vCPU. Linode is ideal for SMBs and tech-savvy users.
Choosing the Right Provider
Selecting a cloud provider depends on your needs: AWS, Azure, and GCP dominate for scalability and enterprise solutions; DigitalOcean and Linode cater to startups; Salesforce excels in CRM; and Cloudflare prioritizes web performance. Compare pricing, scalability, and security features. Check reviews on platforms like Gartner or Forbes Cloud 100 for insights. As cloud spending grows (projected at $591.8 billion in 2023), ensure your choice aligns with long-term goals.
