Technologies

This Ancient Turtle Survived the Extinction Event That Killed T. Rex

The softshell turtle roamed the waters during the Late Cretaceous 66 million years ago.

Scientists have discovered an ancient softshell turtle they say lived at the same time as the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the triceratops in North Dakota 66.5 million years ago.

It’s one of the earliest known species of the softshell turtle, with the fossilized creature having lived during the Late Cretaceous period just before the mass extinction event, according to new research published in the Cretaceous Research journal on Thursday.

«With this study, we gain further insight into winners and losers during the cataclysm that ended the Age of Dinosaurs,» said research adviser Peter Dodson. «The mighty dinosaurs fell, and the lowly turtle survived.»

The fossil of the new species was discovered way back in 1975 in the Hell Creek Formation of North Dakota along with a triceratops specimen. But it remained at Appalachian State University until 2013, when research on it finally began.

The turtle, named Hutchemys walkerorum, is similar to softshell turtles found today, including the giant softshell turtles in southern Asia, but with larger and stronger bones covering its stomach and abdominal area.

It’s rare to find an occurrence of these turtles prior to the dinosaur-ending extinction event, researchers said. It was also the easternmost occurrence of this softshell turtle genus from the Cretaceous Period.

«We are starting to get more information on this extinct group of turtles and further understanding their evolution, including how they dealt with the mass extinction,» said Steven Jasinski, an environmental scientist who led the research.

The newly discovered subfamily of softshell turtles originated in Asia, likely in the middle to late Early Cretaceous, and migrated to North America during the Late Cretaceous, the researchers said.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im