Researchers at Oregon State University discovered this EPIC SPIDER ATTACK forever preserved in amber!

“This juvenile spider was going to make a meal out of a tiny parasitic wasp, but never quite got to it,” said George Poinar, Jr., a professor emeritus of zoology at Oregon State University and world expert on insects trapped in amber. He outlined the findings in a new publication in the journal Historical Biology.

“This was a male wasp that suddenly found itself trapped in a spider web,” Poinar said. “This was the wasp’s worst nightmare, and it never ended. The wasp was watching the spider just as it was about to be attacked, when tree resin flowed over and captured both of them.”

Sadly, amber can't provide us with DNA. A recent study shows that:

As it turns out, the so-called half-life of DNA—the span of time it takes for half of the molecular bonds in the genetic material to break—is just 521 years.

Bummer.

Next we have this tidbit about discarded concept art for Jurassic Park 4, thanks to Slog-tipper John. (You MUST go look at the concepts!)

Indeed, rumors of a scuttled "genetically altered dinosaur soldier" draft of the fourth Park flick have been circulating for years — and a wonderfully zany batch of JP4 concept art has recently come to our attention. Did we dodge a bullet here? Perhaps.

Here's the thing: I would TOTALLY see a movie with these humanoid dinosaurs in it... That deinonychus-looking dude? Rad. But I do NOT want that movie to be Jurassic Park 4. Honestly, I don't even know what I want JP4 to be, if anything... but I know I don't want it to be dino-man-soldiers.

Coming soon on TDN: Did T-Rex hop? Theropod ambulation considered!

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