This Week In History, May 21 – 27

Published May 26, 2017
Updated March 19, 2018

T. Rex Ants Discovered Alive For The First Time

T Rex Ant

Gordon Yong / Insect Diversity Lab / National University SingaporeT. Rex Ant

Scientists have known of T. rex ants’ existence since 2003 — when a single dead insect not belonging to any previously known genus was found in Malaysia.

Since then, they’ve been on the hunt for living versions of the creature, which discoverer Fernando Fernández named for its small mandibles and short snout.

A few specimens have been uncovered within leaf litter piles in India, Singapore and Sri Lanka — but they’ve all been deceased.

Which is why insect-lovers are so excited about entomologist Mark Wong’s recent discovery of an entire colony of Tyrannomyrmex ants living underground in a Singapore forest.

Read on here.

Humongous, 700-Pound Emerald Found In Brazilian Mine

Brazil Emerald

Bahia Mineral Cooperative

The emerald — one of the rarest and most precious gems in the world — has been said to represent everything from fidelity and fertility to royalty and devil worship.

No matter what the interpretation, though — the precious green gem always means a whole lot of money.

Which is why workers in Brazil were likely thrilled when they recently hauled a 794-pound, 4.3-foot emerald from a mine in the northeastern state of Bahia.

Delve deeper in this report.

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.