The formation of fossils is very complex. It is the ultimate sublimation of the combination of biological, physical and chemical factors. The whole process takes a long time and requires specific occasions and the combination of many factors. Moreover, this process is irreversible. Over the long years, once the slightest accident occurs, it will lead to the failure of fossil formation.
"That's impossible." Xiang Yang's expression changed immediately. "This straight-shelled nautilus must have existed hundreds of millions of years ago. If it weren't a fossil, it would have decayed to the point where nothing is left."
"What if it's not a straight-shelled nautilus?"
"Or maybe it's a straight-shelled nautilus, but it just died?" Professor Chen Yu said dimly.
"How is this possible? It's a consensus that the straight-shelled nautilus became extinct hundreds of millions of years ago." Xiang Yang immediately denied it.
"Whose consensus?" asked Professor Chen Yu.
Xiang Yang's face fell immediately, and he thought to himself, isn't this the consensus reached by you biologists and scientists
"We are sure that there was a straight-shelled nautilus on this planet, but so far, we have never found such a creature, nor have we found straight-shelled nautilus fossils after the Triassic period, so some people have proposed that the straight-shelled nautilus was completely extinct after the Triassic period."
"But we can detect less than 5% of the entire ocean!" Professor Chen Yu smiled and patted Xiang Yang on the shoulder. "Who dares to say that the straight-shelled nautilus did not migrate to a deeper seabed due to changes in the planetary environment after the Triassic period? Who knows if there will be no more straight-shelled nautilus in this deep seabed? These are all unconfirmed assumptions. The only thing we can be sure of now is that this straight-shelled nautilus is not a fossil, and judging from its signs of oxidation, it should not have been dead for more than a hundred years."
Xiang Yang's face changed, and he said in shock: "Teacher, you mean that the straight-shelled nautilus is not dead, and it has survived until now?"
"I haven't said anything. Don't tell others what I said. These are just assumptions and bold guesses." Professor Chen Yu smiled and said, "But the strongest competitor of the straight-shelled nautilus, the horseshoe crab, can migrate from the ocean to the land. Why can't the straight-shelled nautilus migrate from the shallow sea to the deep sea where there is no sunlight? The ocean overlord that is a whole era later than the straight-shelled nautilus can reproduce and survive from ancient times to today, so why can't the straight-shelled nautilus? Since it is an assumption, why can't we make another bold guess that the straight-shelled nautilus has never been extinct, but they just migrated from the shallow sea to the extremely deep sea?"
"The sea holds endless secrets," Professor Chen Yu exclaimed.
"Teacher, but the assumption must be based on evidence." Xiang Yang said.
"This straight-shelled Nautilus is the basis," said Professor Chen Yu.
Xiang Yang frowned and asked again: "Teacher, do you think there is a possibility that after the straight-shelled nautilus died, it was inhabited by some marine life. Generation after generation, there are creatures that inhabit this straight-shelled nautilus every once in a while. For this reason, this nautilus has been preserved intact and has never been petrified."
Xiang Yang was thinking of the giant squid that was eaten by two humpback whales, and was trying to remind Chen Yu and give Professor Chen Yu a new idea.
Professor Chen Yu lowered his head and thought for a while, then said: "What Xiang Yang said is indeed a possibility. However, in the folk antique market, people can determine the age of an object based on the degree of oxidation on the surface of the antique. Don't you think that we can't determine the approximate age of this straight-shelled nautilus through the oxidation marks on its surface?"
"Of course, it is also possible that there is a special magnetic field under this sea area, or other supernatural phenomena that cannot be explained by science for the time being, which affect the oxidation rate of this straight-shelled nautilus. These need to be determined after investigation." Professor Chen Yu explained.
Xiang Yang nodded. He was a little confused. If Professor Chen Yu and the others' guess was true, it would undoubtedly cause a huge storm in the entire biological world.
However, this may just be a guess by Professor Chen Yu and his colleagues. Unless someone can actually find a living straight-shelled nautilus, this guess will always be just a guess.
"Don't worry, teacher. I will give the order to return immediately. If you still need my help, just let me know." Xiang Yang said.
"Don't rush back." Elder Peng stopped him and said, "Dean Chen Yu, take your people to the bottom of the sea first. Maybe you can find something else."
Xiang Yang knew that Mr. Peng was overthinking, but he did not stop him. Instead, he said, "Yes, teacher, maybe we can find another straight-shelled nautilus nearby, or even a living one."
"Okay, let's split up and lend me your people. Of course, I won't lend them for free. Each person will charge one hundred dollars per hour, and I will allow them to continue collecting those ordinary conchs for you during the search process." Professor Chen Yu said.
"Okay." Xiang Yang agreed immediately.
The crew members, who had been itching to do something, immediately took action.
Soon, the crew searched the surrounding sea areas.
The result is naturally obvious. Not to mention a living straight-shelled Nautilus, it is impossible to find even a fragment of its shell.
But Professor Chen Yu was not discouraged at all. He ordered people to protect the straight-shelled nautilus tightly, and then smiled and said to Xiang Yang: "Let's return."
"Okay." Xiang Yang agreed.
In fact, Xiang Yang wanted to stay in this sea area for a while longer. There were so many conchs under the sea that there was almost no place where one could not step on conchs. For the crew, every little longer they stayed here would bring them income.
Once they return this time, the scientific research ship will definitely come over immediately. Not to mention blocking off the entire sea area, but at least, Xiang Yang and his crew will never be allowed to catch conchs within a few nautical miles.
On the way back, they passed by the beach rich in turbot that Xiang Yang discovered when he first led the crew to the sea. With the mentality of going down to take a look if they passed by, Xiang Yang led the crew to go down and catch several thousand kilograms of turbot.
The scientific researchers, including Chen Yu, did not say anything. They had already sent the message back, and it would take some time for the research vessel to arrive.
If the research vessel does not come, the effect of studying the straight-shelled Nautilus on the ship will be the same as studying it back in Yanlong Village.