A Japanese research team discovered that an ancient ocean was filled with squids, surpassing the populations of fish and ammonites during the late Cretaceous period, which occurred about 70 to 100 million years ago. This finding emerged from their innovative technique called digital fossil-mining, which allows researchers to photograph the insides of rocks in circular slices.

The team, primarily from Hokkaido University, examined rock samples from Hokkaido and compared squid fossils with those of fish and ammonites from the same era. Their analysis revealed a greater number of squids than previously thought, shedding light on a time when these creatures thrived in oceans alongside other marine life. Historically, few squid fossils had been found due to their small size and fragile nature, making it difficult to study their evolution and success. The new method has opened up opportunities for better understanding these ancient species.

Original article

This article is mostly about telling us something interesting, but it doesn't really give us any instructions or tell us what to do. It's like a story about a cool discovery, but it doesn't teach us how to do anything new or help us with our daily lives. It's not like a recipe that tells us how to make something or a map that shows us where to go. It's more like a fun fact that we can share with our friends, but it doesn't make our lives better in a big way. The article is like a puzzle piece that shows us a tiny part of a big picture, but it doesn't give us the whole picture or tell us how to put all the pieces together. It's not very useful for helping us with our problems or making our world a better place. It's just a piece of information that might make us say, "Wow, that's cool!" but it doesn't really change anything for us.

This text describes a scientific discovery about ancient marine life. It does not contain any social behaviors, ideas, or actions that directly affect families, clans, neighbors, or local communities, nor does it touch upon the protection of children and elders, trust and responsibility within kinship bonds, or the stewardship of the land. Therefore, a social critique based on the provided criteria cannot be applied to this content.

"This finding emerged from their innovative technique called digital fossil-mining, which allows researchers to photograph the insides of rocks in circular slices."

This sentence uses a positive tone and highlights the researchers' technique as "innovative." The word "innovative" suggests that the method is new and groundbreaking, which may create a favorable impression of the research team and their work. This bias favors the researchers and their approach, potentially influencing readers to view their findings more positively.

The text evokes a sense of wonder and excitement as it reveals a fascinating discovery about ancient marine life. The emotion is evident in the language used to describe the research team's findings, such as "innovative technique," "shedding light," and "opened up opportunities." These phrases convey a positive and uplifting tone, suggesting a breakthrough in scientific understanding. The strength of this emotion is moderate, creating a sense of intrigue and curiosity without overwhelming the reader.

This emotion serves to engage the reader's interest and encourage further exploration of the topic. By presenting the discovery as an exciting revelation, the text motivates readers to learn more about the ancient ocean and the creatures that inhabited it. It creates a sense of shared excitement, as if the reader is part of a scientific adventure, which can foster a deeper connection to the material.

To persuade and engage the reader, the writer employs several rhetorical devices. One notable technique is the use of vivid language to describe the research method, "digital fossil-mining," which sounds innovative and cutting-edge. This term, along with phrases like "photograph the insides of rocks in circular slices," creates a visual image that captures the reader's imagination. The writer also employs a simple yet effective comparison, stating that "few squid fossils had been found," which emphasizes the rarity and significance of the discovery. This comparison highlights the importance of the new method in uncovering hidden aspects of ancient life.

Additionally, the text builds trust by emphasizing the historical challenge of studying squid fossils due to their fragility. By acknowledging this difficulty, the writer establishes credibility and suggests that the new method is a significant advancement. This strategic use of language and rhetorical devices guides the reader's attention, emphasizing the importance and impact of the research while maintaining a tone that is accessible and engaging.