‘Living rocks’ off Saudi Arabia’s Sheybarah Island offer glimpse of how life on Earth began

Special ‘Living rocks’ off Saudi Arabia’s Sheybarah Island offer glimpse of how life on Earth began
Two of the team from KAUST at work on the stromatolite field in the intertidal zone off Sheybarah Island. (Photo by Viswasanthi Chandra)
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Updated 09 June 2024
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‘Living rocks’ off Saudi Arabia’s Sheybarah Island offer glimpse of how life on Earth began

‘Living rocks’ off Saudi Arabia’s Sheybarah Island offer glimpse of how life on Earth began
  • Colony of living stromatolites discovered by KAUST team being hailed as a gift to geologists, biologists and environmental scientists
  • Geology professor Volker Vahrenkamp had set out to take a closer look at a phenomenon they first spotted on satellite images

LONDON: It was something of an accidental discovery, admits Volker Vahrenkamp with a smile.

“Sometimes, these things need a little luck.”

Vahrenkamp, a professor of geology at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, had set out with a team of colleagues to take a closer look at a coastal geological phenomenon they had spotted on satellite images.




Stromatolites are layered rock-like structures created by tiny microbes, some of which trap sediment in their filaments. (UNSW Sydney/Brendan Burns)

The so-called teepee structures, a tent-shaped buckling of sedimentary deposits found in intertidal zones, are valuable indicators of environmental changes, ancient and modern.

The team was delighted to discover there were examples virtually on their doorstep — just 400 kilometers up the coast from KAUST, off the southern tip of Sheybarah Island, best known for Red Sea Global’s luxury tourism resort of the same name.

“There aren’t really many good examples of teepee structures, where people can study how they form,” Vahrenkamp told Arab News.

“Then we spotted this, and it’s the most spectacular example that I’m aware of.”

The satellite images had shown that there were two teepee fields in the island’s intertidal zone and, after a short boat trip across from the mainland on a converted fishing boat, “we landed on the island, examined one field, and then started walking across to the other.”

And then, as they crossed the foreshore between the two, “we literally stepped on these stromatolites.”

Stromatolites are layered rock-like structures created by tiny microbes, individually invisible to the naked eye, some of which trap sediment in their filaments.




The stromatolites are built up in layers over years thanks to the actions of tiny microbes. (Photo by Elisa Garuglieri)

Living on rocks in the intertidal zone, they are covered and uncovered daily by the coming and going of the tides and, in a process known as biomineralization, slowly transform the dissolved minerals and sand grains they capture into a solid mass.

Human beings, and every other living thing on Earth that relies on oxygen to survive, owe their very existence to the tiny, so-called cyanobacteria that have been creating stromatolites for about 3.5 billion years.

Cyanobacteria were one of the first lifeforms on Earth, at a time when the planet’s atmosphere consisted mainly of carbon dioxide and methane. When they emerged about 3.5 billion years ago, they possessed a particular skill — the ability to generate energy from sunlight.




Seen magnified multiple times under a scanning electron microscope, in this section of a stromatolite measuring just 0.4 mm across the microbial filaments and the sediment they have trapped can clearly be seen. (Photo by Elisa Garuglieri)

This process, photosynthesis, had a crucial by-product — oxygen. Scientists now believe that the microscopic cyanobacteria were responsible for the biggest thing that ever happened on the planet — the Great Oxidation Event, which saw Earth’s atmosphere transformed and set the scene for the evolution of oxygen-dependent life as we now know it.

Most stromatolites today are merely fossils. As other life on Earth developed, they lost their foothold in the planet’s oceans to competitors, such as coral reefs.




Volker Vahrenkamp, professor of geology at KAUST. (Supplied)

In a few places in the world, however, “modern” living stromatolites, “analogs for their ancient counterparts,” as Vahrenkamp puts it, continue to grow.

“Stromatolites are a vestige of the earliest life on Earth,” he said. “They ruled the Earth for an incredible period of time, about 3 billion years.

“Today they are part of the rock record in many parts of the world, but from these old rocks it is impossible to work out what type of microbes were involved and exactly how they did what they did.”

INNUMBERS

400 kilometers Distance of teepee fields from KAUST campus

3 billion Years when rock-like stromatolites ruled the Earth

120 Meters by which sea level was lower during last Ice Age

That’s why the discovery of a rare colony of living stromatolites, such as the one-off Sheybarah Island, is such a gift to geologists, biologists and environmental scientists.

“When you find a modern example such as this, the chances are that you might be able to better understand how the interaction of this microbial community led to the creation of stromatolites.”

Other examples are known, but they are almost always found in extreme environments, such as alkaline lakes and ultra-saline lagoons, where competitors cannot thrive.




Sheybarah Island resort. (Red Sea Global photo)

One previous colony has been found in a more normal marine environment, in the Bahamas — which Vahrenkamp has visited, which is why he so readily recognized what he was walking on off Sheybarah Island — but this is the first example of living stromatolites discovered in Saudi waters.

It is not yet clear how old these stromatolites are, “but we can bracket it a little,” said Vahrenkamp.

“We know that during the last Ice Age, the sea level here was 120 meters lower, so they were not there 20,000 years ago. The area where they are was flooded about 8,000 years ago to a height about 2 meters above where it is now, and then the sea level receded again to where it is now about 2,000 years ago.”




Sheybarah Island Resort. (Red Sea Global photo)

This does not mean the stromatolites are 2,000 years old. No one knows how long it takes the microbes to create their sedimentary layer cake and “no one has yet come up with a good way of dating the layers.

“The tide and the waves come along and throw in sand and material from the surrounding reefs and so all kinds of ages might be present. This makes it very difficult to precisely date the stromatolites and to estimate the growth rate.”

That is why Vahrenkamp and colleagues are now devising an experiment to recreate the natural environment of rising and falling tides and alternating sunlight and darkness in an aquarium, in an effort to grow stromatolites under controlled, easily observable conditions




Sheybarah Island at an early stage of construction. (Red Sea Global photo)

Whether this will take weeks or many years, “we honestly don’t know.”

The team is also working on genetically sequencing many of the thousands of different types of microbial bacteria at work in the stromatolite factory.

“It’s a question of finding out ‘who’ is there, and who’s doing what,” said Vahrenkamp

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“But then there is also the question of what kind of functionalities do these bacteria have, and whether we can we use it in other ways, perhaps in medical applications.

“Scientists are now looking intently at the microbial composition of our guts, to find out which microbes cause cancer, for example, and which prevent it. The microbacteria at work in stromatolites could contain functional secrets that we simply are not yet aware of.”

The discovery also has resonance for the environmental ambitions of the Saudi Green Initiative, announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2021 and which aims, together with the Middle East Green Initiative, to combat climate change through regional cooperation.




Sheybarah Island resort. (Red Sea Global photo)

As Vahrenkamp and his seven co-authors wrote in a paper published recently in Geology, the journal of the Geological Society of America, “the discovery of the Sheybarah stromatolite fields holds important implications, not only in the scientific perspective, but also in terms of ecosystem services and environmental heritage awareness in line with the ongoing projects for sustainability and ecotourism development promoted by Saudi Arabia.”

In the paper, the KAUST scientists thank Red Sea Global for its support in accessing the stromatolite site, which is currently being considered for designation as a conservation zone.

As for the tourists relaxing in the spectacular new overwater villas on Sheybarah Island’s crystal-clear Al-Wajh Lagoon, an extra attraction now is that a short stroll along the beach will take them back in time for a glimpse of life on Earth 3.5 billion years ago.


 


Allam Challenge honors AI innovators advancing Arabic language

Allam Challenge honors AI innovators advancing Arabic language
Updated 14 sec ago
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Allam Challenge honors AI innovators advancing Arabic language

Allam Challenge honors AI innovators advancing Arabic language
  • Participants developed AI models for poetry, sentence parsing, and interactive language teaching

RIYADH: President of the Saudi Data and AI Authority Abdullah Al-Ghamdi recently honored the winning teams of the largest event dedicated to advancing the Arabic language, the Allam Challenge, held in Riyadh from Nov. 7-9.

The competition, organized in collaboration with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, with technical support from IBM and the National Technology Development Program, attracted 600 participants from 17 countries.

The event celebrated the achievements of talented individuals dedicated to advancing Arabic language technologies through AI, with a prize pool of SR1 million ($266,000), the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The competition aimed to develop AI models capable of writing and understanding Arabic poetry, parsing sentences accurately, and teaching the Arabic language in an engaging manner.

The deputy director of the National Information Center, Mishari Almishari, emphasized the significance of developing technologies to preserve the Arabic language, especially in an era of rapid technological advancements.

The first team secured a prize of SR500,000, the second won SR300,000, and the third won SR200,000. Additionally, five teams from the National Technology Development Program were recognized for their outstanding projects, receiving a total prize of SR750,000.

More than 50 mentors and 40 judges — experts in AI and the Arabic language — oversaw the challenge, providing support to participating teams and evaluating projects based on criteria to ensure the sustainability of the proposed solutions.

By supporting such initiatives, the authority reinforces its commitment to harnessing AI to empower the Arabic language and foster innovation in the field.


Fumio Iwai honors Dr. Khaled Al-Ghefaili for promoting ties between Japan and Saudi Arabia

Fumio Iwai honors Dr. Khaled Al-Ghefaili for promoting ties between Japan and Saudi Arabia
Updated 10 November 2024
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Fumio Iwai honors Dr. Khaled Al-Ghefaili for promoting ties between Japan and Saudi Arabia

Fumio Iwai honors Dr. Khaled Al-Ghefaili for promoting ties between Japan and Saudi Arabia
  • Dr. Khaled Al-Ghefaili expressed appreciation for the commendation from Japanese envoy

Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Fumio Iwai hosted a reception at his residence to celebrate the Commendation of Foreign Minister of Japan in honor of Dr. Khaled Al-Ghefaili, Executive Director of Higher Institute for Plastics Fabrication (HIPF) for his contribution to promotion of economic relations between Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In his speech, Iwai highlighted that HIPF is a symbolic project of the industrial technical cooperation between the two nations in the field of human resources development.

Since its establishment in 2007, HIPF has trained 2,500 Saudi youth under the supervision of Japanese experts as skilled plastics fabrication machine operators in the Kingdom and has sent Saudi students specialized in plastics to Japanese universities for long-term training programs.

Ambassador Iwai added that Dr. Khaled’s tireless efforts enabled many HIPF graduates to be employed at Japanese companies and be greatly engaged in the various industrial fields in the Kingdom.

In his reply speech, Dr. Khaled expressed his appreciation for the commendation from the ambassador, and his commitment to further development of the bilateral relations.

On this occasion, the Japanese ambassador also mentioned that the next year 2025 marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia and promised to furthering business and cultural exchange between the friendly countries.

The ceremony was attended and witnessed by a number of businesspersons and representatives of the Japanese companies in Saudi Arabia.

This article originally appeared on Arab News Japan


Saudi king, crown prince congratulate Cambodian monarch on independence day

King Salman (L) and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)
King Salman (L) and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)
Updated 10 November 2024
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Saudi king, crown prince congratulate Cambodian monarch on independence day

King Salman (L) and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)
  • Sihamoni became the king of Cambodia in 2004 after his father, Norodom Sihanouk, abdicated the throne

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday congratulated Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni on his country's Independence Day celebration, the SPA reported.

In cable, King Salman wished the Cambodian king good health and happiness, as well as continued progress and prosperity for both the government and the people. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a similar cable.
The Southeast Asian nation declared independence from France on November 9, 1953.

Sihamoni became the king of Cambodia in 2004 after his father, Norodom Sihanouk, abdicated the throne. Sihanouk later died in 2012 of illness.

 


Mauritanian president arrives in Jeddah to perform Umrah

The President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, arrives in Jeddah. (SPA)
The President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, arrives in Jeddah. (SPA)
Updated 10 November 2024
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Mauritanian president arrives in Jeddah to perform Umrah

The President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, arrives in Jeddah. (SPA)
  • The Mauritanian president also visited the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah

JEDDAH: Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani and his accompanying delegation arrived in Jeddah on Saturday to perform Umrah rituals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Mauritanian leader was welcomed at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, the deputy governor of Makkah province, and several other officials.

After performing Umrah at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, the Mauritanian president also visited the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah.

 


Saudi women rise: W20 to ‘address systemic barriers’

Miznah Al-Omair. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
Miznah Al-Omair. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
Updated 09 November 2024
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Saudi women rise: W20 to ‘address systemic barriers’

Miznah Al-Omair. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
  • Head of Saudi delegation Miznah Al-Omair unpacks women’s empowerment agenda

RIYADH: In a world where women’s economic participation is crucial for sustainable development, the W20 initiative is amplifying women’s voices within the G20 framework.

A beacon of advocacy and action, the Saudi delegation for Women 20, or W20, is led by Miznah Al-Omair, CEO of Al-Nahda Society, which was founded in 1963 to empower women in Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with Arab News, Al-Omair emphasized the importance of including women’s issues in G20 dialogues: “The role of women must be considered in decision-making processes, as these decisions impact women’s economic realities.” This perspective underscores the need for a platform that prioritizes women’s voices in global economic policy discussions.

Through its strategic initiatives, W20 seeks to foster gender equality and empower women economically, ensuring their concerns are heard and integrated into high-level discussions, she said.

We must ensure that every woman can voice her needs and aspirations in the economic landscape, fostering an environment where they can thrive.

Miznah Al-Omair, Head of W20 Saudi delegation

W20 operates independently while maintaining connections with government entities. Its main objective is to ensure women’s issues are integrated into G20 discussions, official declarations and commitments, shaping the agenda of this influential forum.

By advocating for policies addressing the particular challenges women face, the W20 initiative is creating a more equitable economic landscape.

Host countries play a key role in shaping the W20 agenda by identifying areas that reflect their specific contexts. For instance, Brazil’s focus this year highlights the intersection of race and ethnicity with women’s economic challenges.

Al-Omair explained: “By examining the unique challenges women face based on their race and ethnicity, we can develop targeted solutions that address systemic barriers.”

This approach allows for a nuanced understanding of women’s diverse experiences and facilitates the creation of tailored solutions to address their needs.

W20 collaborates with various stakeholders to compile evidence-based recommendations for women’s economic empowerment. These recommendations are presented to G20 leaders for adoption, promoting best practices that can be tailored to different national contexts.

“If a successful program exists in one country, we encourage others to adopt similar frameworks that can benefit women economically,” Al-Omair said. This collaborative spirit is crucial for building a unified approach to women’s empowerment across nations.

Since Saudi Arabia hosted the W20 summit in 2020, significant progress has been made in advancing women’s roles in the economy. The focus has shifted from simply including women in discussions to actively promoting their participation and leadership in various sectors.

“We have made tremendous advancements, and our efforts are reflected in the increasing visibility and effective roles of women in various sectors,” she said. This progress is notable, yet it highlights the ongoing challenges women face in achieving full economic participation.

Despite these advancements, obstacles remain. Women’s participation often depends on individual aspirations and the supportive infrastructures present in different sectors.

“While reforms to laws and regulations promote gender equality, equal opportunities in the private sector have yet to be achieved,” Al-Omair said.

This variability underscores the need for continued advocacy and the development of frameworks that foster an inclusive environment for women.

One standout initiative from Al-Nahda Society is its financial literacy program, launched in 2017. This program equips women with essential skills in budgeting, planning and investment, promoting financial independence.

“This program has proven impactful, helping women gain financial independence and equipping them to launch and sustain their businesses,” the organization’s CEO said.

By focusing on financial literacy, the W20 agenda will empower women to take control of their economic futures.

“We must ensure that every woman can voice her needs and aspirations in the economic landscape, fostering an environment where they can thrive,” Al-Omair said.

This commitment to inclusivity is key to creating a future where women’s economic participation becomes the norm, not the exception.

W20’s collaborative efforts highlight the importance of context-sensitive approaches to women’s empowerment. Effective solutions must resonate with each country’s social and national frameworks.