Cryogenian Period, second of three periods of the Neoproterozoic Era of geologic time, extending from approximately 720 million to approximately 635 million years ago. The Cryogenian Period followed the Tonian Period (which lasted from 1 billion to about 720 million years ago) and was succeeded by

superconductivity, complete disappearance of electrical resistance in various solids when they are cooled below a characteristic temperature. This temperature, called the transition temperature, varies for different materials but generally is below 20 K (−253 °C). The use of superconductors in

cryogenics, production and application of low-temperature phenomena. The cryogenic temperature range has been defined as from −150 °C (−238 °F) to absolute zero (−273 °C or −460 °F), the temperature at which molecular motion comes as close as theoretically possible to ceasing completely. Cryogenic

cryoglobulinemia: …the blood of proteins called cryoglobulins that precipitate at temperatures below 98.6° F (37° C), both in the laboratory and in the body (where the precipitation could cause circulatory impairment or blockage or sometimes hemorrhage). Cryoglobulinemia is usually symptomatic of an underlying disease, such as multiple myeloma or chronic lymphocytic…

cryoglobulinemia, presence in the blood of proteins called cryoglobulins that precipitate at temperatures below 98.6° F (37° C), both in the laboratory and in the body (where the precipitation could cause circulatory impairment or blockage or sometimes hemorrhage). Cryoglobulinemia is usually

permafrost: Pingos: A hydrolaccolith (water mound) forms and freezes, heaving the overlying frozen and unfrozen ground to produce a mound.

cryolite, colourless to white halide mineral, sodium aluminum fluoride (Na3AlF6). It occurs in a large deposit at Ivigtut, Greenland, and in small amounts in Spain, Colorado, U.S., and elsewhere. It is used as a solvent for bauxite in the electrolytic production of aluminum and has various other

cryonics, the practice of freezing an individual who has died, with the object of reviving the individual sometime in the future. The word cryonics is derived from the Greek krýos, meaning “icy cold.” For the production of low-temperature phenomena, see cryogenics. Cryonic preservation can be

cryonics, the practice of freezing an individual who has died, with the object of reviving the individual sometime in the future. The word cryonics is derived from the Greek krýos, meaning “icy cold.” For the production of low-temperature phenomena, see cryogenics. Cryonic preservation can be

cryoflora, algae that live in snow and ice. The well-known and widely distributed red snow (q.v.) is caused by Chlamydomonas nivalis and diatoms; brown snow by desmids, diatoms, and blue-green algae; green snow by Euglena or Chlamydomonas; and “black” snow by Scotiella nivalis and

therapeutics: Plasma: Cryoprecipitate is prepared from fresh frozen plasma and contains about half the original amount of coagulation factors, although these factors are highly concentrated in a volume of 15–20 millilitres. Cryoprecipitate is used to treat patients with deficiencies of factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, factor XIII,…

cryopreservation, the preservation of cells and tissue by freezing. For the production of low-temperature phenomena, see cryogenics. For the practice of freezing an individual who has died, with the object of reviving the individual sometime in the future, see cryonics. Cryopreservation is based on

ectotherm: …their bloodstream and tissues with cryoprotectants—ice-inhibiting compounds, such as proteins, sugars, and sugar alcohols (e.g., sorbitol and glycerol)—or they can use other dissolved substances, such as salts, already present in the bloodstream. Such adaptations protect the animals’ cells from freezing by lowering the freezing point of water. For example, the…

vacuum technology: Cryopump: This type of pump utilizes extremely low temperatures to condense gases and thus remove them from the system. Pumping speeds of millions of cu ft per minute are possible with the cryopump over the pressure range 10-3 torr to well below 10-10 torr. This…

CryoSat, European Space Agency satellite designed to study the effect of climate change on ice in Earth’s polar regions. It launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 8, 2010, on a Russian Dnepr launch vehicle. CryoSat circles Earth in a polar orbit. Its primary instrument is the

CryoSat, European Space Agency satellite designed to study the effect of climate change on ice in Earth’s polar regions. It launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 8, 2010, on a Russian Dnepr launch vehicle. CryoSat circles Earth in a polar orbit. Its primary instrument is the

cryoseism, the sudden fracturing of soil or rock caused by rapid freezing of water in saturated ground. Such seismic events are sometimes mistaken for true earthquakes because they produce seismic vibrations, loud booms, jolts, and shaking at the ground surface. Cryoseisms may also occur in polar

cryoseism: …produce audible booming sounds (called cryoseismic booms) and seismic waves (which may be recorded by seismographs).

Cryosol, one of the 30 soil groups in the classification system of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Cryosols are characterized by frozen soil within 1 metre (39 inches) of the land surface and by waterlogging during periods of thaw. They often show disrupted soil layers, cracks, or

palm: Characteristic morphological features: In Cryosophila and Mauritia, roots along the stem are transformed into spines. Stout prop roots forming a dense or open cone are found at successive nodes along the stem of certain varieties of palms.

palm: Ecology: in Astrocaryum mexicanum, Bactris, Cryosophila albida, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, and Socratea exorrhiza. Syrphus flies apparently pollinate Asterogyne martiana in Costa Rica, and drosophila flies are thought to pollinate the nipa palm in New Guinea. Bees pollinate several species (Sabal palmetto and Iriartea deltoidea).

radiation measurement: Germanium detectors: …inside a vacuum enclosure, or cryostat, that provides thermal contact with a storage dewar of liquid nitrogen. Mechanical refrigerators are also available to cool the detector for use in remote locations where a supply of liquid nitrogen may not be available.

cryosurgery, therapeutic technique in which localized freezing is used to remove or destroy diseased tissue. Rapid cooling of body tissues to a temperature of -60° C or lower causes ice crystals to form, disrupting cell structure and, ultimately, killing the cell. Freezing may also destroy tissues

parkinsonism: Cryothalamotomy destroys the area of the brain that produces tremors by the inserting a probe into the thalamus. Restorative surgery is an experimental technique that replaces the lost dopaminergic neurons of the patient with dopamine-producing fetal brain tissue.

cryotherapy, the therapeutic use of cold to control inflammation and edema, decrease pain, reduce spasticity, and facilitate movement. Tissue cooling is achieved through the application of cold through the skin. Indications for cryotherapy include acute injury or inflammation, acute or chronic pain

cryoflora, algae that live in snow and ice. The well-known and widely distributed red snow (q.v.) is caused by Chlamydomonas nivalis and diatoms; brown snow by desmids, diatoms, and blue-green algae; green snow by Euglena or Chlamydomonas; and “black” snow by Scotiella nivalis and

Ascomycota: chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica), and apple scab (Venturia inequalis).

crypt, vault or subterranean chamber, usually under a church floor. In Latin, crypta designated any vaulted building partially or entirely below the ground level, such as sewers, the stalls for horses and chariots in a circus, farm storage cellars, or a long gallery known as a cryptoporticus, like

Naples: Layout and architecture: …the Roman grotto called the Crypta Neapolitana. This poignant place also contains the Roman columbarium known as the Tomb of Virgil, and the sepulchre of the Romantic poet Giacomo Leopardi, who died at Naples in 1837.

perciform: Annotated classification: Family Cryptacanthodidae (wrymouths) Pelvic fins absent, mouth oblique. Marine, northern Atlantic and Pacific. 1 genus (Cryptacanthodes), 4 species. Family Stichaeidae (pricklebacks) Includes families Chirolophidae, Lumpenidae, Xiphiodontidae, Cebidichthyidae. Eel-like; body usually scaled; dorsal fin with spines only or some soft rays at

cryptology: Cryptanalysis: Cryptanalysis, as defined at the beginning of this article, is the art of deciphering or even forging communications that are secured by cryptography. History abounds with examples of the seriousness of the cryptographer’s failure and the cryptanalyst’s success. In World War II the Battle…

Cryptanthus, genus of epiphytes (plants that are supported by other plants and have aerial roots exposed to humid atmosphere) of the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae), composed of about 10 to 20 South American species. The prickly-edged, stemless leaves grow in a rosette directly from the root. The

Cryptanthus: A few species, especially C. acaulis and C. zonatus, are grown indoors for their attractive foliage. Both species have wavy-edged leaves that are silvery or whitish underneath. C. acaulis grows to about 15 centimetres (6 inches) and has several to many leaves. The strap-shaped leaves of C. zonatus are…

Cryptanthus: The strap-shaped leaves of C. zonatus are greenish brown or coppery on top with bands of tan or brown; the plant is about 22 cm tall.

cryptarithm, mathematical recreation in which the goal is to decipher an arithmetic problem in which letters have been substituted for numerical digits. The term crypt-arithmetic was introduced in 1931, when the following multiplication problem appeared in the Belgian journal Sphinx: Cryptarithm

Myrtales: Family distributions and abundance: Crypteroniaceae, with 3 genera and 10 species of trees, is found entirely in Southeast Asia.

concealing coloration, in animals, the use of biological coloration to mask location, identity, and movement, providing concealment from prey and protection from predators. Background matching is a type of concealment in which an organism avoids recognition by resembling its background in

cryptocurrency, currency in digital form that is not overseen by a central authority. The first cryptocurrency was Bitcoin, created by an anonymous computer programmer or group of programmers known as Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009. Satoshi Nakamoto was concerned that traditional currencies were too

When a blockchain needs to forge its own path.If you’re a crypto enthusiast or investor, you’ve probably seen—among the many thousands of coins in digital circulation—some with similar names to other, “household name” cryptocurrencies. For example, there’s Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, or Ethereum

It’s becoming more useful—but be careful.How many ways can you use cryptocurrency? There may be more options than you think. Digital currencies can be used in a myriad of innovative ways. Many of those use cases have a direct bearing on the evolution of the modern financial system. The use cases

biological soil crust, thin layer of living material formed in the uppermost millimetres of soil where soil particles are aggregated by a community of highly specialized organisms. Biological soil crusts are found primarily in open spaces in the dry and extremely cold regions of all continents,

Cryptoblastus, extinct genus of blastoids, a primitive group of echinoderms related to the modern sea lilies, found as fossils in Early Carboniferous marine rocks (the Early Carboniferous Period occurred from 360 to 320 million years

snake-eyed skink, any of about 35 species of lizards constituting two genera (Ablepharus and Cryptoblepharus) in the family Scincidae. Snake-eyed skinks lack eyelids and have transparent scales (spectacles) covering the eyes similar to those of snakes. Although the function of the spectacle remains

Caudata: Annotated classification: Family Cryptobranchidae (Asiatic giant salamanders and hellbenders) Very large, to about 180 cm; aquatic; no lacrimal or septomaxillary bones in skull; vomerine teeth parallel to marginal teeth; Late Paleocene (58.7 million–56 million years ago) to present; Japan, China, and eastern United States; 2 genera (Andrias and…

Caudata: Annotated classification: Family Cryptobranchidae (Asiatic giant salamanders and hellbenders) Very large, to about 180 cm; aquatic; no lacrimal or septomaxillary bones in skull; vomerine teeth parallel to marginal teeth; Late Paleocene (58.7 million–56 million years ago) to present; Japan, China, and eastern United States; 2 genera (Andrias and…

Caudata: Annotated classification: Suborder Cryptobranchoidea The most primitive salamanders; external fertilization; angular bone separate from the prearticular bone in the lower jaw; 2 pairs of limbs; no external gills; aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial. Family Hynobiidae (Asiatic salamanders) Generalized, medium-sized (to about 250 mm),

Caudata: Annotated classification: …States; 2 genera (Andrias and Cryptobranchus) and 5 species. Suborder Sirenoidea Mode of fertilization unknown; angular bone fused with prearticular bone in lower jaw; only anterior pair of limbs present; external gills; aquatic. Family Sirenidae (sirens and dwarf sirens)

hellbender, (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), salamander belonging to the family Cryptobranchidae (order Caudata) found in the larger, swift-flowing streams of the Ohio River system, the Susquehanna River, and other streams in the eastern and central United States. Adults grow to be 30–74 cm (12–29

hellbender: The Ozark hellbender (C. alleganiensis bishopi) is somewhat smaller, and its spots tend to be large blotches. It is found in the Black River system of Arkansas and Missouri.

Laurales: Distribution and abundance: …in Asia, Australasia, and America; Cryptocarya and Cinnamomum (the source of camphor and the spice cinnamon) contain about 350 species and 250 species, respectively; Persea (including the avocado plant) has about 100 species; and Beilschmiedia contains about 250 species throughout many tropical regions as well as Australia and New Zealand.…

heteropteran: Annotated classification: Suborder Hydrocorisae (or Cryptocerata) Neither cephalic nor abdominal trichobothria; antennae 4-segmented, shorter than head, usually in grooves on underside of head; semiaquatic (Gelastocoridae, Ochteridae) or aquatic (all other families); swimming members with fringe of swimming hairs on hind legs; aquatic members lay eggs in or on…

hymenopteran: Division of labour: The Cryptocercus ants, for example, make nests in hollow stems of plants, then bore a circular entrance that remains under constant surveillance by special guards whose heads are modified into pluglike structures that fit the entrance. Each guard is relieved after several hours and another guard…

cockroach: Family Cryptocercidae: The brown-hooded cockroach (C. punctulatus) digests wood with the aid of certain protozoans in its digestive tract.

spider wasp: The method of Cryptocheilus is a refined process during which the wasp first stings the spider between its poison fangs and then stings it again near the junction of the cephalothorax and abdomen. This produces complete immobility. Pompilus, on the other hand, has a less refined sting. It…

mollusk: Size range and diversity of structure: …60 centimetres; among placophores the gumshoe, or gumboot chiton (Cryptochiton), achieves a length up to 30 to 43 centimetres; and, among solenogasters, Epimenia reaches a length of 15 to 30 centimetres. Finally, gastropods of the family Entoconchidae, which are parasitic in echinoderm sea cucumbers, may reach a size of almost…

chiton: …length of most chitons, but Cryptochiton stelleri, of the Pacific coast of North America, may grow to about 43 cm. Chitons are very flexible and can fit snugly into rock crevices or curl into a ball when detached. They can also adhere so firmly to rocks that they may be…

cryptococcosis, a chronic fungal infection of humans caused by Cryptococcocus neoformans and C. gattii. The fungi may be present in soil or dust and are often found in pigeon droppings, with resulting high concentrations on window ledges and around other nesting places. Infection in humans occurs

cryptococcosis: The Cryptococcus fungus can also spread to and cause lesions in the skin, bones, and visceral organs. Immunocompromised patients (e.g., those with HIV/AIDS or those receiving immunosuppressive drugs) are at particularly high risk of cryptococcosis.

cryptococcosis: …caused by Cryptococcocus neoformans and C. gattii. The fungi may be present in soil or dust and are often found in pigeon droppings, with resulting high concentrations on window ledges and around other nesting places. Infection in humans occurs through inhalation of fungal spores in the air. Cryptococcosis occurs in…

cryptococcosis: …infection of humans caused by Cryptococcocus neoformans and C. gattii. The fungi may be present in soil or dust and are often found in pigeon droppings, with resulting high concentrations on window ledges and around other nesting places. Infection in humans occurs through inhalation of fungal spores in the air.…

igneous rock: Crystallinity: …described as either microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline, according to whether or not their individual constituents can be resolved under the microscope. The subaphanitic, or hyaline, rocks are referred to as glassy, or vitric, in terms of granularity.

cryptocurrency, currency in digital form that is not overseen by a central authority. The first cryptocurrency was Bitcoin, created by an anonymous computer programmer or group of programmers known as Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009. Satoshi Nakamoto was concerned that traditional currencies were too

But that doesn’t make it less volatile.Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) set the crypto markets buzzing in early 2024, when the first batch of spot price ETFs received approval from U.S. regulators. A few months later, Ethereum spot price ETFs crossed an important regulatory hurdle. The approval

Every market needs a marketplace.Wondering how to purchase or trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies? Crypto exchanges are digital marketplaces where you can buy and sell digital assets. Many of the top crypto exchanges are easy to use and accessible from many locations. Cryptocurrency exchanges

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Stay informed and be alert.If you’ve heard about cryptocurrency, then you’ve probably heard about crypto scams. Decentralized technologies are reshaping the financial landscape. Unfortunately, the rapid innovation, still-evolving regulatory structure, and complex nature of the industry is

Some like it hot; some like it cold. Are you wondering about crypto wallets? Cryptocurrency wallets provide access to cryptocurrency and other digital assets. They may be online or offline. Software and web-based wallets are often referred to as hot wallets, while hardware and physical paper

turtle: Form and function: …vertical-necked, turtles of the suborder Cryptodira (meaning “hidden neck”). Turtles that cannot withdraw the head belong to the suborder Pleurodira (meaning “side neck”). (See also side-necked turtle; snake-necked turtle.)

turtle: Form and function: …vertical-necked, turtles of the suborder Cryptodira (meaning “hidden neck”). Turtles that cannot withdraw the head belong to the suborder Pleurodira (meaning “side neck”). (See also side-necked turtle; snake-necked turtle.)

bivalve: Annotated classification: Subclass Cryptodonta Hinge either weakly taxodont or edentulous; distinctive shell structure of aragonitic simple prisms and nacre internally; large posterior protobranch ctenidia; small labial palps; of primitive and ancient lineage; marine; unattached; infaunal. Order Solemyoida Shell valves equal and elongate, lacking hinge teeth, covered by a…

impact structure, remains of an ancient meteorite impact on Earth’s surface, generally in the form of a circular scar of crushed and deformed bedrock. Because such telltale features as crater walls, fused silica glass, and meteorite fragments are heavily modified over time by erosion and

lower vascular plant, any of the spore-bearing vascular plants, including the ferns, club mosses, spike mosses, quillworts, horsetails, and whisk ferns. Once considered of the same evolutionary line, these plants were formerly placed in the single group Pteridophyta and were known as the ferns and

biological soil crust, thin layer of living material formed in the uppermost millimetres of soil where soil particles are aggregated by a community of highly specialized organisms. Biological soil crusts are found primarily in open spaces in the dry and extremely cold regions of all continents,

bunya pine: Known as cryptogeal germination, it is thought that this adaptation may protect against wildfires and allows the young plants to emerge when conditions are suitable.

respiratory disease: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is also known as cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. This is a generally fatal lung disease of unknown cause that is characterized by progressive fibrosis of the alveolar walls. The disease most commonly manifests between the ages of 50 and 70, with…

James De Mille: …adults included thrillers, such as The Cryptogram (1871); comic novels of adventure, such as The Dodge Club; or, Italy in 1859 (1869); and historical romances, such as A Tale of Rome in the First Century (1867). Writings for young readers included the “B.O.W.C.” (“Brethren of the White Cross”) series, the…

cliff brake: …brake is sometimes used for rock ferns or rock brakes, about four to seven species constituting the genus Cryptogramma, native to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. They differ from Pellaea species by having fronds that die back each winter and by their fertile leaflets, which are usually narrower than the…

RSA encryption, type of public-key cryptography widely used for data encryption of e-mail and other digital transactions over the Internet. RSA is named for its inventors, Ronald L. Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard M. Adleman, who created it while on the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of

cryptography, Practice of the enciphering and deciphering of messages in secret code in order to render them unintelligible to all but the intended receiver. Cryptography may also refer to the art of cryptanalysis, by which cryptographic codes are broken. Collectively, the science of secure and

Cryptolithus, genus of trilobites (extinct arthropods) found as fossils in Europe and North America in the Ordovician period (505 million to 438 million years ago). Its distinctive appearance makes the genus a useful guide fossil for Ordovician rocks and time. The head region, or cephalon, in

cryptology, science concerned with data communication and storage in secure and usually secret form. It encompasses both cryptography and cryptanalysis. The term cryptology is derived from the Greek kryptós (“hidden”) and lógos (“word”). Security obtains from legitimate users being able to

Japanese cedar, (Cryptomeria japonica), a coniferous evergreen timber tree and only species of the genus Cryptomeria of the family Cupressaceae (sometimes classified in the so-called deciduous cypress family Taxodiaceae), native to eastern Asia. The tree may attain 45 metres (150 feet) or more in

cryptomonad, (class Cryptophyceae), any of several genera of small biflagellate algae occurring in both fresh and salt water. Most cryptomonads contain pigments found elsewhere only in red algae and cyanobacteria. Some live harmlessly as zooxanthellae within other organisms. They reproduce

cryptomonad, (class Cryptophyceae), any of several genera of small biflagellate algae occurring in both fresh and salt water. Most cryptomonads contain pigments found elsewhere only in red algae and cyanobacteria. Some live harmlessly as zooxanthellae within other organisms. They reproduce

algae: Annotated classification: 200 described species; includes Chilomonas, Cryptomonas, Falcomonas, Plagioselmis, Rhinomonas, and Teleaulax. Division Rhodophyta (red algae) Predominantly filamentous; mostly photosynthetic, a few parasitic; photosynthetic species with chlorophyll

fungus: Annotated classification: Order Cryptomycocolacales Parasitic on insects such as bark beetles, some are mycoparasitic; sometimes fuse with host cells using a small pore in colacosome; example genera include Cryptomycocolax and Colacosiphon. Subphylum Ustilaginomycotina Parasitic on plants as dikaryotic hyphae; haploid yeast

fungus: Annotated classification: Class Cryptomycocolacomycetes Parasitic; simple septate; contains 1 order. Order Cryptomycocolacales Parasitic on insects such as bark beetles, some are mycoparasitic; sometimes fuse with host cells using a small pore in colacosome; example genera include Cryptomycocolax and Colacosiphon.

fungus: Evolution and phylogeny of fungi: …fungi (referred to as the cryptomycota), members of which average about 3 to 5 μm (1 μm is about 0.000039 inch) in length, have cell walls lacking chitin, and possess a flagellum. Phylogenetic analyses of ribosomal RNA in this clade suggest that it is an ancient fungal group.

eusocial species: …rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and the Damaraland mole rat (Cryptomys damarensis), are the only vertebrates that engage in truly eusocial behaviour.

perthite: …distinguishable only microscopically, and in cryptoperthite the crystals are so small that the separation can be detected only by X-ray diffraction. Perthite was originally thought to be a single mineral, described at a locality near Perth, Ontario, from which its name is derived.

silken fungus beetle, (family Cryptophagidae), any of approximately 800 insect species (insect order Coleoptera) in which the adult beetles are less than 5 mm (15 inch) in length, are oval, are yellow or brown, and are covered with fine, silky hairs. These beetles usually feed on fungi and decaying

silken fungus beetle, (family Cryptophagidae), any of approximately 800 insect species (insect order Coleoptera) in which the adult beetles are less than 5 mm (15 inch) in length, are oval, are yellow or brown, and are covered with fine, silky hairs. These beetles usually feed on fungi and decaying

silken fungus beetle, (family Cryptophagidae), any of approximately 800 insect species (insect order Coleoptera) in which the adult beetles are less than 5 mm (15 inch) in length, are oval, are yellow or brown, and are covered with fine, silky hairs. These beetles usually feed on fungi and decaying

cryptomonad, (class Cryptophyceae), any of several genera of small biflagellate algae occurring in both fresh and salt water. Most cryptomonads contain pigments found elsewhere only in red algae and cyanobacteria. Some live harmlessly as zooxanthellae within other organisms. They reproduce

algae: Annotated classification: Division Cryptophyta Unicellular flagellates. Class Cryptophyceae Chlorophyll a, chlorophyllide c2, and phycobiliproteins; starch stored outside of chloroplast; mitochondria with flattened cristae; tubular hairs on one or both flagella; special ejectosomes in a furrow or gullet near base of flagella; cell covered with

cryptoporticus, a covered gallery that was a characteristic feature of the ancient Roman palazzo. It was usually designed to provide shade and a cool place for walking. Such a gallery was part of the Roman emperor Diocletian’s Palace at Spalatro (Split, Croatia) and the House of the Cryptoporticus

fossa, (Cryptoprocta ferox), largest carnivore native to Madagascar, a catlike forest dweller of the civet family, Viverridae. The fossa grows to a length of about 1.5 metres (5 feet), including a tail about 66 centimetres (26 inches) long, and has short legs and sharp, retractile claws. The fur is

cryptorchidism, disorder in which one or both of the testes do not descend spontaneously to the usual position in the scrotum. (The testes normally descend around the time of the male infant’s birth.) Usually only one testis fails to descend into the scrotum; the other, descended testis suffices to

cryptorchidism, disorder in which one or both of the testes do not descend spontaneously to the usual position in the scrotum. (The testes normally descend around the time of the male infant’s birth.) Usually only one testis fails to descend into the scrotum; the other, descended testis suffices to

bryophyte: Evolution and paleontology: …occurs as fossils of liverwort cryptospores (sporelike structures) that span several genera, was found in rocks laid down between 473 million and 471 million years ago. The cryptospores are considered to be the first known terrestrial plants, and some scientists contend that the diversity of fossil cryptospores found in the…