The Weeks Formation Konservat-Lagerstatte and the evolutionary transition of Cambrian marine life

The Weeks Formation in Utah is the youngest (c. 499 Ma) and least studied Cambrian Lagerstatte of the western USA. It preserves a diverse, exceptionally preserved fauna that inhabited a relatively deep water environment at the offshore margin of a carbonate platform, resembling the setting of the underlying Wheeler and Marjum formations. However, the Weeks fauna differs significantly in composition from the other remarkable biotas of the Cambrian Series 3 of Utah, suggesting a significant Guzhangian faunal restructuring. This bioevent is regarded as the onset of a transitional episode in the history of life, separating the two primary diversifications of the Early Paleozoic. The Weeks fossils have been strongly affected by late diagenetic processes, but some specimens still preserve exquisite anatomical details

Improving the stellarator through advances in plasma theory

Improvements to the stellarator concept can be realized through advancements in theoretical and computational plasma physics. Herein, recent advances are reported in the topical areas of: (1) improved energetic ion confinement, (2) the impact of three-dimensional (3D) shaping on turbulent transport, (3) reducing coil complexity, (4) novel optimization and design methods, and (5) computational magnetohydrodynamic tools. These advances enable the development of new stellarator configurations with improved confinement properties