Scientists found the 500-million-year-old fossil of a "penis worm" in the Grand Canyon—and reconstructed how the creature would have used its strange mouth to feed.

This monster was a controversial addition to the movie, with tenuous ties to Tolkien, but The Rings of Power's worm monster seems to be the same creature and provides enlightening detail on it.

Updated: 4:36 PM EDT Aug 7, 2023 By Ashley R. Williams, CNN Researcher names recently discovered 500-million-year-old sea worm after ‘Dune’ monster Updated: 4:36 PM EDT Aug 7, 2023 ...

A University of Kansas paleontologist exploring an area known for its fossils recently uncovered a never-before-discovered ancient sea worm – and showed off her “nerdy” side while naming it.