SciTechDaily has a story that highlights a new dinosaur discovery that might rewrite the evolution of flight.  New research by a team led by James Napoli, from the Department of Anatomical Sciences in the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, found that some theropod dinosaurs had a bird-like carpal bone, or pisiform.  The existance of this write bone might shift views on how flight evolved.  The research was published in the journal Nature. For a long time, scientists were uncertain about the identity of a particular carpal bone in the bird wrist, until it was confirmed to be the…

The Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville, IL has a new exhibit “Souvenirs From the Silurian Sea: Fossils of Will County” opening on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025.  It’s a free exhibit that runs through November 30th, 2025.  The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM.  WJOL has a nice announcement. “This is a rare opportunity to see prehistoric life up close, not just in textbooks, but through real fossils found right here in Will County,” said Jen Guest, facility supervisor at Isle a la Cache. “It’s a surprising adventure for all ages.” Visitors will…

LiveScience has a story about a new species of plesiosaur.  Plesionectes longicollum, which means to “long-necked near-swimmer”, lived during the early Toarcian age (183 million to 174 million years ago), which is the early Jurassic.  The fossil specimen measures about 10 feet long and was found in 1978 from a quarry in Germany, part of the Posidonia Shale formation, known for its “exquisitely preserved fossils.”  Details were published in the journal PeerJ. “This specimen has been in collections for decades, but previous studies never fully explored its distinctive anatomy,” study lead author Sven Sachs, a vertebrate paleontologist at the Natural History…

The New York Times’ Trilobites column has a piece about the discovery of a new mammal from the late Jurassic of England. It’s called Novaculadon mirabilis, from novacula, the Latin word for razor for its sharp teeth.  The animal was about the size of a mouse and lived about 145 million years ago around what is now Dorset, England.  At that time, Dorset was beach front property as it is today.  You can find more details in the paper “A new multituberculate (Mammalia, Allotheria) from the Lulworth Formation (Cretaceous, Berriasian) of Dorset, England”, which was published in the Proceedings of the…

Science Alert has a story about the world’s rarest mineral. Kyawthuite is so rare there is only one known specimen.  It was purchased at a market in Chaung-gyi in Myanmar by gemologist Kyaw Thu, who thought the raw gem was a mineral called scheelite.  After cutting it, Kyaw realized it was something different.   Unable to match the mineral with anything known, he sent it to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Laboratory in Bangkok, Thailand. There, mineralogists were able to relate the stone to synthetic BiSbO4 – bismuth antimonate – though with the formula Bi3+Sb5+O4, an arrangement never before found in nature.…

Today at the Lizzadro Gemstones have dazzled humanity for centuries, symbolizing wealth, status, and personal expression. But what gives them their allure? Discover the science of gemology – the scientific journey into origins, properties, and mysteries of these natural treasures. Join Dr. Cigdem Lule for an introduction to the tools, techniques, and scientific scope of gemology. With strong interest, a series of in-depth workshops will be offered this winter, providing participants with practical experience using professional gemological equipment. 1:00 p.m. – 90-minutes – Students and AdultsRegular Museum Admission – Museum Members FreeReservations Recommended – Register at here