“The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology presented 19 awards in 14 categories earlier this month at their annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.  From student articles to digital modeling, the awards recognize an array of important contributions to the field of vertebrate paleontology. Honors in Achievement in Paleontology….”

Via Boston.com: … a recent dig at an 18th-century house in Newton is a reminder that archeology is relevant everywhere – and that our own backyards can be rich with artifacts and history, authorities say.  

Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinal: There’s gold in Marathon County, and a Michigan-based company is returning to the woods this winter for more prospecting in the hope of striking it big. As mining has taken a higher profile in Wisconsin in 2011, mineral exploration company Aquila Resources Inc. has quietly become the most active player in the state. Make no mistake about it. These are not gold rush days for Wisconsin, and the state is far from a hotbed of metallic mining.

Via Guardian – What lurks beneath a scientist’s lab coat? A surprising number of scientists are sporting tattoos related to their trade. Carl Zimmer explores the stories behind the ink… –

Geology.com has written an informative and interesting piece on diamond production in the US.

Via ABC News: Jennifer ViegasDiscovery News Scientists have discovered a 70-million-year-old nest filled with the remains of baby protoceraops dinosaurs. The nest of 15 juvenile Protoceratops andrewsi dinosaurs provides clues about the dinosaurs’ early behaviour…

Via PlanetEarth Online: A remarkably complete record of a prehistoric seabed ecosystem of a kind never discovered before has been revealed with X-ray scanning. A paper in Geology gives the first account of the plentiful and exceptionally well-preserved organisms from the Ordovician period that have been found in the Llanfawr Mudstones near Llandrindod Wells in central Wales. More than 20 species have turned up so far, and it’s almost certain that many more remain to be uncovered….

From OAOnline: Dried-up bodies of water are producing some hidden historical treasures, according to the Texas Historical Commission, but so far, no such finds have been reported in West Texas. Director of the Archeology Division for the THC Pat Mercado-Allinger said since the recent drought has taken its toll on the lakes and reservoirs in the state, items such as tools, cemeteries and even skulls are being found. While calls have come in from around West Texas about potential finds, the THC has yet to make its way to the area.

Ron Schott in his blog explains how to record a Hangout using Google+.

From University of Chicago a nice article about artists from U of C who work in paleo art, including Tyler Keillor. …The combination of important paleontological finds and skillful artists has made UChicago a fruitful place for scientific illustrators to ply their craft…