This 2-pound dinosaur is rewriting what scientists know about evolution

Researchers have identified a 90 million year old fossil that helps solve a long standing mystery about a strange group of prehistoric animals. The discovery was led by University of Minnesota Twin Cities scientist Peter Makovicky along with Argentine paleontologist Sebastian Apesteguía. Their findings, published in the peer reviewed journal…

Scientists may have discovered a brand-new mineral on Mars

A new study published in Nature Communications reports the detection of an iron sulfate on Mars that may represent a previously unknown mineral. Sulfur is abundant on Mars and commonly combines with other elements to create sulfate minerals. On Earth, most sulfates dissolve easily in rainwater. Mars, however, is extremely…

Cosmic voids look empty but they may be tearing the universe apart

Imagine removing everything from the deepest regions of cosmic voids. Take away ordinary matter, neutrinos, dark matter, cosmic rays, and radiation. What remains appears to be nothing but empty space. It may sound contradictory, but these enormous voids are filled with the vacuum of spacetime. And importantly, that vacuum is…

Scientists finally solve the mystery of yeast’s tiny centromeres

Centromeres serve the same fundamental purpose across nearly all forms of life. These regions of DNA ensure that chromosomes are properly separated when cells divide. Despite this shared role, centromeres vary dramatically in their structure. Some organisms have large stretches of repetitive DNA, while yeast uses extremely small and simple…

Researchers find alarming Alzheimer’s pattern in rural America

A new statewide spatial analysis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) has revealed major differences in how the condition affects people living in rural parts of Maryland. The findings highlight how access to healthcare can strongly influence health outcomes, offering a clear example of challenges that many rural communities…

NASA’s DART asteroid smash shows we could deflect a future threat

NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission did more than alter the motion of a small asteroid. New research shows the spacecraft’s deliberate collision with the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos in September 2022 also slightly changed the path of the entire asteroid system around the Sun. The finding provides strong evidence…

Scientists detect a sudden acceleration in global warming

Global warming has been increasing at a faster pace since about 2015, according to a new study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). By adjusting global temperature records to remove known natural influences, researchers were able to identify a statistically significant rise in the rate of warming…

Hidden metabolism found operating inside the cell nucleus

A new study published in Nature Communications has revealed that more than 200 metabolic enzymes can be found directly on human DNA. Many of these enzymes are typically known for producing energy in mitochondria, yet researchers discovered them sitting on chromatin inside the cell nucleus. The study shows that different…