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A small iguanodontian fossil from Japan adds evidence that Late Cretaceous coastal ecosystems supported dinosaurs of widely different body sizes. Iguanodontians were widespread plant-eating dinosaurs that lived from the Late Jurassic through the Late Cretaceous. Their movement between Asia, North America, and Europe helped shape their diversification across Laurasia, making fossils from Japan especially useful […]

Much of the ancient carbon released from thawing Arctic permafrost appears to end up trapped in seabed sediments rather than quickly returning to the atmosphere. The Arctic’s frozen ground holds an enormous reservoir of organic carbon. As permafrost thaws and coastlines erode, some of that carbon is carried into the ocean, where microorganisms can break […]

Ancient mammalian antimicrobial peptides revealed stronger bacteria-killing activity in some cases, offering clues for designing future treatments against resistant infections. Some proteins that vanished millions of years ago may still have something to teach scientists about fighting modern infections. University of Oregon biologists have reconstructed antimicrobial molecules dating back as far as 160 million years, […]

Antarctic ice preserves traces of iron-60 from ancient stellar explosions, helping scientists track the Solar System’s movement through interstellar clouds and changing cosmic environments. When you think of outer space, you’re likely picturing stars, planets, and moons. But much of space is filled with clouds of gas, plasma, and stardust—known as interstellar clouds. In the […]

Common plastic waste could become fuel using heated salts instead of extreme temperatures. Plastic bags, cutting boards, and many other everyday products are made from a plastic that is notoriously difficult to reuse once it becomes waste. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have now found a way to break down this plastic and turn […]