A Dinosaur's Weapon

Above: The Stegouros elengassen with its iconic tail!
A new 74 million year old species of dinosaur has been discovered in Chile with an impressive tail. The armored herbivore Stegouros elengassen was equipped with a sturdy tail that was surrounded with flat bony plates on either side. It would use these plates as defensive slashing tools to fend off predators.
We instantly thought of the Aztec macuahuitl weapon when we saw it, an ancient weapon consisting of obsidian blades set into a wooden bat. When you look at the animal, it's easy to see the resemblance!

Above: A modern recreation of a macahuitl
The stegosaurus is smaller than other armored dinosaurs like the ankylosaurus or stegosaurus, but its unique tail weapon was quite a surprise to paleontologists. The discovery shows the difference in evolution that armored dinosaurs from the southern hemisphere underwent as opposed to their northern relatives.
Featured Product
William and Catherine Royal Wedding Cake
Cool Things!

Snakestones, Shaligrams, Ammonites, Oh My! All About Ammonites
Ammonites, the aquatic ancestor of cephalopods such as the octopus and nautilus, have captured our imaginations for centuries. Their spiraling fossilized shells have been known by many names throughout history. Here is our roundup of the most fascinating ammonite folklore!

Learn how Scientists Used Zircon Crystals to Date a Meteorite Impact!
In a new study, researchers have observed that a meteorite impact in modern day Scotland, thought to have occurred 1.2 billion years ago, was actually much more recent, at around 990 million years ago. Their method: studying the microscopic zircon crystals that they say “captured the impact.”

Scientists at CERN Are Split-Second Alchemists
Although they won’t be turning a profit anytime soon, scientists at CERN have become split-second alchemists, briefly turning lead particles into gold.
Specimen Deep Dives

Returning to the Moon: The Apollo 14 Mission

The Secrets of the Space Shuttle: Learn about Mini Museum's Shuttle Tile Material!

Gondwana: When the Earth Was One
Long Form Articles

The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.

Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.

Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!