Cool Things! (Vol 2.1)
Hello, everyone!
In 2021, we're reviving Cool Things, our monthly newsletter about new science, interesting history, and all sorts of other fun stuff! We'll be keeping you up to date on all sorts of topics and if you hear some news that you'd like for us to share then please send us a message at coolthings@minimuseum.com!
NEW THINGS!
This month we launched a whole bunch of cool new specimens for you to check out, like the fang of the fearsome Enchodus fish, the stunning Brazilian Amethyst, and our new Gibeon meteorite pendant! Take a look at the site to learn more!
We also announced something we've been very excited to share with you: The Mini Museum Charm Bracelet! This sterling silver chain bracelet can be outfitted with 7 different charms to become a personalized museum on your wrist! You can find details about each charm on the product page and stay tuned for new charms coming out in the future!
Snowball Mars? How an Antarctic discovery connects to the red planet.
Above: Artist's conception of a wintery mix on the Martian surface. Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser/Scott Sutherland
A new find in Antarctica may help prove a theory about Martian ice. A brittle yellow-brown mineral called jarosite has recently been discovered in an Antarctic ice core, though it has already been found in massive quantities on the surface of the red planet. Its Martian occurrence caused quite a stir due to the necessity for water in the minerals creation.
One theory suggested that Mars was once covered in massive ice sheets and that dust from the surface became trapped within the icy layers, eventually transforming into jarosite. With the discovery of trace amounts of the mineral in ice sheets here on Earth, this theory just got a whole lot more plausible. Learn more about the discovery here.
What Did it Mean to be a Woman in the Neanderthal World?
Above: A young neanderthal woman lies in animal skins. Credit: Tom Björklund
What was life like for a neanderthal woman? Combining archaeology, anthropology, and genetic science, Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes answers the questions of childhood, raising a family, and navigating the early human world as a woman. Not only were neanderthal women mothers and caretakers, but hunters and crafters who took a very active role in their community. You can read Sykes' fantastic piece here and if you want to get a closer look at the tools of neanderthal communities you can find handaxe fragments on our site!
2 Million Years of Thumbs Up!
Above: Thumb-tacular! A digital reconstruction of ancient thumb muscles. Credit: Katerina Havarti; Alexandros Karakostis; Daniel Haeufle
We use our thumbs for almost everything, in fact, you're probably using yours to read this email right now! The opposable digits are crucial to human civilization, but have you ever wondered when our ancestors were able to use them? A new study has made digital reconstructions of hand bones and muscle tissue and has been able to date the earliest occurrences of thumbs to 2 million years ago! Find out more here!
A Really Gassy Giant: Discovery of a new "cotton candy" planet.
Above: Illustration of WASP-107b, a strangely lightweight gas giant. Credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA, M. Kornmesser
Studies of a gas giant exoplanet with an incredibly low density have left scientists puzzled. WASP-107b is comparable in size to Jupiter but with 10 times less mass. This "cotton candy" planet throws a serious wrench into previous understandings about gas giant formations and has forced researchers to change their view on the required conditions for planetary formation. Find out more about the study and how the planet might have formed here.
Prehistoric Killer Worms!
Above: Monster worms catch a snack! Credit: Sassa Chen
Here's something to keep you on your toes: fossilized tunnels have been identified as burrows belonging to 6 foot long killer sea worms, who dragged fish into the seafloor over 20 million years ago. You can read more about those nightmare worms here.
That's it for now, but we'll leave you with photo from a winner of our #mymuseum contest. Erik used his graphic design skills to make this amazing Krayt Dragon display case! If you haven't submitted a pic already, check out the details here! We just announced a one month extension to the contest, so get your submissions in before March 5th for a chance to win one of many $30 gift codes!
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Latest News
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Apr 09, 2025 Did Scientists Resurrect a Dire Wolf or Just Create Colossal Hype? Read More -
Apr 07, 2025 What was dinosaur armor used for? New fossils help scientists find out! Read More -
Apr 03, 2025 Top 10 Most Incredible Dinosaur Fossils Ever Discovered! Read More -
Mar 31, 2025 The Mysterious Dodecahedrons From Across Ancient Rome Read More -
Mar 26, 2025 The Crazy Story of How Star Wars Got Made! Read More -
Mar 26, 2025 Skin, Eggs, and Poop: Unique Types of Dinosaur Fossils! Read More
Cool Things!
Did Scientists Resurrect a Dire Wolf or Just Create Colossal Hype?
What was dinosaur armor used for? New fossils help scientists find out!
While teeth and claws are usually the show-stoppers when it comes to fossils, of equal interest to scientists are plates, clubs, and spikes. While originally thought to have been developed by herbivorous dinosaurs to defend against their carnivorous counterparts, newly discovered specimens are leading researchers to draw new conclusions about the purpose of dinosaur armor.
Learn How Scientists Made Woolly Mice!
In an experiment that would make Dr. Hammond proud, researchers at Colossal Biosciences have used Mammoth DNA and gene editing technology to create “woolly mice,” a step towards their ultimate goal of recreating or “de-extincting” a woolly mammoth.
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
Top 10 Most Incredible Dinosaur Fossils Ever Discovered!
Dinosaur fossils have captured the popular imagination for decades. The giant, bizarre creatures that traversed the Earth far before the dawn of human civilization are the subject of countless exhibits, movies, books and television shows. Here is a countdown of 10 of the most significant and incredible fossils ever discovered!
The Mysterious Dodecahedrons From Across Ancient Rome
The ancient Romans left behind architectural marvels, a rich philosophical tradition, and a complete pantheon of gods and heroes, but among their many relics, the Gallo-Roman dodecahedrons remain truly mysterious.
The Crazy Story of How Star Wars Got Made!
On May 14, 1971, George Lucas flew into London for the first time. For a while now, the young director had been workshopping ideas for a space opera, jotting down an increasingly long list of bizarre names for people and places he could build a story around. So when he landed in London, Lucas marched into the office of United Artists head David Picker and convinced the executive to provide the seed money for his next movie.