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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May 16, 2025 Scientists Capture First Ever Recording of a Live Coelacanth in Indonesia! Read More -
May 08, 2025 Scientists Find Evidence of a Real-Life Tatooine! Read More -
Apr 27, 2025 Lyndon Johnson: Architect of the U.S. Space Program Read More -
Apr 23, 2025 Can I Lick It? Yes You Can! Read More -
Apr 18, 2025 Scientists Film a Colossal Squid in its Natural Habitat! Read More -
Apr 16, 2025 Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection! Read More
Cool Things!
Scientists Capture First Ever Recording of a Live Coelacanth in Indonesia!
A living fossil, the Coelacanth is one of the most elusive and fascinating known sea creatures. Scientists have long known of two main species of Coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae, native to the West Indian Ocean, and Latimeria menadoensis, native to Indonesia. While the Western Indian Coelacanth has been photographed, its Indonesian counterpart was recently photographed for the first time.
Scientists Find Evidence of a Real-Life Tatooine!
Probably the most recognizable landscape in the Star Wars universe is Tatooine, Luke Skywalker’s desolate home planet where his fate finds him in the form of two crash-landing rebellion droids. Twin suns illuminate the desert wasteland, and in a recent discovery right out of George Lucas’s scripts, scientists believe they have found a planet similar to the one Skywalker begrudgingly calls home.
Lyndon Johnson: Architect of the U.S. Space Program
The Space Race is an era etched in the mythos of the United States. The starting gun, fired October 4th, 1957, as the Soviet Union launched the first-ever artificial satellite into space, was quickly answered by President John F. Kennedy a month later. In a special session of Congress, he set forth the goal of landing a man on the moon before the decade was out. If Kennedy was Jason on this voyage to the stars, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was his Argus, constructing the means of transport long before this challenge was issued and long before his superior’s assassination tumbled the nation into darkness.
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
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!
Is It Legal To Own a Dinosaur Fossil? How to start your Dinosaur Collection!
So you want to start fossil collecting!? Amateur paleontology is a fascinating and fun hobby that can even nab you an award! Dinosaur bones are some of the most sought-after specimens in the world, so you may be wondering, is it even legal to own a dinosaur bone? In short, yes! Read on for more help starting your fossil collection!