The Mini Museum Library - Articles, Essays, Specimen Deep Dives, and Current Research

COOL THINGS! (VOL 2.4)

August 4, 2021

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the May 2021 issue of Cool Things! Each month, we want to bring you news on scientific discoveries, historical information, and other interesting finds from across the internet. We have a lot to share today, so let's dive in!

Planet T. Rex

Above: Anger Issues!

The Tyrannosaurus Rex is a terrifying creature, the king of the Cretaceous with teeth the size of kitchen knives. If that wasn't scary enough, now imagine 2.5 BILLION of them. That's the estimate a new study gives for the total population of the species. That puts about 1 T. Rex for every three people on Earth. Luckily for other dinosaurs, this massive population is due to the T. Rex's longevity as a species. It's likely there were only ever 20,000 rexes living at a time during the millions of years the species roamed the world.

You can read more about the study here and browse our collection of Tyrannosaurus Rex specimens here! If you're looking for something really special, check out this one of a kind T. Rex Tooth necklace. T. Rex Tooth Pendant

The one of a kind, 1.1 inch Tyrannosaurus Rex tooth necklace!

The fossil tooth is capped with a gorgeous sterling silver chain and comes from the mouth of a real Tyrannosaurus. We only have one available, so if you like what you see, act fast!

Recipe for an Atmosphere

Above: Artist's depiction of Kepler-186f, an Earth like exoplanet. Source: JPL-Caltech

The connection between a planet's geologic composition and atmospheric makeup hasn't been well understood, but a new series of experiments is using chondritic meteorites to shed some light on that question. These stony meteorites were formed early in the solar system's history and are composed of the same matter that would eventually become the planets we know today. Some bubbles of ancient atmosphere have actually survived over time, preserved in process that creates fulgurites, or petrified lightning!

You can read more about the study here and check out our new samples of the NWA 869 meteorite to learn more about what makes chondritic meteorites so special!

"We're Gonna Need a Bigger Needle"

Above: Get your shot in the deep blue sea! Credit: AMNH

The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is an amazing institution for learning and science and now it's opening its doors as a COVID-19 vaccination site. Patients will be able to get their shot below the iconic 94 foot long blue whale model in the Hall of Ocean Life. It looks like the Cetacean got a jab of its own too, judging from the new bandage over its flipper. Sign us up!

Monkeydactyl: The First Thumbs
An artist's depiction of the Monkeydactyl

An artist's depiction of the Monkeydactyl

Above: The Monkeydactyl grabs a snack... Cute, terrifying, or both? Credit: Chuang Zhao

What's got two thumbs, a pair of wings, and teeth to boot? Monkeydactyl! This newly discovered animal, known by its official name as Kunpengopterus antipollicatus, was a 160 million year old reptile that stalked the forests of Jurassic China. What sets this creature apart is its clawed, opposable thumbs, which allowed it to climb trees and catch prey. This is the earliest instance of opposable thumbs discovered, making Monkeydactyl the first of its kind. We give it two thumbs up!

Growing Microscopic Salt!
A salt crystal shaped like a sheep!

Above: A salt sheep standing on salt legs. Credit: Science Magazine

As water evaporates, it leaves behind any saturated materials. With salt, this creates tiny crystal structures, which ordinarily aren't a big deal. However, pipes that see a lot of water moving through them can experience a build up that leads to clogging and damage. To solve this, engineers have developed a new material with nanoscopic holes. This material forces the salt crystals to grow upwards in stalks, which makes them less likely to stick to the inside of the pipes, washing them away and preventing build up. A fun side effect of this process means the salt crystals resemble microscopic sheep! Take a look!

❤️🚀 Remembering Michael Collins
Apollo 11 Astronaut, Michael Collins

Above: U.S. Astronaut Michael Collins, 1969. Source: NASA

When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the surface of the Moon, Collins piloted the command module in orbit, making sure the astronauts made a safe trip home. After the Apollo mission, Collins became the first director of the newly named National Air and Space museum and played an instrumental role in expansion of the space wing.

Collins' work at both institutions of science and of learning will always be remembered. Michael Collins aboard the Apollo 11 mission.

Michael Collins aboard the Apollo 11 mission.

"It’s human nature to stretch, to go, to see, to understand. Exploration is not a choice, really; it’s an imperative.” -Michael Collins

Boeing 747 - EI-BED Horizontal Stabilizer

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Boeing 747 - EI-BED Horizontal Stabilizer

Collect a piece of aviation history: authentic material from an iconic Boeing 747 available now! Taking to the skies is a common feature of our lives today, but there was a time when catching a flight was an extravagant luxury. When it was built, the Boeing 747 revolutionized the airline industry as the first jumbo jet. Carrying more seats at a lower cost, the plane allowed the average person to experience the thrill of flight. This specimen is a fragment of the horizontal stabilizer of a 747... ($29.00 USD)

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Cool Things!

Organic Glass Found Among Remains of Roman Guard

One of the most dramatic events in the history of the Roman Empire was the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. It is unknown how many perished during the eruption and its fallout, however, haunting images of contorted Pompeiians frozen in time by searing gas and ash paints an image of hellish, alien conditions. In a bizarre twist of the otherworldly occurrence, scientists have found the only documented instance of a victim whose brain was turned to glass by flows from the eruption.

The Mysterious Origin of the St. Mark's Square Lion!

Keeping a watchful eye over what Napoleon knew as “the drawing room of Europe,” the winged lion of St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy, is a majestic sight. The origin of this iconic statue has been cloaked in mystery, but in September of 2024, a group of chemists, archaeologists, geologists, and art historians shed more light on this sculpture’s story.

The Hun Family Tree

"Attila and his Hordes Overrun Italy and the Arts" by Eugène Delacroix (1843-1847) Post Author - ...

Specimen Deep Dives

Returning to the Moon: The Apollo 14 Mission

In the wake of the disastrous Apollo 13, the revolutionary space program that had landed humans o...

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

Want to learn more about our mission-flown Space Shuttle Columbia HRSI tile? This specimen was re...

Gondwana: When the Earth Was One

Gondwana, also known as Gondwanaland, was an ancient supercontinent which first formed 800,000,00...

Long Form Articles

The Top 5 Most Expensive Star Wars Collectibles Ever Sold

When Star Wars debuted in theaters on May 25th, 1977, it launched an international phenomenon spanning decades of film history. Today, the series has had countless spinoffs, tv shows, books, and merchandising emblazoned with its characters and symbols, for which fans are ready to part with a pretty penny. Here are the top 5 most expensive Star Wars memorabilia items ever sold.

The Biggest Dinosaurs to Walk The Earth

For 165 million years across the Mesozoic Era, dinosaurs reached incredible, towering sizes, but curiously the evidence suggests the largest came at the end of the Age of Dinosaurs. This may seem ironic. After all, larger animals have smaller populations and require more food, thus making them susceptible to environmental stresses. On the flip side, if a large animal is able to survive a mass die-off, their genetic predisposition to a large size will quickly spread in a reduced population. This is what we see in the Late Cretaceous: dinosaurs of many different clades reaching their apex.

The Largest Meteorites Ever Discovered on Earth

Meteorites have fascinated humans since we first started looking up into the night sky. Since then, our ability to track and study them has greatly improved, but the fascination remains. Here is a countdown of the 5 largest meteorites ever found!

COOL THINGS! (VOL 2.4)

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Boeing 747 - EI-BED Horizontal Stabilizer

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