Hardhat Giraffes

Above: An artist's depiction of Discokeryx xiezhi
Scientists in China have discovered a previously unknown extinct cousin of giraffes with a very unique set of headgear. The fossil was first discovered in 1996 in China’s Shenzhen desert, but only now that the skull’s been examined with a CT scan has it been found that the fossil’s inner ear is nearly identical to the Giraffoid family.
This “strange beast” as the fossil had been heretofore known has been dubbed Discokeryx xiezhi, named in part for a horned creature from Chinese folklore. It sported a kind of bone helmet atop its head, which along with enforced vertebrate made the animal an adept fighter as it competed against other males for sexual partners. Not unlike Pachycephalosaurus, it could use its bony skull plate to bash against its foes.
This is a major discovery in understanding the evolutionary track of today’s giraffes. It had always been assumed that giraffes evolved their distinctive long necks to reach high vegetation other animals could not. The discovery of Discokeryx xiezhi supports the proposed idea that giraffes, like their thick-skulled cousins, might’ve evolved their long necks for combat, with access to new food sources as a fortuitous benefit.
Giraffes are known to fight each other by “necking”; using their long necks to swing their heads into each other’s bodies during a fight. This discovery in China provides not just a fascinating glimpse into the life of an extinct creature, but a clue into the evolution of one of the most distinctive animals walking the planet today.
Take a look at this amazing study to see more!
Featured Product
Martian Meteorite Pendant
Cool Things!

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.

Scientists Film a Colossal Squid in its Natural Habitat!
One hundred years after its discovery, scientists have captured the elusive colossal squid on film in its natural habitat. The juvenile squid was found around 2,000 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean near the South Sandwich Islands. Measuring about one foot long, it drifts through the sea with translucent skin, pearly eyes and colorful tentacles.
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!