by Editor’s Note: A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, register for free here.
Dinosaurs are all around us, figuratively and literally.
Most of these diverse creatures went extinct 66 million years ago, but the ancient ancestors of modern birds are woven into the fabric of scientific intrigue and pop culture.
Colorful dinosaurs roam around in animated shows – while their more lifelike counterparts in “Jurassic Park” offer a menacing “what if” look to life alongside the giant reptiles.
Palaontologists uncover dozens of previously unknown dinosaur species every year, enriching the view of the world before humans set foot on it.
Scientists don’t always get it right the first time they try to imagine long-extinct creatures by piecing together their bones.
But imagine living in a time period – 200 years ago – when there were no dinosaurs.
Dino-mite!
When huge fossilized bones were found protruding from the slate quarries in Oxfordshire, England in the late 1600s, people thought they were once part of a Roman war elephant. The concept of dinosaurs, and even the word dinosaur, was centuries away from entering the public imagination.
But William Buckland, the first professor of geology at Oxford University, changed all that in 1824 when he named the first known dinosaur: Megalosaurus.
The initial illustrations of the giant reptile were not entirely accurate, but Buckland’s discovery was a start of a new scientific field that is still growing today.
Paleontologists believe that only a fraction of the dinosaur fossils that once populated the globe have been found, meaning that thousands or millions of other species may be waiting to be discovered.
Found
The authorities relocated the installation of a power plant near Rome after workers discovered an old necropolis.
Archaeologists discovered 67 skeletons, many embedded in gold jewelry, laid to rest surrounded by valuables inside elaborate tombs designed to resemble their homes.
“We found some skeletons still wearing their expensive socks and shoes,” said Emanuele Giannini, lead excavation archaeologist at the site. “All these riches, and the fact that the bones show no sign of stress or physical labor, (why do we believe) these were not local farmers, but upper-crust members of Roman families coming from cities .”
Many of the tombs were built for those with a family connection, and several skeletons were found wrapped around each other.
Defying gravity
The race to the moon has heated up in recent years, and now Japan’s lunar spacecraft will aim to demonstrate “pinpoint” landing technology. The SLIM lander, known as the “Moon Sniper,” is slated to touch down on the lunar surface on January 19.
And after a long wait, some of the most anticipated space missions are preparing to take off in the fall of 2024.
NASA’s Europa Clipper will launch in October to see if Jupiter’s icy moon Europa has what it takes to support life in its subsurface ocean.
In November, the Artemis II mission is expected to send four astronauts on a journey around the moon. If the lunar venture is successful, it will pave the way for NASA and its partners to launch Artemis III — returning humans to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.
The night sky
Prepare to see a sky full of heavenly wonders this year.
In addition to meteor showers and full moons, numerous types of lunar and solar eclipses will be visible from different points around the world.
One of the most anticipated is the total solar eclipse that will cross Mexico, the US and Canada on April 8.
And keep an eye out for the northern lights and the southern lights in unexpected places as the sun’s activity increases before it reaches solar maximum later this year.
Inquiries
A “living skin” protects the Great Wall of China from decay and erosion.
The scientists studied the rammed earth sections of the iconic landmark. Builders made these joints by compressing natural materials with soils, and were considered a weak point in the structure.
Instead, the researchers found that protective biobelts, or networks of small rootless plants and microorganisms, cover the soil surfaces. By studying samples, the scientists determined that the parts covered with bioscrew are three times stronger than the parts of rammed earth without it.
“They thought this type of vegetation was destroying the Great Wall. Our results show the opposite,” said Bo Xiao, professor of soil science at China Agricultural University.
Discoveries
Take a closer look at these exciting reads:
— Navajo Nation protest against landing human remains on the moon prompted a last-minute meeting at the White House.
— To answer the need for clean energy, some experts believe it’s time to build solar farms in space where sunlight shines on the Earth’s surface – but others say the plan is too long.
— During a trip to a remote part of North Greenland, researchers discovered fossils of previously unknown predatory worms known as “terror beasts” that ruled the seas half a billion years ago.
— Newly processed versions of Voyager 2 images show true views of Neptune and Uranus, showing that the two worlds are more similar in color than previously believed.
Like what you’ve read? Oh, but there is more. Register here to get the next issue of Wonder Theory in your inbox, brought to you by the writers of CNN Space and Science Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt. They discover the wonders of planets outside our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.
For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
