The Dueling Dinosaurs are exceptional. Both skeletons bear evidence of soft tissue preservation. But how much of the original material is there? One technique we can apply to identify the presence of soft tissues such as skin on our specimen is handheld X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). XRF is used to determine the chemical composition of materials ..read more

The Dueling Dinosaurs are exceptionally preserved. Every bone remains in life position. This incredible preservation suggests that these two dinosaurs were entombed by sediment as fleshed-out carcasses and not just skeletons. Through the process of fossilization, the bones of these animals were mineralized in exceptional condition, while the soft tissues (e.g., skin, muscle and feathers ..read more

Photo: Cambodian Ministry of Environment. “A previously unidentified species of gecko has been discovered at the Phnom Preah Kuhear Luong (luong caves) in Kampot province’s Banteay Meas district [Cambodia]. The discovery is the result of a two-year research project, according to the Ministry of Environment. “The study was conducted by specialists from the ministry, in ..read more

Fona herzogae. Illustration: Jorge Gonzalez. By Tracey Peake, NCSU News Services The age of dinosaurs wasn’t conducted solely above ground. A newly discovered ancestor of Thescelosaurus shows evidence that these animals spent at least part of their time in underground burrows. The new species contributes to a fuller understanding of life during the mid-Cretaceous ..read more

Gathering seashells is one of the delights of a beach trip; everyone knows the feeling of spotting something beautiful among a seemingly infinite array of colors and shapes dotting the shoreline. Generations have trusted Hugh Porter’s ,”Seashells of North Carolina” to help identify favorite shells. This revised and expanded edition from the experts at North ..read more

Since 1987, educators from across North Carolina have been inspired by Museum-run trips to outstanding natural areas such as Belize, Ecuador and Yellowstone National Park. Their students can follow along and ask questions as the educators post daily blogs from the field, and educators return to their classes excited to share new science content and ..read more

Dr. Dan Dombrowski holding the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle he helped rehabilitate from a cold stranding event. Photo: Annette Weston/Public Radio East. By Annette Weston Sea turtles are among the most captivating creatures found on the eastern North Carolina coast, and one was recently set free after being nursed back to health; it was stunned ..read more

SECU DinoLab Manager Eric Lund prepares to saw through the tyrannosaur femur. Photo courtesy of NCSU. One of our research questions concerning the Dueling Dinosaurs is the age of the dinosaurs when they died. For our tyrannosaur, is it small because it is young or because it is an adult of a smaller species? Since ..read more

Summer exhibition mixes fascinating stories with urgent messages about pollinators. [RALEIGH, N.C.] — Transform into bees, bats and butterflies and get your game on in the vibrant world of “Amazing Pollinators,” opening at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on Saturday, June 15. The centerpiece of this unique, bilingual (English and Spanish) exhibit is ..read more

Carina Nebula, taken with the James Webb Space Telescope. Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI. By Leoneda Inge, Jeff Tiberii, Erin Keever After talking with a NASA astronaut, we at Due South wanted to learn more about research that’s happening here on Earth. Rachel Smith, an astrophysicist at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences ..read more