Researchers found the remains of a small mammal preserved in the gut of a fossilized Cretaceous-era Microraptor zhaoianus. It’s the first evidence that the genus ate mammals, and one of very few examples showing mammals in any dinosaur’s diet.
NASA’s Perseverance rover deposited the first of 10 rock samples it will leave in a depot in the Three Forks region of Mars. Housed in titanium tubes, the samples provide a backup to be retrieved later if Perseverance can’t return its samples to Earth.
Researchers determined glassfrogs are able to become transparent by concealing nearly 90 percent of the red blood cells in their body inside their liver. They made the discovery using a non-invasive imaging technique that scans the body using soundwaves, as glassfrogs don’t become transparent when they’re stressed or sedated.
Astronauts Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio installed the ISS’ fourth Roll-Out Solar Array in a seven-hour spacewalk. The operation to upgrade the space station’s power supply was delayed from earlier in the week to avoid debris from a Roscosmos rocket.
Researchers discovered two proteins that develop on either side of certain cells in grass, telling the plant where to develop “helper cells” that enable its respiratory pores to breathe. The study was focused solely on grass’ development, but could help scientists study other crops’ climate change resilience.
Archaeologists discovered the oldest projectile points ever found in the Americas, dating to around 15,700 years ago. The stone weapons — found on Nimíipuu land where Cooper’s Ferry, Idaho, now sits — are 3,000 years older than the previous earliest examples.
Researchers discovered an enzyme that protects against viruses may also be responsible for driving cancer cell evolution. The APOBEC3G enzyme leads to more mutations in bladder cancer, and therapies targeting it could lead to future treatments.