Scientists Find Possible Blood-Cell Remnants in 115-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur

Researchers have identified microscopic structures resembling red blood cells and chemical traces associated with hemoglobin in a 115-million-year-old dinosaur fossil from Brazil. The evidence comes from the leg bones of Aratasaurus museunacionali, a small carnivorous dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous. Using electron microscopy and chemical analysis, scientists detected cell-like structures within ancient blood-vessel channels, alongside heme-related compounds and collagen-associated amino acids. The mineral hausmannite may have contributed to the preservation of these traces. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the discovery suggests that molecular evidence of ancient biological tissues can survive much longer than once expected. However, researchers emphasize that the findings do not represent intact blood or dinosaur DNA, and the identification of the cellular structures remains debated. (Reuters, The Guardian)

Penguin Droppings May Be Accelerating Antarctic Snowmelt

Penguins may be contributing to a previously overlooked mechanism of Antarctic snowmelt by fertilizing microscopic algae growing on snowfields. Researchers studying the West Antarctic Peninsula discovered that nutrients from penguin guano encourage the growth of green snow algae, which absorb more sunlight than surrounding snow or red-pigmented algae. When nutrients are scarce, snow algae tend to produce protective red pigments, but nutrient-rich conditions favor greener blooms containing more chlorophyll. The resulting darker snow surfaces absorb additional solar energy, potentially accelerating melting. Scientists compared algal communities near penguin colonies with those in areas without substantial penguin activity. Reported November 4, the findings reveal an unexpected relationship between wildlife, microbial ecosystems and climate processes. Current Antarctic snowmelt projections generally do not account for this biological feedback. (The Guardian)

AI Analyzes Heart Scans Faster and Predicts Survival More Accurately

Artificial intelligence can measure cardiac function from MRI scans substantially faster than experienced clinicians while providing slightly better predictions of patient survival, according to research published in The Lancet Digital Health. Scientists from City St George’s, University of London and University College London examined scans from 27,382 patients in Britain and the United States. During more than five years of average follow-up, 3,458 patients died. AI-generated measurements of ejection fraction, which indicates how effectively the heart pumps blood, were more strongly associated with mortality than clinician-derived measurements. The system processed scans in approximately two to three seconds, compared with roughly 13 minutes for conventional expert analysis. Researchers emphasize that human oversight remains essential, particularly because occasional automated errors could influence clinical decisions. (Medical Xpress)

Satellite Radar Reveals Massive 2,600-Year-Old Egyptian Complex

Archaeologists have discovered a large buried structure beneath the ancient Egyptian city of Buto in the Nile Delta using satellite radar and electrical imaging. The complex, dating to Egypt’s 26th Dynasty approximately 2,600 years ago, measures roughly 128 by 62 meters and lies three to six meters beneath the modern surface. Researchers used Sentinel-1 radar observations and electrical resistivity tomography to identify the structure before limited excavation confirmed substantial mudbrick walls. Remarkably, the building rests on a thick layer of clean sand, apparently engineered to distribute weight and protect its foundations from unstable, waterlogged delta sediments. Nearby discoveries, including ritual objects and a limestone altar, suggest possible religious or funerary functions. However, the complex’s precise purpose remains unknown. The findings demonstrate how remote sensing can uncover archaeology in difficult environments. (from space)

NASA’s Twin Spacecraft Prepare for Unprecedented Journey to Mars

NASA is preparing an unusual orbital maneuver that could transform how robotic missions travel to Mars. The agency’s twin ESCAPADE spacecraft will execute powered Earth flybys on November 7 and 9, using the planet’s gravity together with engine burns to increase their speeds by more than 1,000 miles per hour. Unlike conventional Mars missions, which typically launch during favorable planetary alignments, ESCAPADE departed Earth in November 2025 when Mars was poorly positioned for a direct journey. The spacecraft instead followed an extended trajectory near the Earth-Sun L2 region before returning for their gravitational slingshots. They are scheduled to reach Mars in September 2027, where they will investigate how solar wind interacts with the planet’s magnetic environment and contributes to atmospheric loss. The maneuver remains uncompleted. (NASA Science)