Latest news with #MuseumofNaturalHistory
Indianapolis Star
20-07-2025
- Science
- Indianapolis Star
Woman finds massive tooth from this prehistoric creature on a Florida beach
A woman discovered a rare shark tooth in Florida, offering a glimpse into prehistoric times. Nicole Mercuri, 26, was walking along a Florida beach when she says she spotted a giant tooth that once belonged to a Megalodon, a massive prehistoric shark that roamed the ocean millions of years ago. She was absolutely "ecstatic" about the rare find. "There is no way I just found this," Mercuri said in a video she posted to Instagram. Mercuri, who lives on the west coast of Florida, immediately pulled out her phone and began recording herself when she spotted the tooth and dug it out of the sand. "I was like so shocked and I just freaked out over it," Mercuri told USA TODAY. "I was just like 'Oh my God, Oh my God!'" The tooth is 3 inches wide and nearly 5 inches long. While Mercuri did find the tooth in Florida, she did not specify which beach it was found on. Mercuri found her first Megalodon tooth in 2024, but couldn't record her reaction because she didn't have her phone with her. "It's in the glass case right now," she said. "I still have it with the other one that I found recently." Mercuri has been hunting shark teeth for six years. She started off looking for teeth, and then became interested in hunting shells as well. "I go to the beach a lot, do a lot of shark tooth hunting in the area, shell hunting," said Mercuri. "I have a lot of fun with that, so that's kind of like my main hobby that I do around in this area." Her room now looks like the beach because of how many shells she's found, she said. The oldest Megalodon fossils date back to 23 million years ago, according to the Museum of Natural History. The prehistoric shark ruled the seas before it went extinct around 3.6 million years ago. The sharks don't have skeletons similar to those of other prehistoric creatures, such as a T. rex. Since its "bones" were made of cartilage, its body couldn't preserve itself as well as its teeth. And, while rare, those teeth are massive. The extinct predator could have been 50 to 60 feet long, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. And, just like its body, its teeth were massive, too. The shark's teeth, which look like serrated knives shaped like triangles, can be up to 7 inches long, according to the museum. More discoveries: Archeologists find 1880 shipwreck while searching for a different one Mercuri advises anyone who wants to start hunting for shark teeth and fossils to begin by joining a Facebook group for fossil hunters. "Talk to people about maybe they can give you like advice for it," Mercuri said. "You know there are beaches, there are places in Florida you can find fossils or any cool shells. You just got to trust in yourself." Fossil hunters should also plan to travel on their own. They can't just wait for the opportunity to come. "You've got to do it yourself. That way you can find what you're looking for."
USA Today
19-07-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Woman finds massive tooth from this prehistoric creature on a Florida beach
A woman discovered a rare shark tooth in Florida, offering a glimpse into prehistoric times. Nicole Mercuri, 26, was walking along a Florida beach when she spotted a giant tooth that once belonged to a Megalodon, a massive prehistoric shark that roamed the ocean millions of years ago. She was absolutely "ecstatic" about the rare find. "There is no way I just found this," Mercuri said in a video she posted to Instagram. Mercuri, who lives on the west coast of Florida, immediately pulled out her phone and began recording herself when she spotted the tooth and dug it out of the sand. "I was like so shocked and I just freaked out over it," Mercuri told USA TODAY. "I was just like 'Oh my God, Oh my God!'" The tooth is 3 inches wide and nearly 5 inches long. While Mercuri did find the tooth in Florida, she did not specify which beach it was found on. Second Megalodon tooth discovery Mercuri found her first Megalodon tooth in 2024, but couldn't record her reaction because she didn't have her phone with her. "It's in the glass case right now," she said. "I still have it with the other one that I found recently." Mercuri has been hunting for shark teeth for six years. She started off looking for teeth, and then became interested in hunting for shells as well. "I go to the beach a lot, do a lot of shark tooth hunting in the area, shell hunting," said Mercuri. "I have a lot of fun with that, so that's kind of like my main hobby that I do around in this area." Her room now looks like the beach because of how many shells she's found, she said. A post shared by 𝒩𝒾𝓀𝓀𝒾 🌺 (@nikkitheasian) What were Megalodons? How big were they? The oldest Megalodon fossils date back to 23 million years ago, according to the Museum of Natural History. The prehistoric shark ruled the seas before it went extinct around 3.6 million years ago. The sharks don't have skeletons similar to those of other prehistoric creatures, such as a T. rex. Since its "bones" were made of cartilage, its body couldn't preserve itself as well as its teeth. And, while rare, those teeth are massive. The extinct predator could have been 50 to 60 feet long, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. And, just like its body, its teeth were massive, too. The shark's teeth, which look like serrated knives shaped like triangles, can be up to 7 inches long, according to the museum. More discoveries: Archeologists find 1880 shipwreck while searching for a different one Advice for beginner fossil hunters Mercuri advises anyone who wants to start hunting for shark teeth and fossils to begin by joining a Facebook group for fossil hunters. "Talk to people about maybe they can give you like advice for it," Mercuri said. "You know there are beaches, there are places in Florida you can find fossils or any cool shells. You just got to trust in yourself." Fossil hunters should also plan to travel on their own. They can't just wait for the opportunity to come. "You've got to do it yourself. That way you can find what you're looking for." Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meghan Markle forced to scrap next glitzy appearance due to escalating situation
Just days before Meghan Markle was due to be the guest of honour at a charity event at an LA museum, the event has been cancelled due to ongoing unrest in the city Meghan Markle will no longer appear at a glitzy event in Los Angeles on Saturday as the charity bash has been cancelled due to ongoing unrest in the city. Meghan was scheduled to be the guest of honour at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles, where she was expected to give a speech about her extensive charity work. However, as the streets of LA continue to be occupied by protestors facing off against ICE officers, organisers postponed the black-tie Night of Wonder event. Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director of the Natural History Museum in LA, said in a statement : "As an institution 'of, for, and with Los Angeles,' our responsibility during challenging times is clear: to serve as a community resource focused on healing and unity, not celebration." "Los Angeles needs us to channel our energy toward supporting our neighbours and demonstrating the values that make our city and county strong," her statement continued. The statement went on to clarify that the decision to indefinitely postpone the event was made by the museum's Board of Trustees, leadership and event partners, who "unanimously agreed" that pausing the event was "the appropriate response to current community circumstances." Chief Advancement Officer Paul Bessire added: 'We will find a future moment to celebrate our work. Until then, we will channel our energy towards being welcoming spaces for learning and discovery for everyone who walks through our doors.' The museum is expected to reschedule the event for a later date, and will continue with their daily operations and educational programs until the event is back in the calendar. The gala had planned to honour Meghan and her charity work, focusing on her championing of women and underprivileged communities, with other guests from cultural and philanthropic communities across Los Angeles also expected to attend. Dr Bettison-Varga had been excited to welcome Meghan to the event, saying in a statement earlier this week: "We are proud to honour Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, a native Angeleno, whose work to advance community wellbeing and expand opportunity – especially for underserved communities – aligns with our equity-focused approach to developing science literacy for the next generation." The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan added that Meghan's mission to advance community wellbeing and uplift young women 'dovetails with the museums' approach to connecting community and science by fostering meaningful educational experiences that empower young minds.' The event was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, with the gala happening at the same time at royal family will attend Trooping the Colour in London to celebrate the King's birthday. Parts of Los Angeles have been placed into lockdown, as locals continue to rise up against ICE officers who have been placed on the streets as part of President Trump's large-scale immigration policy. A local emergency has been declared in the Californian city with the National Guard descending on the city, after rioters set fire to cars, looted buildings and attacked officers. The protests began when ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers raided the city to detain those who they believed were illegal immigrants. Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass warned: "If you do not live or work in Downtown LA avoid the area. Law enforcement will arrest individuals who break the curfew, and you will be prosecuted.'
Daily Mirror
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meghan's huge royal clash as new glitzy outing comes on same day as major event
While the royal family will be celebrating the King's official birthday with the Trooping the Colour procession on Saturday, Meghan Markle will be at an event of her own in California As the Royal Family prepares for Trooping the Colour, Meghan Markle is planning her own big night out in California. The Duchess of Sussex has been confirmed as the guest of honour at a museum's Night of Wonder black-tie event in California, on the same day as the King's official birthday celebrations in London. The diary clash will see Meghan be honoured for her charity work, which focuses on advancing community wellbeing and expanding opportunities for disadvantaged people, particularly those from underprivileged and minority communities. The event, where Meghan will give a speech about her work, will take place at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles, California, where the royal couple has called home for the past five years since stepping back from their royal duties. Meghan will be joined by other high-profile guests at the museum on June 14, with the space being transformed into an enchanted nocturnal garden. The exclusive event will feature live music and installations representing local ecosystems and the LA landscape, and guests will be treated to a farm-to-table dinner that uses ingredients from the museum's nature gardens. While it has not yet been confirmed if Prince Harry will also be attending the museum's charity night, he often accompanies his wife to public events where she gives speeches. Ahead of the event, Lori Bettison-Varga, the President and Director of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, said: "We are proud to honour Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, a native Angeleno, whose work to advance community wellbeing and expand opportunity – especially for underserved communities – aligns with our equity-focused approach to developing science literacy for the next generation." The Office of Prince Harry and Meghan added that Meghan's mission to advance community wellbeing and uplift young women 'dovetails with the museums' approach to connecting community and science by fostering meaningful educational experiences that empower young minds.' On the same day of the exclusive event at the Los Angeles museum, the Royal family will be taking to the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour to celebrate the King's birthday. The Trooping the Colour event, which takes place every year in June, has been held to mark the sovereign's official birthday since the accession of King George IV in 1820, except during the world wars and a national strike in 1955. In 2020, a scaled-back version of the celebration was held at Windsor Castle due to the Covid pandemic. Trooping the Colour 2025, officially known as The King's Birthday Parade, will take place on Saturday June 14 in London. Prince Harry and Meghan have not attended the event in an official capacity since 2019, although Meghan was seen watching the military procession from Horse Guards Parade during the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. Harry and Meghan announced they would be stepping back as senior members of the royal family in January 2020, and have been living in Montecito, California, with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, ever since.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Unexpected Reason Might Connect Estranged Brothers Prince William and Prince Harry
One of the largest collections of Princess Diana's items is coming up for auction on June 26—and there's a good chance that her sons Prince William and Prince Harry will be tempted to bid on them, an expert said. There are over 300 items on the auction block, from the former Princess of Wales' dresses to shoes to handbags. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex even make it into the auction in the form of numerous holiday cards of Diana's family signed by the royal this month, over 300 items from the late Princess Diana's collection—everything from clothing to shoes to handbags to personal cards and letters—will go up for auction. The question has to be asked: will her sons Prince William and Prince Harry privately bid for any of their late mother's items? It's very possible, said Martin Nolan, executive director and co-founder of Julien's Auctions, which is putting on the sale on June 26 at 10 a.m. PST at The Peninsula Beverly Hills. Speaking on Hello!'s 'A Right Royal Podcast,' Nolan said, 'I would expect that they are tempted and expect that they do and expect they have representatives who buy on their behalf.' 'And that's understandable,' he added. 'I would, too.' Some of the items are deeply personal pieces from the former Princess of Wales' collection. 'You see the ski suit and the great photographs of them or the shoes that she wore when she went to the dinosaur exhibition at the Museum of Natural History here,' Nolan continued. 'You know, like all of those, they're memories for them. It's their mum. She's the most famous person in the world, but of course they would love to own some of these and preserve them for their own memories.' In total, there are 325 items in the auction, called Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection—including Diana's famous Lady Dior bag, her iconic Caring Dress designed by Bellville Sassoon, the hat she wore as she departed for her honeymoon with Prince Charles in 1981, and multiple handwritten notes. William and Harry even make it to the collection themselves in the form of a signed holiday card featuring a photo of the two with their parents from 1989 and a signed photograph of Diana with her two sons from 1990, among other photographs of the Wales family from yesteryear. Read the original article on InStyle
