Latest news with #PatrickOConnor
News.com.au
20-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Why your winter workouts might not have the benefits you'd think
We've all heard the advice that exercise will make you feel better. However, new research has shed light on that old saying, revealing that it's not just any workout that benefits your mental health, but rather the context surrounding it. It turns out, it's less about how hard you work up a sweat and more about why you're moving, who you're with, and how you feel about it. In other words, that 6am jog around your local streets on a cold winter's morning might not actually be the best workout for your mind. Context is king The study from the University of Georgia found that where, how, and who with, makes all the difference when it comes to exercise and mental health. 'Historically, physical activity research has focused on how long someone exercises or how many calories were burned,' said Patrick O'Connor, co-author of the study. 'The 'dose' of exercise has been the main way researchers have tried to understand how physical activity might influence mental health, often ignoring whether those minutes were spent exercising with a friend or as part of a game.' The study found that people who regularly exercise for leisure get improved mental health benefits, such as lower levels of depression and anxiety. But if physical activity comes from chores like cleaning the house or mowing the lawn, it may not offer the same benefits. Mr O'Connor also gave an example of a soccer player's mental state while playing a game, which can vary greatly depending on the outcome. For instance, scoring the winning goal might boost confidence, but missing a shot and getting the blame might lead to negative feelings that counteract any mental health benefits you might have gotten from exercising. Therefore, the context of an activity affects a person's emotional response, even if the actions are similar. Other examples include walking to work on a hot day (which is not necessarily enjoyable) versus taking a group workout class where you really like the instructor's style (which is more likely to benefit your mental health). So, why do these factors matter? According to sports psychologist Dr Jo Lukins, who has spent decades uncovering what really keeps Aussies active, humans are 'continually seeking meaning'. 'Therefore, part of our decision-making in any area of our lives revolves around the motivations we have and the circumstances we face,' Dr Lukins tells 'Humans are deeply social beings, and often seek human contact through physical activity.' Sometimes this contact is direct – for example, going for a walk with a friend – and other times it's indirect, such as walking along a waterfront where there are other people around. Enjoyment is another crucial factor. Research has shown that the main reason children stop participating in sport is a loss of joy. So, Dr Lukins says it's no surprise that as adults, we also need a fun element in our exercise to stay interested and committed. How to motivate yourself to exercise With winter weather set in across the country, even thinking about exercise can feel like a challenge. Dr Lukins' top tip is to ditch the rule book and find exercise that's actually fun, and do it with a friend if you can. 'Be curious and creative when making your decisions,' she advises. 'Maybe there's a dance class you've always wanted to try, or you could take a long walk in a museum or explore indoor spaces like a shopping centre.'
CBS News
19-07-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Denver Museum of Nature & Science showing off dinosaur fossil found in parking lot; oldest in city's history
One of Colorado's most astonishing and coincidental fossil discoveries was found earlier this year, right beneath the parking lot of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, museum officials announced last week. While drilling for a geothermal tap in January, museum scientists decided to take the opportunity to study what lay below the surface. To their surprise, they hit something unexpected: a dinosaur bone. Patrick O'Connor, director of Earth and space sciences at the museum, recalled the moment vividly. "He said, 'there's a fossil in the core,'" O'Connor said. "Really?" What makes the discovery so improbable is how precisely the fossil had to be struck. Crews had to drill in just the right spot, at just the right depth, and then puncture the bone with a core bit only a couple of inches wide. "In the mud was this," O'Connor said, referring to the sample. "It looks like a piece of dinosaur bone." Regardless of its appearance, researchers confirmed that it's the oldest and deepest fossil ever found in Denver. "Given the age of the rocks where this was found, it's estimated to be about 67 million years ago," O'Connor said. "There were not a number of large animals on the surface of the planet at that time other than dinosaurs." "In my 35 years at the museum, we've never had an opportunity quite like this, to study the deep geologic layers beneath our feet with such precision," said Earth Sciences Research Associate Bob Raynolds. "That this fossil turned up here, in City Park, is nothing short of magical." Although scientists don't yet know which specific species it belonged to, they've narrowed it down to a group of plant-eating dinosaurs based on the bone's structure. "The bones that make up their backbone are constructed differently," O'Connor said. "So even though we can't tell you all of the details about it just by looking at the structure of the bone, we know it pertains to one group of plant-eating dinosaurs." The fossil is now on display in the museum's "Teen Rex" exhibit. "Everyone can discover," O'Connor said. "Everyone can participate in science."
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Denver museum discovers nearly 70-million-year-old fossil under parking lot
A museum in Denver has found a fossil that is almost 70 million years old under its parking lot while running an unrelated drilling project. "This may be the most unusual dinosaur discovery I have ever been a part of," said Patrick O'Connor, director of Earth & Space Sciences at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, in a statement. In January, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science conducted a geothermal test drilling project to see if it was possible to switch from natural gas to geothermal energy, according to a press release published on the museum's website. The discovery, a partial-bone fossil that was identified as a vertebra of a herbivorous dinosaur, is on display in the 'Discovering Teen Rex' exhibition on the museum floor. "At that time, the team took the opportunity to carry out a scientific coring research initiative to help researchers better understand the geology of the Denver Basin," the press release stated. "The coring investigation led to the unexpected discovery of a nearly [70 million-year-old] dinosaur fossil." It is possible that the vertebra is part of a much bigger fossil that is over 700 feet below the museum, but the world may never know, said James Hagadorn, curator of geology at the museum, told USA TODAY. The discovery could also hint towards the possibility that even more fossils have been preserved in layers of earth beneath. 'In my 35 years at the Museum, we've never had an opportunity quite like this — to study the deep geologic layers beneath our feet with such precision," Bob Raynolds, a longtime Earth Sciences Research Associate, said in a statement. "That this fossil turned up here, in City Park, is nothing short of magical.' More news: Pterosaur fossil discovered in Arizona's Petrified Forest National Park fills gap in record The fossil was found 763 feet below the surface of the museum's parking lot near the city's largest park, City Park, which also contains the Denver Zoo. It was discovered in a segment of the core that the museum drilled from the ground, said Hagadorn. The entire core was nearly a thousand feet tall, and created and contains segments of different layers of earth and minerals. It "has been identified as the deepest and oldest dinosaur fossil ever found within the city limits," according to the museum. The museum only states that the fossil likely belonged to a plant-eating dinosaur that walked on two legs. But, it looks very similar to one belonging to a Thescelosaurus from the latest Cretaceous Period. Remains of the dinosaur have been found in Canada and the U.S., according to the Natural History Museum in London. The dinosaur, which name means "wonderful lizard," would have been nearly as tall as the average man and been around 10-12 feet long, or 3.5 meters. The bones were found in rock from the Late Cretaceous period, and are dated to be around 67.5 million years ago. 'This fossil comes from an era just before the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, and it offers a rare window into the ecosystem that once existed right beneath modern-day Denver," Hagadorn said in a statement. It was a small ornithopod, which means a bipedal dinosaur with only three functional toes, according to Mirriam-Webster. This story has been updated to add new information. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Denver museum dinosaur bone discovery: Fossil found under parking lot
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Denver dinosaur museum makes ‘historically thrilling' discovery under its own parking lot
DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS) announced on Wednesday that it had discovered a nearly 70-million-year-old dinosaur fossil underneath its parking lot. The partial-bone fossil was found 763 feet below the lot during a geothermal test drilling project in January, according to the museum. 'This is a scientifically and historically thrilling find for both the Museum and the larger Denver community,' said James Hagadorn, the curator of geology at the DMNS, in a statement. DMNS unveils plans to renovate, expand Gems & Minerals Hall The museum said the fossil is the deepest and oldest dinosaur fossil ever found within Denver city limits. 'This fossil comes from an era just before the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, and it offers a rare window into the ecosystem that once existed right beneath modern-day Denver,' Hagadorn said. The fossil bone has been identified as a vertebrae of an herbivorous dinosaur, according to the museum, which said the bone occurs in Late Cretaceous rocks that are dated to approximately 67.5 million years ago. Patrick O'Connor, director of Earth & Space Science at the DMNS, was part of the team that identified the bone and said it may be 'the most unusual dinosaur discovery' he had ever been a part of. 'Not only is it exceptionally rare to find any fossil as part of a drilling project, but the discovery provided an outstanding collaborative opportunity for the Museum earth sciences team to produce an article,' O'Connor said. 'Jurassic World Rebirth' bites off $318 million at the global box office That article, 'Denver's deepest dinosaur,' was published in the scientific journal Rocky Mountain Geology in June. The research was led by DMNS postdoctoral scholar Dr. Holger Petermann. 'This fossil underscores the highly fossiliferous nature of the entire D1 Sequence (Denver Formation) and increases the diversity of dinosaurs known from the Denver metropolitan area,' reads an excerpt from the article's abstract. The fossil bone is now currently on display at the DMNS in its 'Discovering Teen Rex' exhibition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
11-07-2025
- Science
- Fox News
Museum discovers rare 67-million-year-old dinosaur bone under its own parking lot
A dinosaur museum made a remarkable discovery in its own parking lot while analyzing geothermal heating potential. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Colorado discovered a fossil bone more than 750 feet under the ground, The Associated Press (AP) reported. James Hagadorn, the museum's curator of geology, said the find is "super rare," according to AP. "Finding a dinosaur bone in a core is like hitting a hole in one from the moon," said Hagadorn. "It's like winning the Willy Wonka factory. It's incredible." Using a bore five centimeters wide, museum officials discovered the fossil believed to be from a vertebra of a smallish, plant-eating dinosaur. The dinosaur lived in the late Cretaceous period, around 67.5 million years ago, AP reported. Officials also discovered fossilized vegetation in the bore hole near the bone. "I would love to dig a 763-foot hole in the parking lot to excavate that dinosaur, the rest of it. But I don't think that's going to fly because we really need parking," Hagadorn said. Patrick O'Connor, curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, told AP this may be Denver's deepest and oldest find yet. "This animal was living in what was probably a swampy environment that would have been heavily vegetated at the time," said O'Connor. Thomas Williamson, curator of paleontology at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science in Albuquerque, told AP he guesses the find is a surprise. "Scientifically it's not that exciting," said Williamson. The fossil is now on display to the public at the museum. Only two similar finds have been noted in bore hole samples anywhere in the world, not to mention on the grounds of a dinosaur museum, according to museum officials, AP noted. In January, a "dinosaur highway" containing nearly 200 tracks was discovered in a limestone quarry in southern England. The "highway" dates back 166 million years.
