Latest news with #paleontologist
New York Times
2 days ago
- Science
- New York Times
Fossil Shows a Sharp-Toothed Mammal That Thrived Among Dinosaurs
Around 145 million years ago, the beach in what is today Dorset, England, was covered in a freshwater lagoon. It was teeming with dinosaurs, pterosaurs, crocodiles and turtles. Making its way among all these beasts was a small puff of fur with excruciatingly sharp teeth. Scientists last month described the prehistoric mammal in The Proceedings of the Geologists' Association. They named it Novaculadon mirabilis, from novacula, the Latin word for razor. 'The premolars form quite a sharp cutting edge,' said Steven Sweetman, a paleontologist at the University of Portsmouth in England and an author of the paper. The species was probably omnivorous, with teeth designed for processing vegetation but also possibly meat. Novaculadon, about the size of a mouse, came from an order of mammals called multituberculates. They are named for the round 'tubercles,' or outgrowths on their teeth. They were among the most successful groups of ancient mammals yet discovered, living alongside dinosaurs during the Mesozoic Era. Though unrelated to mice and rats, they most likely filled a similar role as an easy food source for larger predators while also dispersing seeds and controlling insects, all the while avoiding the weighty footfalls of roaming sauropods. The Novaculadon specimen was discovered in a rock on the Dorset beach. Its full jawbone was found with the majority of its teeth intact, including a robust incisor and premolars, though it lacked the molars. Scientists used X-ray computed tomography to digitally isolate the teeth without the risk of damaging the delicate fossil. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Why I broke up with my new girlfriend after seeing her apartment for the first time
A man has dumped his new girlfriend after discovering a major problem during his first visit to her apartment. The man said he had been seeing a woman he thought was 'gorgeous' for a few months after they met through a mutual friend. Last weekend, she invited him over to her place and casually mentioned that her apartment was a 'mess' - but he laughed it off, thinking she was just being modest. But the moment he walked through the door, he was greeted by 'literal piles' of trash on the floor, a sink full of dishes overflowing onto the counter, stains on the couch and carpet, week-old food on the dining table and mountains of clutter. 'Not to mention the overpowering smell of mould and mildew that I could literally taste in my mouth,' the man said in a Reddit thread. The man said the state of her apartment was 'scarily similar' to an episode of the hit TV series Friends, where Ross Geller goes on a date with a beautiful paleontologist but is horrified to discover her apartment is extremely messy - and home to a rat. Ross ended up dumping her because he couldn't handle how filthy her home was. Sharing his personal experience, the man said: 'She'd mentioned her apartment was a mess and I laughed because I thought she was just being self-deprecating, but when we got to her place... holy s*** dude. 'I want to start off by saying I know that people have their reasons for stuff like this and I don't want to be disrespectful in any way... But the state of her apartment was genuinely shocking when I first went in. 'It was a pretty small place and I'm not just talking about clutter... It was just piles and piles of stuff everywhere.' He noticed the woman acted 'completely normal' as she told him to sit down on her stain-covered couch. 'I tried not to act weird but I'm sure she noticed,' the man said. 'I stayed for a bit and we watched a movie on the couch but I left before it got too late.' The next day, he broke the news that he didn't think their relationship was working. 'I called her and told her I didn't think things were going to be compatible between us and she got mad at me for leading her on and breaking up with her for no reason,' he explained. 'I didn't mention the apartment but I don't know, maybe I should have.' The man said he never imagined her apartment would be a deal breaker for him. 'Literally nothing about her appearance or personality would lead me to expect this so it was sort of unbelievable to see the state she was living in,' he said. 'I feel bad for her and I'm worried I might have acted too quickly.' His post was met with nearly 1,000 comments, with a majority of people agreeing he handled the breakup in the 'most mature way' - but many suggested he should have politely told her the truth. 'She has to change for herself otherwise what will happen when she breaks up? Goes back to the old habits until she deals with whatever got her like that to begin with, she won't change. He dodged a bullet,' one said. 'You want to be nice about it and give her a chance to change for the better. If she blows you off and tells you to go f*** yourself, it'll still linger in her mind. You've planted a seed of doubt in her lifestyle choices. After enough rejections, she will come to her senses,' another shared. 'You don't need a reason to break it off with someone. This would be it for me too. If you eventually lived together that is what you'd be dealing with. When you go to visit you have to sit amongst trash. No for me,' one suggested. 'I do think you should've mentioned the apartment. People who don't know what the problem is cannot take any corrective action. Tell her and move on,' another added. Meanwhile, many shared similar experiences they've had with 'mess' family members or friends who struggled with clutter in their homes. 'My niece is like this. She lived with us for a while and completely trashed her room and didn't appear to have any qualms about the kitchen or lounge either. She's a grown adult and we had to ask her to leave, such was the mess and stench,' one said. 'My oldest sister is like this, everyone has told her and offered to help her clean up her house, now she just doesn't let people into her house. Even her car is f***ing disgusting but if you knew her outside of those two scenarios you would never know. She dresses well and her hygiene and appearance is impeccable. She just won't change,' another revealed. 'I have a friend like this and I would clean his house on a regular basis. He bought an expensive loft and it was always filthy and I can't imagine it's safe to live in with the food situation. I thought it might be depression but it seems people are just slobs and don't care about the judgement that comes with living that lifestyle,' one added.
CNET
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for June 4
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today's Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles. Today's NYT Mini Crossword stumped me right away, with 1-Across. But the other answers filled in smoothly, so that one became obvious eventually. Need some help with today's Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips. The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times' games collection. If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET's NYT puzzle hints page. Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword Let's get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers. The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for June 4, 2025 NYT/Screenshot by CNET Mini across clues and answers 1A clue: Nickname that drops "-uel" Answer: SAM 4A clue: Paleontologist's discovery Answer: BONE 5A clue: Like San Francisco during the summer Answer: FOGGY 6A clue: "Bald" bird Answer: EAGLE 7A clue: Clothes tumbler Answer: DRYER Mini down clues and answers 1D clue: Damp Answer: SOGGY 2D clue: Consideration for a selfie taker Answer: ANGLE 3D clue: Sweet variety of lemon Answer: MEYER 4D clue: Animal hunted by the stranded kids in "Lord of the Flies" Answer: BOAR 5D clue: Org. for Jerome Powell, with "the" Answer: FED How to play more Mini Crosswords The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day's Mini Crossword for free, but you'll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
