Science journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, and Earth science | Words for Science, NatGeo, SciAm, New Scientist, Science News, and elsewhere 🧪🏺
Taylor Mitchell Brown
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There's been a lot of good work on this, but it's now pretty clear that people were seriously overthinking why ancient insects got so large: they had a first mover advantage on land and in the air. As land-fish caught up, insect sizes were increasingly suppressed
Mosaic depictions of a weapon-wielding female gladiator are the first physical evidence showing women in ancient Rome could be skilled beast hunters
Forget about crocodile tears!
New research suggests certain Spinosaurus species may have had salt glands above their eyes, enabling them endure brackish waters by shedding salty tears.
#Paleontology #Spinosaurus
Art by the extraordinary Davide Bonadonna. 🧪🧪
New at @science.org
According to new research, at least some spinosaurs appear to have spent their days in salty estuaries and marshes, as evidenced by special glands above their eyes that would have allowed them to “cry” salty tears to filter it from their blood.
Learn more: https://scim.ag/4vlvVNy
Mosaic depictions of a weapon-wielding female gladiator are the first physical evidence showing women in ancient Rome could be skilled beast hunters
Artists have long imagined pterosaurs in vivid hues. A new fossil analysis suggests at least one species really did shimmer in iridescent greens and magentas.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/pterosaurs-iridescent-feathers-fossil
Research published in AR has been featured in The New York Times,
highlighting insights into the classic “falling cat problem".
🐈Curious how cats manage gravity‑defying midair twists?
NYT story www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/s...
AR paper: anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Breaking my social media hiatus to share a story I've been pursuing for about a year.
Last week, officials from Brazil and Germany announced the skull of the magnificent #Irritator will finally go home. Complex story with @tmitchellbrown.bsky.social in @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...
This woman battled beasts in Ancient Rome!
A new analysis of a mid-3rd century mosaic reveals the only known depiction of a female beast hunter. Sadly, it was blown up during WWI and only drawings remain.
#Archaeology #MosaicMonday
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New at @sciam.bsky.social
Khufu’s Great Pyramid has survived 4,600 years of seismic activity—now researchers have a better idea why.
“It felt like uncovering a masterpiece of empirical engineering that had been hiding in plain sight for thousands of years.”
#Egyptology #Archaeology #AncientEgypt
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@ National Geographic
Video
Researchers just found 20 packets of sealed papyri curiously placed atop Egyptian mummies—one of which contained fragments of Homer’s Iliad.
Each fragment was linked to the “Catalogue of Ships,” which details the heroes, cities, and ships of the Trojan War.
#Archaeology
@ National Geographic 🧪🏺
“This study places what may be the final nail in the coffin for the prevailing view that more oxygen made ancient insects bigger.”
Learn more: https://scim.ag/4vcqqS8
Germany and Brazil reach agreement over controversial spinosaurid fossil, heralding new collaboration between the two nations
Archaeologists in Egypt unearthed a sealed packet of the epic poem resting atop a Roman-era mummy, suggesting they may have been used as a magical ward for the afterlife.
