Science Daily

• MIT scientists just found a hidden problem slowing the ozone comeback

  The ozone layer has been on track to recover thanks to the Montreal Protocol—but a loophole may be holding it back. Chemicals still permitted for industrial use are leaking into the atmosphere at higher rates than expected. Scientists now estimate this could delay ozone recovery by up to seven years. Closing this gap could speed up healing and reduce harmful UV exposure worldwide.

• Fool’s gold isn’t so foolish: Scientists find hidden treasure in pyrite

  Researchers have discovered lithium hidden in pyrite within ancient shale rocks—an unexpected find that could reshape how we source this critical battery material. It raises the possibility of extracting lithium from existing waste, reducing the need for new mining.

• This 31-foot “terror croc” ate dinosaurs. Now it’s back

  A massive, bus-sized “terror croc” that once preyed on dinosaurs has been brought back to life in stunning detail with the first scientifically accurate full skeleton of Deinosuchus schwimmeri. Stretching over 30 feet long, this ancient apex predator ruled the southeastern U.S. more than 75 million years ago—and now visitors can see it up close at the Tellus Science Museum, the only place in the world with this replica.

• Scientists thought this was a young T. rex. They were wrong

  A long-running dinosaur mystery may finally be solved: Nanotyrannus, once dismissed as just a teenage T. rex, appears to have been its own distinct species after all. Scientists analyzed a tiny throat bone from the original fossil and discovered growth patterns showing the animal was already mature, not a juvenile giant-in-the-making. This smaller predator—about half the size of a full-grown T. rex—likely roamed alongside its famous cousin, adding a new layer of complexity to prehistoric ecosystems.

• Scientists discover hidden ocean methane source that could worsen global warming

  Scientists have discovered that methane in the open ocean is produced by microbes under nutrient-poor conditions, solving a long-standing mystery. As warming oceans reduce nutrient mixing, these methane-producing microbes may thrive. This could lead to increased methane emissions from the sea. The result is a potential feedback loop that could intensify climate change.