Science

University of Minnesota Alnashetri fossil discovery solving alvarezsaur dinosaur mystery in Patagonia

USA’s University of Minnesota Finds 90-Million-Year-Old Fossil That Solves Dinosaur Mystery

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 28, 2026

University of Minnesota researchers have identified a 90-million-year-old fossil that solves the mystery of tiny bird-like dinosaurs called alvarezsaurs. The complete skeleton, found in Argentina, shows these creatures became small long before developing their strange single-clawed arms and spread across the ancient supercontinent Pangaea.

Gravitational Waves Could Resolve the Hubble Tension; Here’s How

MM 24 Newsroom February 27, 2026

Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Chicago have developed a new way to calculate the

Can Wooden Satellite Reduce Space Junk and Save Earth?

MM 24 Newsroom February 27, 2026

Researchers at Kyoto University, in partnership with Sumitomo Forestry, have developed the world’s first wooden satellite. The satellite, named LignoSat,

GA-ASI MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aircraft armed with long-range standoff weapons

USA’s GA-ASI Adds Long-Range Missiles to MQ-9B Drones

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 26, 2026

GA-ASI MQ-9B SkyGuardian, MQ-9B SeaGuardian with missiles, armed drone concept, long-range strike drone, unmanned aircraft Pacific operations, Predator series drone, General Atomics test flight

MIT builds parking-aware navigation system to save drivers 35 minutes

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 26, 2026

MIT researchers have built a navigation system that helps drivers find parking instead of just reaching their destination. The system directs users to the lot with the best chance of an open spot, considering drive time, walk time, and success probability. In tests using Seattle traffic data, the approach saved drivers up to 35 minutes compared to waiting for the closest lot. The system could reduce congestion and emissions while giving drivers realistic travel time estimates.

Researcher in a laboratory working on plastic upcycling experiment at University of Waterloo

Canada’s University of Waterloo turns plastic waste into vinegar using sunlight

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 26, 2026

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have discovered a way to turn plastic waste into acetic acid, the main ingredient in vinegar, using only sunlight. The process breaks down common plastics through a chemical reaction sparked by sunlight, offering a new approach to fighting plastic pollution while creating a useful product. The method works on mixed plastics and could lead to solar-powered recycling systems.

White and black NASA Mars rover with robotic arm parked on reddish rocky terrain under dusty pink sky

NASA Gives Perseverance Rover ‘GPS’ to Navigate Mars Without Waiting for Earth

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 25, 2026

NASA has given its Perseverance Mars rover a new navigation system that works like GPS, letting it pinpoint its location without waiting for instructions from Earth. The software matches the rover’s panoramic images to orbital terrain maps in about two minutes, ending its reliance on daily check-ins with human controllers millions of miles away. The upgrade allows much longer drives and more science.

Australia’s UNSW Engineers Turn Industrial Emissions into Fertiliser

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 25, 2026

Engineers at UNSW Sydney have developed a method to create urea fertiliser by combining waste carbon dioxide with nitrogen pollutants using renewable electricity. The process avoids the fossil-fuel-intensive methods currently used to produce fertiliser for more than half the world’s population. If scaled up, the technology could help Australia produce its own clean fertiliser while cutting emissions and cleaning waterways.

A young giant tortoise with a domed shell walks on dry volcanic ground with green bushes in the background

NASA Helps Return Giant Tortoises to Galápagos After 150 Years

Modern Mechanics 24 News Desk February 25, 2026

NASA satellite technology helped guide the return of 158 giant tortoises to Floreana Island in the Galápagos, where the species vanished 150 years ago. Scientists used data from Landsat and other missions to map ideal release spots for the animals, which once shaped the island’s ecosystem. The rewilding project could serve as a model for future restoration efforts worldwide.