The post Scientists solve mystery of 'sword dragon' skeleton found on coast after decades of study appeared first on My Blog.
]]>In an Oct. 10 press release from the University of Manchester, officials said the skeleton — found near Dorset’s Gold Cap in 2001 — is a newly identified species of ichthyosaur.
Alive around the same time as dinosaurs, ichthyosaurs were air-breathing marine reptiles that once “ruled the ancient oceans,” per officials.
TERRIFYING ANCIENT PREDATOR WITH ‘POWERFUL CLAWS’ UNEARTHED, ITS LAST MEAL STILL IN ITS JAWS
The ancient reptile has been named Xiphodracon goldencapensis, or the “Sword Dragon of Dorset.” Scientists say it dates back to the Pliensbachian period, roughly 193 to 184 million years ago.
Dean Lomax, an honorary research fellow at Manchester University, was one of the paleontologists who gave the creature its new name, which he said was one of the “coolest things” about his line of work.
Scientists have identified a new species of ichthyosaur discovered on the U.K.’s Jurassic Coast, naming it the “Sword Dragon of Dorset.” (Dean Lomax / University of Manchester)
“We opted for Xiphodracon because of the long, sword-like snout — xipho from Greek xiphos for sword — and dracon, Greek and Latin for dragon, in reference to ichthyosaurs being referred to as ‘sea dragons’ for over 200 years,” he said.
Paleontologists said the Xiphodracon measured around 10 feet long and ate fish and squid.
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“The remains even show what may be traces of its last meal,” the press release added.
“It is probably the world’s most complete prehistoric reptile from the Pliensbachian period.”
The fossilized remains of Xiphodracon goldencapensis were first unearthed near Dorset’s Golden Cap in 2001. (Dean Lomax / University of Manchester)
The ichthyosaur intrigued experts for over two decades, not just for the mystery behind its species, but because of its exceptional condition.
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“The fossil is almost perfectly preserved in three dimensions,” the university press release said.
“The skeleton includes a skull with [an] enormous eye socket and a long sword-like snout.”
Dean Lomax, a University of Manchester researcher, helped name the species. (Dean Lomax / University of Manchester)
The ancient reptile “is the only known example of its kind in existence and helps to fill an important gap in the evolutionary fossil record of ichthyosaurs.”
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Lomax said he saw the skeleton for the first time in 2016.
“Back then, I knew it was unusual, but I did not expect it to play such a pivotal role in helping to fill a gap in our understanding of a complex faunal turnover during the Pliensbachian,” he said.
The Jurassic Coast is famed for its ancient marine fossils. (Saiful Islam/Majority World/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
He described Xiphodracon as a “missing piece of the ichthyosaur puzzle,” as its discovery helps researchers understand the extinction timeline better.
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“This time is pretty crucial for ichthyosaurs, as several families went extinct and new families emerged.”
Andrea Margolis is a lifestyle writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can follow her on X at @andreamargs or send story tips to andrea.margolis@fox.com.
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]]>The post 4 US hotspots just made National Geographic’s top destinations list appeared first on My Blog.
]]>The 2026 round-up called out four locations in the United States — including scenery and sites in North Dakota, Oklahoma, Hawaii and Pennsylvania.
Below are the U.S. states that NatGeo recommends visiting in the next year.
North Dakota’s Badlands is known for its rugged landscape, including sweeping hills, prairie grasses, canyons and rock formations, as well as native wildlife.
National Geographic’s annual best of the year travel list included destinations in North Dakota, Oklahoma, Hawaii and Pennsylvania. (Robert Knopes/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images; iStock; Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The area is also home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and will welcome the Theodore Roosevelt National Library on July 4, 2026.
THREE US TRAVEL DESTINATIONS LAND ON NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S ‘BEST OF THE WORLD 2025’ LIST
Roosevelt “sought refuge” in the Badlands and hunted bison in 1883, which later shaped the president’s character and thoughts on conservation as wildlife disappeared, according to NatGeo.
Next summer, the new library, measuring 93,000 square feet, will be “perched high on a butte” in the town of Medora, the publication shared.
The Badlands is home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and will welcome the Theodore Roosevelt National Library on July 4, 2026. (Bernard Friel/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The library will reportedly include interactive exhibits on Roosevelt’s history and travels. The structure will also include a walkable roof covered in native vegetation that will be a part of a 1.3-mile trail toward the national park.
America’s famous Route 66, spanning the country from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026.
TOURISTS FLOCK TO SEE ICONIC LANDMARK FINALLY FREE OF SCAFFOLDING AFTER 200 YEARS
NatGeo recommends taking the “Mother Road” through Oklahoma, which has been getting an “Americana glow-up.”
In the last four years, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has invested more than $82 million on the state’s 400-mile stretch of iconic roadway, including “re-lit neon signs, revived motor courts and roadside attractions,” according to the article.
America’s famous Route 66, spanning the country from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. (iStock)
Taking the road through the Meadow Gold District along 11th Street will lead to indie retail locations, “campy outdoor statues,” art galleries, “quirky” gift shops, record stores and western vintage boutiques.
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The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, located in Clinton, Oklahoma, features a 1950s-style diner and historic exhibits.
Hawaii is already America’s tranquil getaway, attracting tourists with its blue waters and stunning beaches.
The devastating wildfires in Maui in 2023 caused more than $5 billion in damage and claimed more than 100 lives, specifically destroying the historic beach town of Lahaina.
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Many businesses in the area have since reopened, according to NatGeo, encouraging visitors to support ongoing efforts to rebuild.
A person golfs on the first day of tourism resuming in west Maui, two months after a devastating wildfire, on Oct. 8, 2023, near Lahaina, Hawaii. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
While tourism in the area is still down, there is a unique opportunity to explore the island without large crowds in a more intimate setting.
National Geographic reported that the Grand Wailea hotel just debuted Hawaii’s largest spa, and Wailea Beach Resort refreshed its grounds to include an adults-only wellness sanctuary with an infinity pool.
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There are also “voluntourism” opportunities, where guests of some hotels can participate in beach cleanups and native-plant restoration hikes.
National Geographic highlighted Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a not-to-miss city for its “thriving” cultural scene and museum variety.
Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History come recommended, as the Carnegie International, which occurs every four years, returns in 2026 with an anticipated contemporary art exhibit.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, touts a variety of museums and anticipated updates. (Robert Knopes/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The Andy Warhol Museum in the Pop District has also undergone a $60 million expansion, including a new performing arts venue.
The same area also houses the National Aviary, which NatGeo describes as a “hugely underrated attraction,” featuring free-flight habitats with hundreds of birds.
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Pittsburgh has 90 neighborhoods and widespread redevelopment plans across the city, including downtown restaurant hubs and city park spaces.
More of National Geographic’s 2026 Best of the World list can be found on its website.
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.
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]]>The post White House makeovers have long sparked controversy, well before President Trump's $200M ballroom appeared first on My Blog.
]]>Throughout its 223-year history, the iconic residence has seen numerous updates — both large and small — under nearly every administration.
Many on the left have been in an uproar of late, accusing Trump of damaging White House history as construction begins on a new White House ballroom.
FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP COMMITTED TO ‘TRADITION’ OF WHITE HOUSE TOURS AFTER BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION
PresidentTrump’s privately funded $200 million White House ballroom is the latest “bold, necessary addition” to the executive residence, officials said, describing the East Wing construction as a continuation of presidential upgrades dating back more than a century.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., questioned what leverage contributors might have over Trump if they are donating to the renovation.
Construction on the White House ballroom kicked off Monday and is expected to be finished “long before” the end of Trump’s term. (The Associated Press)
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also criticized the move, writing Tuesday on X, “It’s not his house. It’s your house. And he’s destroying it.”
Construction on the ballroom kicked off Monday, with the project “expected to be completed long before the end of President Trump’s term,” according to the White House.
“Nearly every single president who’s lived in this beautiful White House … has made modernizations and renovations of their own,” said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt this week. (White House)
“Nearly every single president who’s lived in this beautiful White House behind me has made modernizations and renovations of their own,” said Karoline Leavitt, press secretary, at the podium recently.
TRUMP CELEBRATES WHITE HOUSE DEMOLITION AS NEW BALLROOM RISES: ‘MUSIC TO MY EARS’
“In fact, presidents for decades — in modern times — have joked about how they wished they had a larger event space here at the White House, something that could hold hundreds more people than the current East Room and State Dining Room,” she added.
“Presidents for decades — in modern times — have joked about how they wished they had a larger event space here at the White House,” said Leavitt. (The White House)
President Trump recently directed the addition of stone pavers to the Rose Garden lawn, a change designed to better accommodate press conferences and ceremonial events.
Dubbed the Rose Garden Club, the event space recently hosted Senate Republicans on Tuesday.
President Trump can be seen speaking during a lunch with Republican senators in the Rose Garden of the White House. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
From President Bill Clinton’s creation of a jogging path around the South Grounds driveway to President Dwight Eisenhower’s installation of a putting green, the People’s House has continually evolved to reflect the times and the presidents who called it home.
Here’s a look at some of the most notable renovations that have shaped the White House through the years.
President Theodore Roosevelt built the West Wing in 1902. (The White House President George W. Bush)
Before it was officially known as the White House, the residence was commonly called the Executive Mansion or the President’s House. President Theodore Roosevelt is credited with making the “White House” official when Congress allocated funds for repairs and refurnishing, according to the National Park Service.
KAROLINE LEAVITT: THE WHITE HOUSE WILL HAVE A BIG, BEAUTIFUL BALLROOM FOR GENERATIONS TO COME
During this period, Roosevelt also replaced the old conservatories with new executive offices, establishing what became known as the West Wing. Work began in June 1902 and was completed by the year-end.
President Taft held a competition to select an architect to make Roosevelt’s temporary West Wing permanent, according to the White House Historical Association (WHAA).
Washington, D.C.’s Nathan C. Wyeth designed the expansion and created the Oval Office. Wyeth was inspired by the Blue Room in the White House for its oval shape, creating a “levee.”
President Trump, above, is shown in the Oval Office. William Howard Taft created the first Oval Office in 1909. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“The levee, a tradition that evolved from the English court, was an occasion to allow men of prominence to meet the president,” writes the WHAA.
Guests entered the room, approached the president by the fireplace, and bowed as an aide announced their names.
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The doors would then close with guests standing in a semi-circle as the president moved around the group, greeting each person.
An indoor swimming pool was installed in 1933 following FDR’s polio diagnosis so he could swim for exercise. It was funded by a campaign. (National Archives)
The East Wing was erected in 1942 during FDR’s administration to house additional staff and offices. The East Wing project was highly controversial amid World War II.
“Congressional Republicans labeled the expenditure as wasteful, with some accusing Roosevelt of using the project to bolster his presidency’s image,” the WHAA notes on its website.
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An indoor swimming pool had been installed earlier, in 1933, following FDR’s polio diagnosis so he could swim regularly for exercise.
The Daily News created the “Roosevelt Swimming Pool Fund” for the project, raising over $12,000, according to the WHAA.
The White House Press Room came into being during President Nixon’s term; he converted the indoor pool to a new space for the growing media. (AP/Evan Vucci)
President Richard Nixon then converted the pool into the White House Press Room in 1970 to create a space for the growing press.
Nixon reportedly did not want any harm done to the structure, so the pool could be restored easily, with a project architect saying this was “in case he received comments that he destroyed the FDR pool.”
The Gerald Ford administration installed an outdoor pool on the South Lawn in 1975.
President Truman “gutted” the White House starting in 1948, at a total cost of $5.7 million. (Harry S. Truman Library Presidential Library and Museum/NARA)
President Truman “gutted” the White House starting in 1948, costing a total of $5.7 million. The work was authorized by Congress to fix the physical stress the building was under, as there were fears of a collapse.
Two automatic bowling lanes were first installed in the White House during the administration of President Harry Truman.
This was later moved to the Executive Office Building basement.
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Avid bowlers, President Nixon and Mrs. Nixon added a new one-lane alley.
The alley was paid for by Nixon’s friends, according to documents housed by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
President Obama created a full court for basketball at the White House. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Obama transformed an existing tennis court into a full-court basketball court.
“The White House has had a smaller outdoor court since 1991, but the adapted tennis court allows enough room for a full-court game of basketball,” reads the Obama White House official website.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the Obama Foundation for comment.
Madison Colombo of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
Ashley J. DiMella is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.
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]]>The post Ongoing government shutdown threatens holiday travel as pilots rally for lawmakers to reach an agreement appeared first on My Blog.
]]>“Our air traffic controllers and the broader air traffic system are already operating under immense pressure — a government shutdown only compounds that stress andthreatens the efficiency of our skies as we see the impact of reduced controller availability at facilities across the country,” Jody Reven, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, wrote in a statement Wednesday.
“Likewise, TSA professionals continue to show up every day to safeguard the traveling public, even without pay. These men and women deserve our full support and the certainty of a paycheck.”
The government shutdown has persisted since Oct. 1, when Senate lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement before a midnight deadline. The Trump administration and Republicans have since pinned blame for the shutdown on Democrats, claiming they sought taxpayer-funded medical benefits for illegal immigrants.
NOEM AIRS CLIP BLASTING DEMOCRATS FOR GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AT EVERY AIRPORT IN AMERICA
Pilots associations are calling on U.S. lawmakers to reach a funding agreement to reopen the government as holiday travel looms. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images)
Democrats, however, have denied the claims and pinned blame for the shutdown on their Republican colleagues.
The shutdown has led to delays at massive travel hubs such as Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Newark, New Jersey, as air traffic controllers, who are employed by the Federal Aviation Administration, cope with staffing shortages.
Reven released his statement as travelers gear up for holiday flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas. And a White House official told Fox News Digital that as the shutdown continues, it “threatens to ruin the holidays.” The 2025 holiday season is expected to break travel records as Americans book trips at a higher pace than 2024, travel forecasters reported in October.
“There is no reason the Democrat shutdown should have ever happened, let alone last this long,” the official said. “But the longer it goes on, the more it threatens to ruin the holidays, not only for the Americans missing paychecks but also for every American that travels during the holidays.”
The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association’s press release specifically called on lawmakers to pass a budget because the nation’s entire National Airspace System depends on it.
TRUMP’S WEEK IN REVIEW: SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWNS AND ARMED CARTEL CONFLICT
President Donald Trump said the government shutdown that took effect Oct. 1, 2025, will likely include mass layoffs and program cuts. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“Pass a clean Continuing Resolution, return to Washington, and work in a bipartisan manner to address the challenges each side is so passionate about,” it stated. “Our National Airspace System, the workers that support it, and the traveling public depend on it.”
When approached for comment on the statement, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers demanded Democrats “stop causing chaos.”
“Democrats say that every day of the shutdown gets better and that they want to use suffering families as leverage to achieve their radical left-wing agenda, but the people they’re using as ‘leverage’ disagree,” Rogers said. “From pilots to flight attendants and air traffic controllers, their message is simple: The Democrats need to stop causing chaos and end the shutdown.”
The Air Line Pilots Association, the world’s largest airline pilot union, also called on lawmakers to reopen the government earlier in October.
“The job of keeping aviation safe and secure is tough on an easy day, but forcing them to do it without pay undermines the safety and security of our entire system,” Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, said in a statement Oct. 15. “We are at a critical moment in aviation safety, and we need our leaders to be focused on the necessary infrastructure and staffing improvements.”
WITH THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THREATENING AIR TRAVEL, A GOP BILL SEEKS TO KEEP FLIGHTS RUNNING
President Donald Trump accused Senate Democrats of “holding the entire federal government hostage.” (Getty Images)
President Donald Trump accused Senate Democrats of “holding the entire federal government hostage” Tuesday while demanding the government reopen by passing a “clean, bipartisan CR.”
“They are the obstructionists,” he said. “And the reason they’re doing it is because we’re doing so well. We’re doing well all over the world.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday that he and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., reached out to Trump to request a meeting to negotiate an end to the shutdown.
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“Hakeem and I reached out to the president today and urged him to sit down and negotiate with us to resolve the healthcare crisis, address it and end the Trump shutdown,” Schumer said. “He should sit — the things get worse every day for the American people. He should sit down with us, negotiate in a serious way before he goes away.”
Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller contributed to this report.
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]]>The post Thousands of mysterious sea creatures 'littering' coastal town: See the photos appeared first on My Blog.
]]>Thousands of sea cucumbers have washed ashore, covering over two miles of beach, The Associated Press reported.
Seaside Aquarium assistant manager Tiffany Boothe said the creatures normally burrow into the sand on the low tideline.
SCIENTISTS SOLVE MYSTERY OF ‘SWORD DRAGON’ SKELETON FOUND ON COAST AFTER DECADES OF STUDY
“They are literally littering the tideline,” Boothe told AP.
They’re about a half-inch (1.3 centimeter) long, though they can grow to about 6 inches (15 centimeters), AP noted.
Thousands of sea cucumbers blanket over two miles of beach in Seaside, Oregon, in a rare natural phenomenon. (Tiffany Boothe/Seaside Aquarium via AP)
The ones in Oregon are stretching to about half an inch right now.
Boothe said that she had not seen this many sea cucumbers in a few years, and it was due to surf and tide conditions coinciding.
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The translucent pink clear creatures cannot return to their habitat on their own — so they will most likely dry up and die.
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Sea cucumbers get their name from their cucumber-shaped bodies and use clusters of tiny, tentacle-like tube feet to crawl along the ocean floor and capture food, according to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).
Sea cucumbers can grow up to six inches long. (Tiffany Boothe/Seaside Aquarium via AP)
The creatures are scavengers feeding on the seafloor and plankton as well as algae and waste particles.
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They can live up to 5 to 10 years and are asexual, according to NWF.
Sea cucumbers get their name from their cucumber-shaped bodies. (Tiffany Boothe/Seaside Aquarium via AP)
Fish, crabs, and turtles are all predators of sea cucumbers, according to the U.K. Natural History Museum.
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The Associated Press contributed reporting.
Ashley J. DiMella is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.
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