Immaculate Mastodon Tooth Fossil, New Blood Test to Detect Pancreatic Cancer, and Gail the Newborn Masai Giraffe
Discover the top stories from Sept. 12 to Sept. 18, 2026, including a 10,000-year-old mastodon tooth found in California and a new blood test that could provide early detection of pancreatic cancer.
Monica Cull is a Digital Editor/Writer for Discover Magazine who writes and edits articles focusing on animal sciences, ancient humans, national parks, and health trends.
Jack Knudson is an Associate Editor for Discover Magazine who writes articles on space, ancient humans, animals, and sustainability, and manages the Planet Earth column for print.
Stephanie Edwards is the Engagement Specialist at Discover Magazine, who manages all social media platforms and writes digital articles that focus on archaeology, the environment, and public health.
Cody Cottier is a freelance journalist for Discover Magazine, who frequently covers new scientific studies about animal behavior, human evolution, consciousness, astrophysics, and the environment.
Missed some of our top stories from the week? Check out our round-up below, covering the biggest science news and stories that matter.
This week's stories, from Sept. 12 to Sept. 18, 2026, include a fossilized mastodon tooth that scientists initially thought was a rock, the first-ever adult T. rex trackway, a Renaissance painting that may have been secretly done by da Vinci, a new blood test that could provide early detection of pancreatic cancer, the birth of an endangered giraffe calf in a Florida zoo, and why experts disagree with recent vaccine schedule changes.
1. 10,000-Year-Old Fossilized Mastodon Tooth Found in California Creek Is in "Immaculate Condition"
Mastodon tooth, similar to the one found in California. Image not associated with the recent findings. (Image Credit: Victor1153/Shutterstock)
The last thing geomorphologist Brigid Lynch expected to find while surveying a California creek was a fossilized mastodon tooth.
Lynch was working on a Midpen (Midpeninsula Regional Open Space) habitat enrichment program that supports the threatened California red-legged frog when she noticed a strange-looking rock. Upon further inspection, it was actually one of the most intact Pacific mastodon molars to be found in the area.
2. First-Ever Adult T. rex Trackway Shows the Dinosaur Took 13-Foot Strides
About 66.5 million years ago, a Tyrannosaurus rex walked through an area that is now present-day North Dakota. Where it was headed is unclear; what it left behind, however, were four massive footprints permanently preserved in stone.
3. Lasers Unveil Modern Blue Pigment in Mystery Renaissance Painting Potentially Made by Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci, artist and inventor of Renaissance fame, may have a secret painting that no one knew about until recently. The painting in question, a portrait of the Roman emperor Domitian, is embroiled in an ongoing artistic mystery that has stumped art historians for years.
4. New Blood Test Could Catch Pancreatic Cancer at Its Earliest Stages, Helping Fight the "Silent Killer"
Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of any cancer because symptoms often don't appear until advanced stages of spreading. A new liquid biopsy called PANXEON, however, has already shown potential in accurately detecting stage 1 and 2 pancreatic cancer, when the disease is more treatable.
5. Brevard Zoo's Giraffe Newborn Named Gail Takes a 6-Foot Plunge at Birth, Weighing Nearly 120 Pounds
Giraffe calf named Gail. (Image Courtesy of Brevard Zoo)
Before Gail the giraffe arrived, her keepers were busy making her expected landing a little smoother. Extra bedding went into the birthing stall, and overnight checks helped the animal care team keep watch over her mother, Kumi. For a newborn giraffe, entering the world involves quite a drop, followed by the challenge of figuring out those very long legs.
6. Vaccine Schedule Changes May Contradict Decades of Research
The current U.S. administration is pushing for American children to receive fewer vaccinations, a move described in a recent executive order as being consistent with “gold standard childhood vaccine recommendations.” Yet medical professionals have roundly condemned the order, saying it offers no evidence to justify an overhaul of longstanding health policies.
Monica Cull is a Digital Editor/Writer for Discover Magazine who writes and edits articles focusing on animal sciences, ancient humans, national parks, and health trends. View Full Profile
Jack Knudson is an Associate Editor for Discover Magazine who writes articles on space, ancient humans, animals, and sustainability, and manages the Planet Earth column for print.View Full Profile
Stephanie Edwards is the Engagement Specialist at Discover Magazine, who manages all social media platforms and writes digital articles that focus on archaeology, the environment, and public health.View Full Profile
Cody Cottier is a freelance journalist for Discover Magazine, who frequently covers new scientific studies about animal behavior, human evolution, consciousness, astrophysics, and the environment. View Full Profile
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