5 most incredible discoveries of the week

Newser Editors | USATODAY

The discovery of extra-terrestrial light particles and revelations about "meat mummies" highlight this week's discoveries:

1. Neutrinos discovery may mean 'new era for astronomy': Scientists at the South Pole have found visitors from outside our solar system, but instead of little green men, think "ghostly neutrino particles." Suffice to say that physicists are very excited — think "new era of astronomy" excited — because some of the universe's secrets might be in danger. One scientist thinks this is a Nobel prize in the making.

2. Egyptian mummies got meat dishes for eternity: Those ancient Egyptian mummifiers thought of everything, it seems. Even eternal snacks. Scientists have for the first time analyzed what they call "meat mummies," the cuts of meat stashed alongside the mummies themselves. One aspect of the preservation technique proved especially surprising.

3. Ancient ocean found beneath Chesapeake Bay: The remains of a salty ocean ancient enough for dinosaurs to have drowned in it have been found deep in the sediment under the Chesapeake Bay. The seawater — believed to be 100 to 150 million years old — was isolated, trapped a half-mile underground, and preserved with the help of an asteroid. The find suggests that the oceans of yore were twice as salty as today's.

4. Depressed? Tackling your insomnia first could help: That depressed people often suffer from insomnia isn't news. This part is: New research suggests that treating the insomnia first with talk therapy might ease the symptoms of depression. If the research holds up, it could be the biggest milestone for depression treatment since Prozac, says one report.

5. Before T. rex, This dinosaur was king: Researchers have discovered another top dino that lived before Tyrannosaurus rex. About 98 million years ago — 31 million years before tyrannosaurs — there was Siats meekerorum, whose bones were found recently in Utah. The onetime top predator walked on two legs and may have weighed four tons.

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