This surprising mammal fossil is giving scientists something to chew on

NPR News reports: Researchers say a small fossil from the middle Jurassic provides some of the oldest evidence of chewing and swallowing as well as suckling — all distinctly mammalian traits. Chang-Fu Zhou/Shandong University of Science and Technology hide caption Over the years, a section of the Inner Mongolia region of China has coughed up heaps of remarkable fossils, ranging from feathered dinosaurs to flying reptiles. "To say it's [a] hot spot is actually [an] understatement," says Zhe-Xi Luo , a paleontologist at the University of Chicago. For new discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines, follow NPR’s Short Wave podcast.

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