ZIKA VACCINE WORKS ON MONKEYS

Three experimental Zika vaccines have been found to protect macaque monkeys against infection from the virus. This has excited scientists as it may mean it is possible in people as well. The results were reported by the journal, Science. One of the vaccines will be tested on humans for the first time this year.

MAPPING THE OCEAN FLOOR

Scientists want to map the parts of the ocean floor that are not yet mapped using sonar. This can be accomplished by using ships and unmanned vessels. The researchers have ambitions to build a Google Maps-style guide to the mountains, valleys and volcanoes that are present deep underwater. This was reported by the Sunday Times of London. There are 150 oceanographers signed up to work on the project, and they hope to complete a worldwide seabed map by 2030. It's being overseen by the UN-backed General Bathymetric Chart of the Ocean, an organization that measures the depth of water in oceans, seas, and lakes.

66 MILLION YEAR OLD BONES

Paleontologists working for Seattle's Burke Museum last year unearthed the bones of a Tyrannosaurus rex that lived more than 66 million years ago in a location known as the Hell Creek Formation in Montana. The amazing find included a fairly complete 4-foot long skull, vertebrae, ribs, hips and lower jaw bones, and represents about 20 percent of the meat-eating dinosaur. The hunt for the rest of the skeleton continues. You can follow the progress here: burkemuseum.org/blog.