1.4-Million-Year-Old Footprints Reveal Giant Human Relative and Surprising Social Life
A remarkable set of fossil footprints discovered in Kenya is giving scientists a rare look at how one of humanity's ancient relatives lived more...
1789 Smallpox Epidemic May Have Killed Up to 220,000 Indigenous Australians, Study Finds
A new study has used computer modeling to provide one of the clearest pictures yet of the devastating smallpox epidemic that struck Indigenous Australians...
Fossilized wood preserved 300 million years of Earth’s history
Most people think of fossilized wood as an attractive stone displayed in museums or sold as a decorative souvenir.
However, scientists have now discovered that...
Did the dinosaur-killing asteroid really shape tuna evolution?
For years, many scientists believed that the asteroid impact that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago also helped shape the evolution...
Ancient Monsoons Created a Spectacular Dinosaur Fossil Site
Around 80 million years ago, a stretch of tropical coastline in what is now northeastern Italy was lashed by monsoon rains and tropical cyclones.
Those...
Archaeologists discover spectacular Roman mosaic hidden beneath English farmland
Archaeologists have uncovered an impressive Roman villa beneath farmland in Devon, southwest England, revealing a colorful mosaic floor, a luxurious bathhouse, and a collection...
Where do the world’s biggest diamonds come from
Some of the most extraordinary gems ever found belong to a rare class of diamonds known as CLIPPIRs (Cullinan-like, Large, Inclusion-Poor, Pure, Irregular, Resorbed).
They...
Hidden underground clues could help predict dangerous wildfires before they start
When people think about wildfire danger, they usually focus on hot weather, dry air, and strong winds.
But researchers believe another important warning sign may...
Scientists identify the rare “oddball” space rock that wiped out the dinosaurs
Scientists have uncovered new clues about the giant space rock that slammed into Earth 66 million years ago and triggered one of the biggest...
Moon’s far side keeps a hidden record of how Earth slows the solar wind
For billions of years, the moon has been constantly bombarded by the solar wind—a stream of charged particles flowing outward from the sun.
Scientists have...