Dinosaur “mummies” reveal what these giants really looked like
For the first time, scientists have uncovered a clear and complete picture of what a large dinosaur looked like in real life—thanks to two...
Dinosaurs in New Mexico were thriving until the asteroid hit, study finds
For years, scientists thought dinosaurs were already declining before an asteroid wiped them out 66 million years ago.
But new research from Baylor University, New...
51-million-year-old fossil reveals ancient origins of non-biting flies
A newly discovered fossil from Australia is rewriting what scientists know about the origins of non-biting midges—tiny insects that thrive near lakes and rivers.
The...
The sixth extinction? How humans are driving species to the edge of survival
Human activity may be setting the stage for the largest extinction event since the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago,...
Hippos once roamed ice age Europe, surviving far longer than anyone thought
Hippos are now seen only in sub-Saharan Africa, but new research reveals that these giant, water-loving animals lived in central Europe much more recently...
Scientists unveil Xiphodracon, a rare Jurassic sea dragon from Britain
On England’s Jurassic Coast, a remarkable fossil discovery has shed new light on the ancient reptiles that once dominated Earth’s oceans.
A nearly complete skeleton...
Sea sponges may have been Earth’s first animals, new study shows
What were the first animals to appear on Earth? New research points to a surprising candidate: sea sponges.
A team of geochemists from MIT and...
Fossil ear bones rewrite the story of freshwater fish
A new discovery of tiny fossilized fish bones has forced scientists to rethink the origins of some of the world’s most successful freshwater fish.
These...
Teen dinosaur fossil reveals secrets of dome-headed dinosaurs
A rare dinosaur fossil from Mongolia’s Gobi Desert is giving scientists new insight into one of the most mysterious groups of dinosaurs.
The fossil belongs...
Scientists discover new ichthyosaur species in Jurassic clay pit
Paleontologists have identified a new species of ichthyosaur, a marine reptile that swam the oceans during the age of dinosaurs, from fossils discovered in...