Armed with powerful lasers, scientists recently uncovered new details about bird-like dinosaurs that roamed the earth 160 million years ago. A study published in Nature Communications outlines how the researchers used a new laser technique to examine fossils of small, feathered dinosaurs called Anchiornis, uncovering details such as soft tissues and foot scales similar to those […] More
Researchers in the Bahamas discovered a surprisingly well-preserved specimen of an extinct giant tortoise that died about 1,000 years ago. The tortoise species, named Chelonoidis alburyorum, is related to the Chaco tortoise from South America and the endangered giant tortoise which is found only on the Galapagos Islands. Caribbean giant tortoises, like this one, became […] More
Today we know orcas as large, ferocious predators who sit at the top of the ocean’s food chain and regularly feed on whales, sharks, dolphins, fish and other sea creatures. But an ancient and much smaller species of dolphin may be an early ancestor of the fierce killer whale. Scientists discovered a fossil specimen of […] More
You’d think the “Jurassic Park” movies were cautionary tales, because, you know, tons of people died. But paleontologist Jack Horner, who served as a consultant on the film series, thinks it’s only a matter of time before science brings dinosaurs back for real — and he can’t wait. “It’s a terrific concept, right? I don’t care […] More
Gold Butte, NV. Image: Andrew Researchers just announced that they discovered tracks of an animal that existed before the dinosaurs. Twelve fossilized footprints were recently discovered in the sandstone area of Gold Butte, Nevada, dating back to the Permian Period. They are estimated to be about 290 million years old — existing long before the […] More
Skull fragment. Image: Oceana/Twitter ; Credit Timothy Myers A paleontologist just released a statement that he discovered the remains of a sea turtle that was previously unknown to science. About 65.5 million years ago, an asteroid struck Earth’s surface, leading to a mass extinction that wiped out around three-quarters of all species. However, an unlikely animal survived — […] More
When the first humans walked the earth, they weren’t at the top of the food chain. That distinction belonged to the Big Cats; giant felines that roamed the entire world, taking down big prey. They didn’t make it through the Ice Age, but their modern cousins are living proof of the staying power of these […] More
