Paleontology

While Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops dominate our image of dinosaurs, a different story unfolded in Europe during their reign. During the Late Cretaceous, Europe was a vast archipelago, a network of islands teeming with unique dinosaur inhabitants. One of the most prominent groups on these islands were the Rhabdodontids, a family of herbivores that ruled … Read more

For years, the earliest chapters of bird evolution remained shrouded in mystery. The critical Jurassic period, when feathered dinosaurs transitioned into the lineage leading to modern birds, lacked a substantial fossil record. This gap in knowledge hampered scientists’ efforts to understand the development of the iconic avian body plan. A recent discovery, however, is rewriting … Read more

Imagine a prehistoric landscape teeming with life, but death also played a significant role. A new study published in PLOS ONE by researchers at Portland State University suggests that carnivorous dinosaurs like Allosaurus might have benefited greatly from not just hunting live prey, but also by feasting on the massive carcasses of long-dead giants like … Read more

Deep within the Amazon rainforest, a chance discovery by gold miners has unearthed a remarkable relic of the past – a giant freshwater turtle unlike any seen before. This colossal reptile, named Peltocephalus maturin, roamed the Amazon basin an astonishing 40,000 to 9,000 years ago. Led by Dr. Gabriel S. Ferreira from the University of … Read more

Move over dinosaurs, there’s a new prehistoric titan in town. Aetosaurs, crocodile cousins clad in impressive bony armor, ruled the Triassic period long before the reign of the T-Rex. These fascinating creatures, once widespread across the globe, met their demise roughly 200 million years ago. Fossil hunters rely on the aetosaurs’ distinct armor plates, called … Read more

For paleontologists, piecing together the puzzle of ancient life often relies heavily on fossilized bones. But what happens when those bones are scarce? A new study published in the journal PLoS ONE reveals the surprising power of isolated teeth to paint a vivid picture of past ecosystems. The research, led by Ariana Paulina-Carabajal of Argentina’s … Read more

Researchers at the University of Bristol have made a surprising discovery that sheds new light on the early evolution of giant sauropods. The team unearthed evidence of a previously unknown ancestor – Thecodontosaurus antiquus – that defied expectations with its small size, bipedal stance, and surprising agility. Sauropods, the massive, long-necked herbivores that dominated the … Read more

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the north of Devon and Somerset, UK, unearthing remnants of the Earth’s oldest known forest. These fossilized trees, estimated to be a staggering 390 million years old, rewrite the history of terrestrial ecosystems and offer a glimpse into a bygone world. This ancient forest predates the previous record … Read more