https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/fossils_ruins/paleontology/ Paleontology News and Research. Read about the latest discoveries in the fossil record including theories on why the dinosaurs went extinct and more. en-us Sun, 11 Oct 2026 02:28:52 EDT Sun, 11 Oct 2026 02:28:52 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/fossils_ruins/paleontology/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042113.htm New fossils from South Africa are reshaping the story of early human evolution. Researchers have described 18 hominin fossils from Drimolen Cave, including an adult Homo erectus skull fragment dated to about 2 million years ago, supporting evidence that the species appeared in southern Africa roughly 200,000 years earlier than long thought. The finds also reveal that Paranthropus robustus, which lived alongside Homo erectus, was gradually evolving even larger teeth and stronger chewing muscles as the climate changed. Thu, 08 Oct 2026 08:47:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042113.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261003234023.htm New research suggests animals could have evolved as early as 800 to 700 million years ago, roughly 200 million years earlier than some previous estimates. If so, the first animals may have lived before or during Snowball Earth, leaving behind little trace because their soft bodies were rarely preserved. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:29:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261003234023.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020329.htm Mysterious 97-million-year-old magnetic fossils may be the oldest evidence of an animal using Earth’s magnetic field like a built-in GPS. Their sophisticated magnetic structure could have helped an unknown ocean creature navigate thousands of kilometers with surprising precision. Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:54:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020329.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053531.htm A huge genomic and fossil study suggests bats first evolved in Europe around 65 to 60 million years ago before spreading across the globe. The findings also indicate that flight and echolocation emerged near the beginning of bat evolution, potentially helping explain how bats became one of the most successful mammal groups on Earth. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 01:12:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053531.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225036.htm A 245-million-year-old marine reptile fossil preserves an astonishing amount of detail, including its stomach, liver, and intestines. The discovery reveals that Austronaga minuta was highly adapted for swimming even though its digestive system remained surprisingly simple. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:39:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225036.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093204.htm A beautifully preserved fossil from Mongolia’s Gobi Desert has solved a mystery that puzzled paleontologists for nearly 40 years. Tamirkhan balcarceli shows that zhelestids were not early relatives of modern placental mammals, despite having teeth that seemed to suggest they were. Instead, the rabbit-like animal belonged to a separate lineage of small Cretaceous mammals. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:25:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093204.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093155.htm Scientists resurrected antimicrobial peptides from mammals that lived millions of years ago and found that some were more potent against drug-resistant bacteria than modern human versions. These evolutionary relics could provide new clues for designing treatments as antibiotic resistance becomes an increasingly serious threat. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 05:59:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093155.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005447.htm Scientists studying ancient Australian rocks uncovered more than 12,000 fossils from some of the oldest known eukaryotes on Earth. These early complex cells lived in settings ranging from coastal mudflats to the open sea, but only where oxygen was available. Oxygen-free environments contained simpler microbes instead. The findings strengthen the idea that oxygen played a crucial role in the emergence of complex life. Sun, 27 Sep 2026 07:55:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005447.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005715.htm Stonehenge’s six-ton Altar Stone may have been carried from Scotland to Dogger Bank by glaciers before prehistoric people transported it hundreds of kilometers to Salisbury Plain. The possible multistage journey suggests remarkable organization and raises the possibility that the stone was valued long before it became part of Stonehenge. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:26:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005715.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005709.htm A broken rib from Scotty, the largest known T. rex skeleton, contains an extraordinary fossilized network of blood vessels formed while the dinosaur was healing. Scientists used neutron and X-ray imaging to look inside the 66-million-year-old bone without damaging it, revealing details rarely preserved in fossils. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:20:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005709.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm Chemical clues preserved inside fossilized T. rex teeth reveal that the dinosaur maintained a body temperature of about 97 degrees Fahrenheit, almost identical to humans. The finding provides direct evidence that the giant predator was warm-blooded, helping explain how it stayed active and survived in chilly environments as far north as Alaska. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:56:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024807.htm A 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossil from Spain has been identified as the first confirmed Diplodocus ever found outside North America. The giant sauropod measured about 25 meters long and was preserved well enough for researchers to match distinctive features in its tail bones to the famous genus. Its unexpected appearance in Europe suggests dinosaurs were moving between the continents during the Late Jurassic, possibly across temporary land connections. Fri, 18 Sep 2026 22:51:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260918024807.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232128.htm A newly identified 240-million-year-old animal from Tanzania is forcing scientists to rethink the early dinosaur timeline. Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda belongs to a group previously known only from South America, linking fossil deposits on the two continents. That connection suggests Tanzania’s supposed oldest dinosaur fossils may actually be millions of years younger than previously thought. Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:48:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232128.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102436.htm A 125-million-year-old crocodile fossil has revealed preserved skin, possible sensory organs, sophisticated respiratory structures, and an unexpected pattern on its tail. Ultraviolet light exposed alternating bands that may represent ancient camouflage, potentially preserving the oldest known coloration in a crocodylomorph. Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:07:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102436.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003849.htm A feather discovered inside 66-million-year-old fossilized dinosaur poop may help explain why modern birds survived the asteroid catastrophe. The extinct bird it came from had more primitive insulating feathers, suggesting superior plumage may have helped the ancestors of living birds endure the deadly impact winter. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:47:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003849.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231705.htm Ancient human remains from Sulawesi suggest people were habitually using the psychoactive betel nut as far back as 25,000 years ago. Researchers found both unusual tooth wear and traces of arecoline, the nut’s mind-altering compound, in the teeth of prehistoric hunter-gatherers. The practice may have started partly as pain relief for toothaches, but prolonged use severely damaged their teeth. The discovery could represent the earliest known evidence of habitual drug use anywhere in the world. Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:58:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231705.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005203.htm More than 400,000-year-old Homo erectus teeth from China may reveal a surprising link between this ancient human species, Denisovans, and some modern people. Scientists found protein mutations suggesting several East Asian Homo erectus populations belonged to the same evolutionary group, including one mutation previously associated with Denisovans. That variant may have passed from Homo erectus into Denisovans and eventually reached modern populations in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 22:18:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005203.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005152.htm Britain’s towering Devil’s Arrows were built from 25-tonne stones hauled at least 18 kilometers from Brimham Rocks around 4,000 years ago. The discovery reveals an astonishing feat of prehistoric engineering and suggests the stones’ distant source may have been chosen for cultural or spiritual reasons. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 03:41:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005152.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201603.htm Scientists have identified a giant new dinosaur from Brazil that reached about 20 meters long and lived 120 million years ago. Its surprising evolutionary ties to a Spanish dinosaur suggest its ancestors crossed ancient land connections between Europe, Africa, and South America. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:42:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201603.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201558.htm The extinct “American cheetah” was not really a cheetah at all, but a puma relative with an unexpectedly flexible lifestyle. Fossils from the Yukon suggest northern populations survived partly by eating fish, possibly including salmon, while southern cats hunted on land. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:58:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201558.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260903064233.htm Archaeologists have identified tiny 80,000-year-old projectile points in Uzbekistan that may have been used like arrowheads. Their size, design, and impact damage closely resemble weapons found much later at a Homo sapiens site in France. The discovery suggests sophisticated projectile technology may have appeared in Central Asia long before modern humans became firmly established in Europe, potentially rewriting a major chapter of human migration. Sat, 05 Sep 2026 20:46:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260903064233.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm A meter-long scorpion with massive pincers stalked ancient Britain 415 million years ago, long before forests and the better-known age of giant insects. Its surprising size and possible semi-aquatic lifestyle could reshape ideas about how early arthropods became giants. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:23:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829235942.htm Wild monkeys in West Africa can climb vertical tree trunks using foot flexibility scientists did not realize they possessed. The discovery challenges a key assumption about what the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees looked like and how it moved. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:38:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829235942.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035221.htm Ancient footprints in Kenya reveal that eight Paranthropus boisei may have traveled together 1.4 million years ago, with some individuals reaching surprisingly large, human-like body sizes. The tracks offer a rare glimpse of their social behavior and suggest these extinct human relatives may have lived in more complex groups than previously thought. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 11:17:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035221.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010455.htm Ancient fossils suggest insects conquered land through a long amphibious phase rather than making an abrupt jump from water to dry ground. A newly identified 324-million-year-old species still carried paddle-like abdominal limbs, revealing an evolutionary bridge between aquatic ancestors and modern six-legged insects. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:22:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010455.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065549.htm Three forgotten Assyrian kings may have been hiding in plain sight for more than 2,700 years. By piecing together clues from tablets, inscriptions, and an ancient statue, researchers argue that these rulers were omitted from the famous Assyrian King List. Tue, 25 Aug 2026 21:20:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065549.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002450.htm Scientists have identified exceptionally rare soft tissue preserved in a 450-million-year-old crinoid fossil, more than 200 million years older than the first dinosaurs. Its delicate tube feet offer a remarkable new window into how some of Earth’s earliest reef animals lived, fed, and evolved. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:12:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002450.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002413.htm The human family tree may be due for a major rewrite. Researchers argue that Australopithecus and Paranthropus should be folded into the genus Homo because new fossils have blurred many of the traits once used to separate them. The proposed shake-up could provide a simpler, more accurate picture of our surprisingly complicated evolutionary past. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:42:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002413.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260819041226.htm Miocene South America was packed with giant prey—and the predators hunting them were just as spectacular. Fossil bite marks suggest crocodylians, especially the enormous Purussaurus neivensis, were more important predators than mammals in this ancient tropical ecosystem. At around seven meters long, Purussaurus may even have helped control populations of giant herbivores. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:55:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260819041226.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064811.htm Scientists are searching some of Earth’s oldest rocks for tiny fossils that could reveal how simple microbial life made the extraordinary leap toward plants, animals, and other complex organisms. Solving that ancient mystery may also help determine whether complex life could emerge on worlds beyond Earth. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:40:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064811.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235837.htm Scientists have discovered a new extinct amphibian species hiding in the fossil collections of Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits. Named Spea labreae, the Ice Age spadefoot toad is an exceptionally rare find—only one other extinct Pleistocene amphibian has ever been identified in North America. Its bones had been sitting in collections since the 1950s before a researcher noticed features that set it apart from known species. Sun, 16 Aug 2026 03:33:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235837.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045555.htm Fossils collected in Osaka more than 30 years ago have revealed a surprise hiding in plain sight: four previously unrecognized bones from a giant Cretaceous mosasaur. Among them is the first confirmed premaxilla—the frontmost bone of the upper jaw—ever identified in a Japanese mosasaur fossil. Even more intriguing, parts of the skull show unusual anatomical features that don’t match known mosasaurs, raising the possibility that the remains belong to an entirely new species. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 10:19:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045555.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811053042.htm Researchers have found strong evidence that original collagen can survive inside dinosaur fossils for tens of millions of years, overturning a long-standing assumption about fossilization. The discovery could unlock hidden molecular clues about dinosaur biology, evolution, and how ancient proteins managed to survive for so long. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:51:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811053042.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811011143.htm Ancient remains from Vietnam suggest diseases like yaws may have been passed from mother to child thousands of years ago, a form of transmission often assumed to indicate syphilis. The discovery could overturn how scientists interpret ancient infections and complicate the long-running mystery of syphilis’s origins. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:05:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811011143.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015727.htm A spectacular 150-million-year-old trail of more than 130 footprints captures a giant sauropod making a complete loop before continuing on its way. Its uneven stride hints that the long-necked dinosaur may have been walking with a limp. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 01:03:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015727.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260808234956.htm A 240-million-year-old reptile discovered in Brazil is revealing what evolution looked like just before the rise of dinosaurs and crocodiles. The small predator had unusually positioned legs that may have allowed it to move more efficiently than many earlier reptiles. Its close relatives were previously known mostly from other continents, suggesting these ancient animals spread much farther across the Triassic world than scientists realized. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:40:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260808234956.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035143.htm CT scans of the world’s rarest dodo skulls suggest the extinct bird may have had a stronger sense of smell, a highly sensitive beak, and a lifestyle that extended into dawn and dusk. The discoveries are helping overturn centuries-old myths and reveal a far more complex animal than the famously “dumb” dodo of popular imagination. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 20:19:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035143.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035137.htm Dinosaurs conquered the land at enormous sizes, but strangely, they almost never evolved into truly tiny animals. New research suggests that physiology alone can’t explain this missing miniature end of the dinosaur spectrum—and that early mammals may have been partly responsible. While dinosaurs kept mammals from becoming large, small mammals may have returned the favor by occupying ecological niches that could otherwise have supported mouse-sized dinosaurs. Sun, 09 Aug 2026 06:15:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035137.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260805082500.htm Several enormous Megalodon vertebrae thought to have been destroyed in 1989 were found sitting unnoticed on a museum shelf. Their analysis strengthens evidence that the giant shark could exceed 24 meters (79 feet) in length and live for nearly a century. Researchers also estimate that its newborns may have measured an astonishing 3.6 meters (12 feet). Thu, 06 Aug 2026 22:57:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260805082500.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034644.htm A spectacular fossil site in Canada contains 567-million-year-old creatures that may represent some of the earliest animals to move, reproduce sexually, and develop recognizable body plans. The discovery pushes key evolutionary milestones back by up to 10 million years and suggests complex animal life may have first flourished in the deep ocean. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:33:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034644.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034619.htm An exceptionally preserved snake fossil from Brazil reveals that early snakes were far more diverse than scientists once thought. Detailed brain reconstructions show that Tametara mirim was adapted for burrowing, while another ancient snake was suited to life above ground. Other fossils point to marine lifestyles as well. By 80 million years ago, snakes were already experimenting with very different habitats and sensory systems. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:42:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034619.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080906.htm A tiny 518-million-year-old sea creature has revealed the earliest known evidence of the structures that eventually became spiders’ fangs. Hidden inside the fossil were pincerlike limbs and preserved soft tissues that help explain how the ancestors of spiders and scorpions evolved into formidable hunters. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:18:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080906.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080854.htm Fossilized dinosaur bones from Wyoming are offering a rare glimpse into the feeding behavior of Tyrannosaurus rex. Researchers examined more than 3,000 bones dating back 72 to 66 million years and found just 12 with possible tooth traces, including four with patterns that closely matched the shape and spacing of T. rex teeth. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 23:15:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080854.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801093740.htm A massive crocodilian capable of attacking dinosaurs has been brought back to life as the first scientifically accurate mounted skeleton of Deinosuchus schwimmeri. The 31-foot replica at Georgia’s Tellus Science Museum was built from detailed fossil scans and more than 40 years of research by paleontologist Dr. David Schwimmer, for whom the species was named. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:50:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801093740.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034139.htm Modern humans carry DNA from two mysterious extinct lineages in addition to Neanderthals and Denisovans. Their hidden genetic legacy shows that our evolutionary past was shaped by repeated mixing among many different human groups. Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:58:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034139.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010732.htm A fossil overlooked for nearly 80 years has revealed a previously unknown crocodile relative that lived 210 million years ago in what is now New Mexico. Named Eosphorosuchus lacrimosa, the jackal-sized predator had a reinforced skull, powerful jaw muscles, and a short snout built for tackling larger prey. Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:34:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010732.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015301.htm Early humans in England crafted a rare piece of elephant bone into a reusable hammer for sharpening stone tools nearly 500,000 years ago. The extraordinary find reveals that ancient toolmakers were resourceful, skilled, and capable of surprisingly advanced planning. Mon, 27 Jul 2026 08:36:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015301.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260723084852.htm A newly identified fossil ape from northern Egypt is reshaping ideas about where the ancestors of modern apes first emerged. Analyses place it closer to living apes than any known East African species of the same age, pointing to North Africa and the Middle East as a possible birthplace and crossroads for the ape lineage that eventually produced gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. Fri, 24 Jul 2026 03:03:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260723084852.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032119.htm Fossils discovered in Japan more than two decades ago have finally been identified as a new genus and species of giant salamander. Limnospondylus ajimuensis lived around 3.5 million years ago in a warmer, wetter Kyushu and may have reached 1.1 meters in length. Its discovery hints that many more unknown giant salamanders could be hiding among fossils previously given the wrong classification. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:58:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032119.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032105.htm Ancient fern savannahs may have transformed parts of Europe into a wildfire-prone inferno during the end-Triassic mass extinction. New fossil evidence suggests the ferns repeatedly regrew after fires, creating fresh fuel that helped prolong the devastation. Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:10:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032105.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260721000828.htm Ancient DNA from China’s vast 4,000-year-old Shimao settlement is revealing how one of East Asia’s earliest complex societies was organized. Researchers found that its people were largely descended from local Yellow River farming communities, but also had genetic ties to distant southern and steppe populations, pointing to extensive prehistoric contact. Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:59:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260721000828.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719231758.htm Two elephant-sized South American sauropods were unusually well built for standing on their hind legs. Digital tests showed that their robust femurs handled the enormous forces better than those of larger species, especially while the dinosaurs were young. The upright pose may have helped them reach treetops, frighten predators, or impress potential mates. Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:23:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260719231758.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260715083546.htm Fossils from Queensland suggest a newly recognized marsupial order may have survived in Australia for around 35 million years, rewriting part of the story of how the continent's unique mammals evolved. The discovery challenges the idea that Australia's marsupials all came from a single straightforward ancestral lineage. Sun, 19 Jul 2026 01:53:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260715083546.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260713000811.htm A fossilized Edmontosaurus skull with a Tyrannosaurus tooth still embedded in its face has given scientists rare evidence of a dramatic predator-prey encounter. The discovery suggests the giant carnivore delivered an incredibly powerful face-to-face bite, offering new clues about how Tyrannosaurus hunted. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 02:48:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260713000811.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260711010122.htm Why do beaches today have seashells from clams and snails instead of brachiopods? A new study suggests the answer lies in Earth's greatest mass extinction, when warming oceans and falling oxygen levels wiped out animals that couldn't adapt. Species with body plans and metabolisms better suited to the changing conditions survived and went on to dominate the seas, offering a glimpse of how modern marine life could respond to climate change. Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:02:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260711010122.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260709160637.htm Scientists have discovered a previously unknown fossil goose that challenges a decades-old theory about the evolution of New Zealand's birds. The find suggests the country's giant flightless geese evolved from much more recent arrivals, revealing a far more dynamic evolutionary history than once believed. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:57:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260709160637.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060216.htm A stunning fossil discovery shows that ancient bees used the empty tooth sockets of mammal bones as tiny nests after owls scattered the bones across a cave floor 20,000 years ago. It's the first known evidence of bees nesting inside animal bones, revealing an astonishingly creative survival strategy. Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:23:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060216.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260624025502.htm Nearly 800,000 years ago, early humans living beside a lake in what is now Israel may have chosen the location for one surprisingly practical reason: firewood. Researchers discovered that these ancient people regularly gathered driftwood washed up along the shoreline, giving them an easy, reliable fuel source for cooking fish, processing large animals, making tools, and organizing daily life around hearths. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 21:12:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260624025502.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623083123.htm A new study suggests early humans were using fire in South Africa’s Wonderwerk Cave as far back as 1.79 million years ago. Researchers found burned bones deep inside the cave, where natural wildfires could not have reached, indicating that fire was likely carried in and maintained by human ancestors. The discovery pushes back the timeline for fire use and reveals surprisingly sophisticated behavior long before humans could create fire on demand. Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:12:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623083123.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623014024.htm Researchers rebuilt long-extinct versions of a crucial enzyme that helps make nitrogen available to life, offering an unprecedented glimpse into Earth’s distant past. The breakthrough could aid the search for extraterrestrial life while helping scientists tackle future food-production challenges on Earth and beyond. Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:39:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623014024.htm