paleontology

Latest in paleontology

Fossil fragments on black background

These human ancestors weren’t as lonely as experts thought These human ancestors weren’t as lonely as experts thought

The Chicago Archaeopteryx, under UV light to expose soft tissues.

Feathered fossil shows famed dinosaur could fly (like a chicken) Feathered fossil shows famed dinosaur could fly (like a chicken)

Illustration of mosasaur chasing prey underwater

Geologists accidentally found a monstrous mosasaur fossil in Mississippi mud Geologists accidentally found a monstrous mosasaur fossil in Mississippi mud

Close up of hand excavating ancient amphibian fossil

Ancient alligator-sized amphibians died under mysterious circumstances Ancient alligator-sized amphibians died under mysterious circumstances

Venus fly trap wasp encased in amber

This ancient ‘Venus fly-trap’ wasp used its butt to kill This ancient ‘Venus fly-trap’ wasp used its butt to kill

An undated handout photo released by the University of Queensland shows an image of the boulder using 3D imaging and light filters showing the dinosaur footprints.

Dinosaur footprints unknowingly displayed in a high school for 20 years Dinosaur footprints unknowingly displayed in a high school for 20 years

an illustration of a small weasel-like early mammal with brown, black, and white fur climbing on a tree

This extinct tree-dwelling mammal may be among humans’ closer relatives This extinct tree-dwelling mammal may be among humans’ closer relatives

By Laura Baisas

Close up of lemon shark

Megalodon may have been ‘even longer’ than we thought Megalodon may have been ‘even longer’ than we thought

Illustration of giant flying squirrel leaping onto tree branch

Flying squirrels the size of cats soared over prehistoric Appalachia Flying squirrels the size of cats soared over prehistoric Appalachia

Two mastodon teeth found in Orange County, New York

Man discovers giant mastodon jaw in his backyard Man discovers giant mastodon jaw in his backyard

A possible painting of the dicynodont made by the San in the early 1800s.

The perplexing puzzle of a ‘Horned Serpent’ cave painting The perplexing puzzle of a ‘Horned Serpent’ cave painting

Mastodon skull in Iowa creek bed

Huge mastodon skull found in a rural Iowa creek Huge mastodon skull found in a rural Iowa creek

Illustration of Enalioetes head

This ancient crocodile looked kind of like a dolphin This ancient crocodile looked kind of like a dolphin

An illustration of an ancient whale against a sea-blue background.

This tiny, 8-foot long whale swam off Egypt’s coast 41 million years ago This tiny, 8-foot long whale swam off Egypt’s coast 41 million years ago

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

The adult gomphothere skull (foreground, tusk capped in white plaster) was separated from the main body (background, covered in plaster) prior to its preservation.

Elephants once roamed Florida—and scientists just stumbled on a graveyard full of them Elephants once roamed Florida—and scientists just stumbled on a graveyard full of them

By Laura Baisas

Ankylosaur in blue floatie and life vest riding the ocean waves. Prehistoric trees and a full moon are in the background. Illustrated.

Why dinosaurs were terrible swimmers Why dinosaurs were terrible swimmers

Geologists collecting Permian fossils on a Tibetan plateau

UV radiation might be behind the planet’s biggest mass extinction UV radiation might be behind the planet’s biggest mass extinction

Woolly mammoths in forests in Greenland after eDNA reconstruction. The scene is an illustration.

Oldest DNA ever sampled paints a lush portrait of a lost Arctic world Oldest DNA ever sampled paints a lush portrait of a lost Arctic world

a colorful illustration of two bipedal dinosaurs

This pterosaur ancestor was a tiny, flightless dog-like dinosaur This pterosaur ancestor was a tiny, flightless dog-like dinosaur

By Laura Baisas

Gila monster lizard and real-life dragon hissing in the desert

Could dragons be real? Not in the way we think. Could dragons be real? Not in the way we think.

By Purbita Saha