A 6,250-year record of glacial meltwater discharge suggests ice shelves have been thinning at an accelerating rate for approximately 300 years. This could increase the risk of collapse as anthropogenic warming intensifies.
Researchers discovered fossils of 480-million-year-old arthropods in linear formation, indicating possible collective behavior. The findings suggest that group behaviors comparable to modern animals existed as early as 480 million years ago.
A previously unknown species of pterosaur was discovered in Australia, with characteristics suggesting it may be a late-surviving member of the Anhanguera genus. The fossil, which includes parts of the skull and five vertebrae, is considered the most complete pterosaur specimen ever found in Australia.
A study found that the endocannabinoid system is present in human testis tissue and may be involved in regulating sperm cell development. The system includes key components such as enzymes and receptors that degrade and interact with endocannabinoids, suggesting a potential role in reproductive function.
A study found high levels of pollutants, such as industrial fluids and mercury, in the blubber and skin of English Channel dolphins. The levels of pollutants were similar to those previously described for bottlenose dolphins in other contaminated areas.
A new hadrosaur species, Kamuysaurus japonicus, discovered in Japan's Hakobuchi Formation, reveals insights into hadrosaur diversity and evolution during the Late Cretaceous Period. The 72-million-year-old specimen showcases unique features, such as a small crest and forward-pointing neural spines.
A new species of prehistoric murine has been identified from fossils in Lebanon, providing the first physical evidence of initial Asian-African mouse dispersal. The findings suggest that Progonomys manolo is one of the earliest representatives of Progonomys, which spread out of southern Asia 16 million years ago.
A study in the Atacama Desert found that microbial life can be transported across the hyperarid environment using wind-driven dust particles. This suggests that potential microbial life on Mars may spread similarly, with implications for future research and exploration.