Scientists identify most ancient pinworm yet found
Scientists have identified the most ancient pinworm yet found, dating back 240 million years. The discovery confirms that herbivorous cynodonts and possibly dinosaurs were infected with parasites.
Fossilization
Articles tagged with Fossilization
One secret of ancient amber revealed
Researchers use new technique to analyze amber's molecular structure, discovering succinic acid plays a crucial role in its stability and longevity. This finding sheds light on the gemstone's extreme durability, which has puzzled scientists for decades.
Prehistoric birds lacked in diversity
Researchers found a striking lack of diversity in the earliest known fossil bird fauna, with larger birds and water birds missing from the sample. The scientists applied a statistical technique to modern-day birds to relate physical characteristics to behavior, diet, and habitat.
MU researchers find rare fossilized embryos more than 500 million years old
Researchers at the University of Missouri have found fossilized embryos from the Cambrian Period, which provide clues to the origins and developmental biology of early animals. The discovery includes over 140 spherically shaped fossils, some featuring features reminiscent of division stage embryos.
Researchers use CT and 3-D printers to recreate dinosaur fossils
Using CT scans, researchers created a non-destructive method to separate fossilized bones from surrounding sediment. They then printed the bones using a 3-D printer, producing an accurate replica that could be shared with other research facilities.
Oddest couple ever found
A 250-million-year-old burrow in South Africa's Karoo Basin has yielded a remarkable discovery: an injured amphibian, Broomistega, and its aestivating therapsid companion, Thrinaxodon. The fossilized remains suggest that short periods of dormancy and burrowing behavior helped mammal ancestors survive the Permo-Triassic extinction event.
Fossilized teeth provide new insight into human ancestor
Researchers analyze fossilized teeth of Australopithecus sediba and find it shares common dental traits with early humans. The study suggests that sediba is a close relative to humans, but its position in human evolution remains uncertain.
Tapeworm eggs discovered in 270 million year old fossil shark feces
Researchers discovered fossilized tapeworm eggs in 270-million-year-old shark feces, indicating that intestinal parasites in vertebrates are much older than previously known. The finding provides a new timeline for the evolution of present-day parasitic tapeworms.
There were more small meat-eating dinosaurs than first thought
University of Alberta researchers identified 23 species of small meat-eating dinosaurs with fossilized teeth, revealing multiple short-lived species instead of a few long-lived ones. The findings suggest that these tiny predators roamed the region for distinct geographic areas and time periods.
Duck-bill dinosaurs had plant-pulverizing teeth more advanced than horses
A new study reveals that duck-billed dinosaurs had six types of dental tissues, four more than reptiles, allowing for advanced grinding capacity. Their teeth functioned perfectly if put back into a living dinosaur, opening doors for studying fossilized teeth.
U Alberta resets date of earliest animal life by 30 million years
Researchers at U of A have found fossilized tracks of a primitive bilaterian animal from 585 million years ago, indicating the presence of soft-bodied animals on Earth 30 million years earlier than previously thought. The discovery provides new insights into the evolution of animal life and its adaptation to environmental conditions.
Faster, cheaper gas and liquid separation using custom designed and built mesoscopic structures
Researchers at Kyoto University's iCeMS have developed a process to create custom-designed porous coordination polymer architectures for high-efficiency, low-cost gas and liquid separation. The new method, called 'reverse fossilization,' transforms inorganic materials into organic structures with preserved shape and form.
SourceInstitute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University·JournalNature Materials·DateJun 24, 2012
Eggs of enigmatic dinosaur in Patagonia discovered
A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery in Patagonia, uncovering fossilized bones and unique eggs of an enigmatic birdlike dinosaur. The finding provides new insights into the evolution and diversity of basal alvarezsaurids, revealing that these creatures persisted in South America until Latest Cretaceous times.
Fossil raindrop impressions imply greenhouse gases loaded early atmosphere
Researchers used fossilized raindrop impressions to deduce atmospheric pressure at 2.7 billion years ago. The results suggest that abundant greenhouse gases likely caused the warm temperatures, contradicting previous theories about pressure broadening.
Penn researcher helps discover and characterize a 300-million-year-old forest
A 300-million-year-old tropical forest was discovered and characterized by a Penn researcher, providing insight into the ecology and climate of its time. The researchers found six groups of trees, including tree ferns, Sigillaria, and Cordaites, which were preserved in volcanic ash.
SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 20, 2012
University of Saskatchewan, Royal Ontario Museum researchers track half-billion year old predator
University of Saskatchewan and Royal Ontario Museum researchers tracked a half-billion year old predator, Tegopelte gigas, using fossilized footprints from the Burgess Shale. The ancient creature was a large and active top carnivore with 33 pairs of legs, capable of skimming rapidly across the seafloor.
Fossils record ancient migrations and trilobite orgies
Mass trilobite burials record communal behaviors similar to those in modern crustaceans, including molting, mating, and migratory queues. These 'geologic snapshots' preserve life position and molted exoskeletons, providing evidence of rapid burial and minimal disturbance.
Test shows dinosaurs survived mass extinction by 700,000 years
Researchers at University of Alberta used U-Pb dating to determine a hadrosaur bone is 64.8 million years old, contradicting the long-held paradigm that dinosaurs died between 65.5 and 66 million years ago.
Oldest evidence of dinosaurs found in Polish footprints
The discovery of ancient dinosaur footprints in Poland pushes the timeline for the emergence of dinosaurs by 5-9 million years. The oldest evidence, Sphingopus footprints, dates back to 246 million years ago and provides insight into the evolution of bipedal dinosaurs.
Fossilized giant penguin feathers reveal color, feather structure of ancient birds
A team of researchers discovered fossilized feathers from a giant penguin species that lived near the Equator over 36 million years ago. The feathers revealed softer gray or reddish-brown colors, unlike modern penguins' predominantly black and white feathers.
Ancient DNA, not fossilized bones, shows late survival of Ice Age megafauna
Researchers used DNA samples from frozen dirt to revise the history of woolly mammoths and ancient horses in North America. The analysis shows that these animals survived until at least 10,000 years ago, contradicting previous extinction theories based on fossil bones.
Portable 3-D laser technology preserves Texas dinosaur's rare footprint
Researchers used portable 3D laser scanners to capture and preserve a 110-million-year-old fossilized dinosaur footprint, providing valuable data for scientific research and education. The preserved track will be made available for download, allowing others to study and analyze the specimen.
Scientists find evidence of iridescence in 40 million-year-old feather fossil
Researchers have found evidence of iridescent colors in a 40-million-year-old feather fossil, revealing the first documented nanostructure responsible for color production. The discovery paves the way for studying color patterns in other ancient birds and dinosaurs.
Cretaceous octopus with ink and suckers -- the world's least likely fossils?
The find pushes back the origins of modern octopus by tens of millions of years, revealing a more primitive ancestor with fleshy fins. The fossils are remarkably well-preserved, showing similar characteristics to living species, providing valuable evolutionary information.
Oldest fossil brain found in Kansas and imaged in France
A team of scientists discovered the oldest fossil brain in a 300-million-year-old fossilized iniopterygian from Kansas. The brain is symmetrical and has a large lobe for vision, reflecting the fish's massive eye sockets.
SourceAmerican Museum of Natural History·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 2, 2009
'Hobbit' fossils represent a new species, concludes University of Minnesota anthropologist
Researchers use 3D modeling to compare cranial features, concluding Homo floresiensis is a distinct species. The study suggests the 'hobbit' species may have undergone size reduction after branching off from Homo erectus.
CT scan reveals ancient long-necked gliding reptile
A new species of long-necked, gliding reptile has been identified from CT scans of fossilized bones. The Mecistrotrachelos apeoros had curved feet, suggesting it lived in trees and exhibited gliding behavior.
Coral stress 'like never in history'
A new study reveals that coral reefs are experiencing abnormal die-off rates, unlike anything seen in the past 11,000 years. The frequency of reef disturbances was at least an order of magnitude less than today's levels, according to Associate Professor John Pandolfi.
Embryo fossils reveal animal complexity 10 million years before Cambrian Explosion
Fossilized embryos from 550 million-year-old Doushantuo Formation in China show early animals had adopted some structures and processes seen in modern embryos. The discovery reveals primitive animals could divide cells asynchronously, forming unique shapes.
August Geology and GSA Today media highlights
Scientists investigate how volcanic ash affects ecosystems, find evidence of ancient desert landscapes and discover fossilized bone marrow in 10 million-year-old amphibians. Researchers also analyze the erosion rates of the Alps and explore the origins of zircon crystals.
Team finds immediate predecessor of modern humans
The discovery of Homo sapiens idaltu fossilized skulls in Ethiopia confirms modern humans originated in Africa and predate Middle Eastern remains by 30,000 years. The ancient predecessor's diet included hippopotamus, with stone tool marks suggesting early mortuary practices and possible scavenging.
University of Toronto fossil discovery has implications for patterns of evolution
The University of Toronto has discovered a new species of giant ground sloth, challenging the long-held assumption that mammals from South America were inferior to those in North America. The study suggests that these groups thrived for nearly two million years after migration across the Panamanian land bridge.