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Dog skull dates back 33,000 years

Researchers have discovered an ancient dog skull in Siberia dating back 33,000 years, indicating multiple lines of dog domestication and suggesting modern dogs may have descended from multiple ancestors. The discovery uses radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the skull, which predates a period known as the Last Glacial Maximum.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 23, 2012

China fossil shows bird, crocodile family trees split earlier than thought

A 247 million-year-old fossil from China has been reclassified as an archosaur, revealing that the bird and crocodile family trees split earlier than previously thought. The discovery provides new evidence for the evolution of archosaurs and sheds light on the origins of these dominant land vertebrates.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalEarth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh·DateMay 18, 2011

Amazing horned dinosaurs unearthed on 'lost continent'

Two new species of horned dinosaurs, Utahceratops and Kosmoceratops, have been discovered in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. The dinosaurs possess unique horn structures, with short eye horns projecting strongly to the side, and one horn over the nose, making them the most ornate-headed dinosaurs known.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 22, 2010

Breeding changing dog brains

Researchers found that short-snouted dog breeds have rotating brains up to 15 degrees, while the olfactory lobe has relocated, affecting smell perception. The study highlights unique plasticity in the canine genome due to human intervention through breeding.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 1, 2010

Humans have a mighty bite

A new study found that early modern humans didn't need tools or cooking to process hard foods; instead, they may have lost ability to eat tough items like tubers or leaves. Modern humans have efficient bites using less-powerful jaw muscles, contrary to previous suggestions about a weaker bite in favor of a larger brain.

Dinosaur skull changed shape during growth

Researchers discovered a nearly complete juvenile Diplodocus skull that reveals drastic changes in skull shape during normal growth. The discovery provides new insights into the feeding behavior of young Diplodocus, which may have been choosier browsers selecting high-quality plant parts.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·DateMar 31, 2010

New dinosaur rears its head; U-M researchers part of team announcing find

A team of researchers, including University of Michigan paleontologists, has discovered a new species of herbivorous sauropod dinosaur, Abydosaurus mcintoshi. The fossilized remains, found near the Carnegie Quarry in Dinosaur National Monument, provide valuable insights into the evolution of these massive creatures and their diets.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalZeitschrift für Didaktik der Naturwissenschaften·DateMar 1, 2010

New dinosaur species from Montana

A new species of ankylosaur, Tatankacephalus cooneyorum, has been discovered in central Montana, providing insights into the evolution of armored dinosaurs. The fossil features a protective armor and horn-like plates, showcasing the complexity of these prehistoric creatures.

SourceBuffalo Museum of Science·JournalCanadian Journal of Earth Sciences·DateOct 30, 2009

LLNL research reveals how blast waves may cause human brain injury even without direct head impacts

Researchers at LLNL used hydrodynamic simulations to show that nonlethal blasts can induce skull flexure and generate damaging loads in the brain. The study suggests that armor systems designed for impacts may not be optimal for blast wave protection, highlighting the need for improved helmet design.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 26, 2009

Risk of facial fractures in motor vehicle crashes decreasing

The study found a decrease in facial fracture incidence over the years, likely due to advancements in vehicle safety features. Individuals restrained with seat belts alone or with airbags were less likely to sustain facial fractures, highlighting the importance of restraint use in injury prevention.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Facial Plastic Surgery·DateMay 18, 2009

Ancient wounds reveal Triceratops battles

A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals that Triceratops used their three horns for battle scars, contradicting the notion that they only displayed them. The researchers found that the squamosal bone was injured 10 times more frequently in Triceratops than its closely-related dinosaur Centrosaurus.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 27, 2009

New piece in the jigsaw puzzle of human origins

Researchers at Uppsala University shed new light on the origin of jawed vertebrates by studying the fossilized skull and jaws of Ptomacanthus anglicus, a 410-million-year-old fish. The study reveals a complex relationship between this ancient species and modern jawed vertebrates, including humans.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature·DateJan 15, 2009

Tiny juvenile dinosaur fossil sheds light on evolution of plant eaters

A team of scientists has discovered a tiny juvenile Heterodontosaurus fossil, shedding new light on the evolution of plant-eating dinosaurs. The fossil's unusual teeth suggest that these early herbivores may have engaged in occasional omnivory, using their canines as defensive weapons or to supplement their diet with small animals.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·DateOct 23, 2008

Evolution of skull and mandible shape in cats

Sabertoothed and modern cats evolved distinct adaptations to killing, with the former having radically different skulls due to selective pressures for a precise shearing action. Modern cats' skull shape varies depending on size, but their anatomy shows a gradual transition from smallest to largest species.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 29, 2008

Is Indy chasing a fake?

New research suggests two well-known crystal skulls, one in the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institution, did not come from ancient Mexico. The British skull was made in 19th century Europe, while the American one was created shortly before it was bought in Mexico City in 1960.

SourceCardiff University·JournalJournal of Archaeological Science·DateMay 23, 2008