The Liexi Fauna discovery provides new evidence for the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, featuring a rich array of biomineralized fossils and non-mineralized tissues. The fauna reveals a flourishing Early Ordovician marine ecosystem with diverse organisms and varied lifestyles.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateJul 17, 2022
A new study suggests that voluntary imagination, rather than speech, is crucial for combinatorial language acquisition in children with language deficiencies. The research found that children who engaged in a voluntary imagination intervention showed significant improvement in language comprehension.
SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalResearch Ideas and Outcomes·DateJul 14, 2022
A new study reveals that Triassic dinosaur species endured freezing conditions due to their well-developed feathers. This adaptation allowed them to thrive in colder climates, while other reptiles perished. The discovery sheds light on the ecological rise of dinosaurs after the Triassic-Jurassic Extinction.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 11, 2022
Fossilized brains of a 500-million-year-old marine predator, Stanleycaris, have revealed new insights into the evolution of arthropod brain structure. The two-segmented head and brain of Stanleycaris suggest that this trait may be more ancient than previously thought.
SourceRoyal Ontario Museum·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 8, 2022
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Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.
A new giant dinosaur species has been discovered in Patagonia, providing insight into the evolution and biology of dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex. The research reveals that large carnivorous dinosaurs grew their skulls larger while their arms shortened over time.
SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 7, 2022
Fossil frogs died during mating due to drowning as they were submerged by one or more males. The study suggests that the mating behaviours of modern frogs are ancient and have been in place for at least 45 million years.
SourceUniversity College Cork·JournalPapers in Palaeontology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 6, 2022
Researchers found a sharp spike in wildfire activity during the end-Permian mass extinction, which led to the collapse of entire ecosystems. The study highlights the potential for wildfires as a direct driver of extinction, rather than just a symptom of climate change.
SourceUniversity College Cork·JournalPalaios·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJun 30, 2022
A fossilized wrist bone from a 6-7 million-year-old giant panda ancestor reveals the earliest evidence of a bamboo diet and the evolution of its unique 'thumb' structure. The discovery sheds light on how this adaptation allowed ancient pandas to thrive on a low-nutrient bamboo diet.
SourceNatural History Museum of Los Angeles County·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 30, 2022
A new species of large carnivore, Tartarocyon, has been discovered in the Pyrenees with a fossilized lower jaw weighing around 200 kg. The discovery provides insights into the development of European 'bear dogs' during the late Miocene period.
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Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.
Researchers discovered a new spinosaurid dinosaur, 'White Rock spinosaurid', on the Isle of Wight, known for its impressive length and limited fossil material. The discovery supports previous findings that spinosaurids originated in western Europe.
A new species of large-bodied meat-eating dinosaur, an abelisaurid theropod, has been found in the Bahariya Oasis of Egypt's Western Desert. The discovery provides the first known record of this group from a middle Cretaceous-aged rock unit, and sheds light on the biodiversity of Cretaceous dinosaurs in Egypt and northeastern Africa.
SourceOhio University·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeNews article·DateJun 8, 2022
A new discovery in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has found the oldest known mayfly swarm, dating back to the Early Jurassic period. The finding reveals complex mating-swarm behavior in stem-group mayflies, highlighting the underappreciated ecological significance of insects in ancient ecosystems.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalGeology·DateJun 6, 2022
Researchers suggest that giraffes' unique head and neck morphologies were adapted for fierce head-butting behavior in competition for mates. The discovery of ancient fossils reveals a complex evolution driven by both food competition and sexual selection.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJun 2, 2022
A new study by an international collaboration of researchers highlights the legacy of colonialism in scientific practice across the Caribbean archipelago. The authors outline systemic issues related to perceptions and scientific practice, but also describe positive steps being taken in countries like Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas.
SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournalThe American Naturalist·DateJun 1, 2022
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Scientists have described a new species of therizinosaurid from Japan, shedding light on the function and evolution of their fearsome claws. The discovery indicates that therizinosaurs existed in Asia over a longer timescale than previously known and were adapted to coastal environments.
SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 31, 2022
A team of researchers has identified the ancient bird species behind giant prehistoric eggs in Australia, resolving a years-long debate. The study found that the eggs belonged to a unique duck-like line of megafauna known as the 'Demon Ducks of Doom', which was laid by the Genyornis newtoni bird.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 25, 2022
A new study has found that most dinosaurs were warm-blooded, contrary to long-standing debate. By analyzing molecular waste in fossilized bones, researchers inferred dinosaur metabolic rates and found they were generally high.
Paleontologists have found the jaws of an Etruscan bear in a Crimean cave, dating back to 2-1.5 million years ago. The discovery suggests that early humans may have lived on the Crimean Peninsula around the same time.
SourceUral Federal University·JournalHistorical Biology·DateMay 19, 2022
Researchers discovered 'ghost' nannofossils in black shale deposits worldwide, revealing plankton were more resilient to past warming events than thought. These findings contradict previous interpretations of declines in nannoplankton fossils during global warming events.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateMay 19, 2022
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DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
Researchers from Nagoya University found that Quetzalcoatlus was not suited for soaring flight due to its large wing loading. The study suggests that the Quetzalcoatlus's thermal soaring abilities were below those of modern birds, contrary to previous assumptions.
SourceNagoya University·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 19, 2022
The study reveals that early animal communities exhibited complex ecological structures more than 550 million years ago, setting the stage for the Cambrian explosion. The analysis of metacommunity structure suggests competitive exclusion as the cause of the diversity drop in the late Ediacaran period.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 17, 2022
Researchers have re-examined ancient fossil material from Brazil, revealing two distinct species: Maehary bonapartei and Faxinalipterus minimus. The discovery contradicts previous assumptions that Faxinalipterus was a flying reptile, instead confirming it as a primitive reptile.
Paleontologists discovered sets of fossils representing three new ichthyosaurs, including the largest ichthyosaur tooth ever found. The discovery includes a 15-meter-long ichthyosaur and the largest trunk vertebra in Europe, rivaling the 21-meter long Shastasaurus sikkanniensis.
SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·TypeObservational study·DateApr 28, 2022
Neanderthals occupied a lightly wooded lakeshore about 90,000 years ago in a relatively temperate climate. Stone tools found at the former campsite attest to activities such as woodworking and plant processing.
SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalQuaternary Science Reviews·DateApr 26, 2022
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SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
A study has discovered that humans are disrupting a fundamental pattern in ecosystems, which dates back at least 66 million years. The U-shaped relationship between diet and size in modern land mammals has been found to span across multiple vertebrate groups, including birds, reptiles, and fish.
SourceUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateApr 21, 2022
A new study has found that pterosaurs could change the color of their feathers using melanin pigments. The research is based on a 115-million-year-old fossilized headcrest of the Tupandactylus imperator pterosaur from north-eastern Brazil.
SourceUniversity College Cork·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis·DateApr 20, 2022
The Linyi Lagerstätte, a new middle Cambrian fossil site in North China, has provided valuable insights into the evolution of animals during this period. The discovery has shed light on the morphological disparity and community structure of marine fauna following the Cambrian explosion.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNational Science Review·DateApr 18, 2022
Scientists have discovered two complete ichthyosaur specimens from the Solnhofen area, preserving outer body shape and skin. The fossils, dated to around 150 million years old, provide new insights into the anatomy of these marine reptiles.
A new large early ichthyosauromorph, Baisesaurus robustus, has been discovered in the Lower Triassic rocks of Zhebao, Guangxi Province, extending its geographic distribution. The fossil is estimated to be around 3m long and shares similarities with Utatsusaurus from Japan.
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During the Paleocene, placental mammals first expanded their body sizes to occupy new ecological niches left behind by dinosaurs. Later, during the Eocene, brain size increased as enhanced cognition became more important in saturated ecosystems.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateMar 31, 2022
For the first 10 million years after dinosaurs died out, mammals bulked up to boost their survival chances. Their brain sizes decreased as a result, with relative brain sizes of early mammals decreasing due to increased body size.
SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalScience·TypeObservational study·DateMar 31, 2022
Paleontologist Kevin Padian suggests that T. rex's short arms evolved to prevent accidental or intentional amputation during pack feeding, a behavior thought to be common among the species. This hypothesis proposes that the reduced forelimbs provided an adaptive advantage by reducing the risk of injury during intense feeding interactions.
SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalActa Palaeontologica Polonica·TypeCase study·DateMar 31, 2022
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.
Researchers analyzed fossil collections from the Wonderwerk cave, discovering that barn owls remained a dominant predator throughout the Lower Palaeolithic era. The consistent presence of barn owl remains suggests reliable paleo-environmental results over nearly 2 million years.
SourceUniversidad Complutense de Madrid·JournalQuaternary International·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 30, 2022
A fossilized owl skeleton has been discovered in China's Tibetan Plateau, showcasing an extinct species that was active during the day. The study reveals that this ancient owl, Miosurnia diurna, was part of a group of owls that evolved to be diurnal.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 28, 2022
A new study reveals that the giant camel Camelus knoblochi lived in Mongolia with anatomically modern humans until climate change led to its extinction. The species likely competed with its critically endangered relative, the Bactrian camel, for resources.
SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Earth Science·TypeObservational study·DateMar 24, 2022
Researchers found exceptionally preserved fossils from different locations, suggesting that rising global temperatures during the Early Jurassic period may have created favorable conditions for fossilization. The study suggests that past climate change could have enabled exceptional preservation in various environments.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 8, 2022
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Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.
A recent study reveals that Megalodon's body size was influenced by water temperature, with individuals growing larger in cooler waters. The research suggests that Bergmann's rule may have played a role in the shark's gigantism.
SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalHistorical Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 6, 2022
Researchers from China, Germany, France and Spain uncovered the lifestyle of humans living in East Asia 40,000 years ago. The study found evidence of ochre processing, miniature stone tools and bone tools, demonstrating technological innovations and cultural diversification.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature·DateMar 2, 2022
Researchers analyzed mollusk shells at 4,000-year-old shell ring villages in Georgia and found environmental changes drove the formation and abandonment of these coastal communities. Smaller oyster shells and lower salinity conditions suggested depletion in oyster stocks and unsustainable fishing practices.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMar 2, 2022
Researchers discovered calcification and silicification of insects in Kachin amber, preserving complete compound eyes, cuticle structures, and skin sensillae. The study sheds light on the role of mineralization in preserving fossils and challenges existing views on amber taphonomy.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalGeobiology·DateFeb 28, 2022
Researchers found physical differences in femur, dental structures across specimens suggesting re-categorization into three groups or species. Two new species, T. imperator and T. regina, are proposed based on analysis of 37 Tyrannosaurus specimens.
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Researchers analyzed fossilized fish bones from the Tanis locality to reconstruct the latest Cretaceous seasonality. The study reveals that the catastrophic extinction occurred during northern-hemisphere spring and affected sensitive life stages of organisms, including dinosaurs.
SourceUppsala University·JournalNature·TypeImaging analysis·DateFeb 23, 2022
The discovery of Balkanatolia reveals a unique fauna that enabled Asian mammals to colonize Western Europe 34 million years ago. A new fossil deposit in Turkey dated 38-35 million years ago supports this finding, shedding light on the evolution of mammals.
Researchers identified two new species of ancient bird fossils found in northwestern China. One species, Brevidentavis zhangi, had small peg-like teeth and a movable bony appendage at the tip of its lower jaw that may have helped it root for food.
SourceField Museum·JournalJournal of Systematics and Evolution·DateFeb 18, 2022
Researchers discovered abnormal bone growths in a 150-million-year-old diplodocid dinosaur, suggesting an avian-style respiratory infection. The infection likely caused symptoms like coughing, trouble breathing, and fever, potentially leading to the animal's death.
SourceOhio University·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 10, 2022
A young diplodocid dinosaur with abnormal bony protrusions in its neck bones may have suffered from a fungal respiratory infection similar to aspergillosis. The study provides the first evidence of an avian-style respiratory infection in a non-avian dinosaur.
SourceScientific Reports·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 10, 2022
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Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.
A new study reveals that early echinoderm body shape evolution outpaced ecological innovation, contradicting long-standing expectations. The researchers found that morphological diversification occurred at a rate of 71% faster than ecological evolution during the Cambrian and Ordovician periods.
SourceUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville·JournalNature·DateFeb 10, 2022
Researchers from Harvard University have confirmed a previously unknown species as the second opabiniid to be discovered, Utaurora comosa. The ancient arthropod shares characteristics with both radiodonts and Opabinia, highlighting the complexity of Cambrian evolution.
SourceHarvard University, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateFeb 8, 2022
A new study by DePaul University researchers has found that all previously proposed body forms of the Megalodon shark are based on speculations. The lack of scientific evidence means that the public image of a massive, monstrous shark remains unchanged, while paleontologists continue to search for clues in the fossil record.
SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalHistorical Biology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 6, 2022
A new study using a two-dimensional drawing technique has found no general patterns in the fin and body shapes of five warm-blooded Lamniformes species to determine Megalodon's shape. The research challenges previous conclusions about the extinct shark's body form, suggesting that warm bloodedness does not make sharks differently shaped.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalHistorical Biology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 6, 2022
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Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.
Researchers found that low volcanic temperatures caused high sulfur dioxide emissions, leading to short-term cooling and contributing to the fourth mass extinction. The study suggests that this cooling enabled small-bodied dinosaurs to grow and prosper, ultimately thriving during the Jurassic period.
SourceTohoku University·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateJan 31, 2022
Researchers analyzed 23,000-year-old fisher-hunter-gatherer camp remains near the Sea of Galilee, finding a diverse diet and lifestyle that defies previous expectations. The site's abundance of animal bones reveals a robust subsistence strategy that utilized varied food sources.
SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeContent analysis·DateJan 26, 2022
A study published in Scientific Reports uses fossilized mollusk shells to investigate ocean chemistry during the end-Permian mass extinction. The analysis found no signs of severe ocean acidification, contradicting previous theories.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 26, 2022
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Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.
Researchers have discovered the earliest known ant mimics in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, extending the geological range of myrmecomorphy by approximately 50 million years. The study found that these ancient organisms closely mimic different hymenopteran models during different stages of development.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalEarth-Science Reviews·DateJan 13, 2022
A warmer Earth will see smaller fish species dominate ecosystems, mainly due to increased temperatures and decreased oxygen levels. This shift could have significant impacts on marine biodiversity and fisheries worldwide.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJan 6, 2022
Researchers have found exceptionally large ichthyosaur fossils, suggesting that these ocean giants evolved rapidly over just 1% of their 150-million-year history. The discovery hints at the presence of Triassic marine food webs capable of supporting massive creatures despite the Permian extinction
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateDec 23, 2021
A 72-66-million-year-old dinosaur embryo discovered in a fossilized egg is found to have a bird-like posture, similar to modern bird embryos. The discovery suggests that these postures may be an evolutionary precursor to the tucking behavior seen in modern birds.
SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournaliScience·TypeObservational study·DateDec 21, 2021
Researchers discovered a new simple mechanism of tooth class transformation in vertebrate lizards, affecting teeth size and attachment type. The EDA gene mutation led to significant changes in dental features, shedding light on tooth development in non-mammalian lineages.
SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 20, 2021
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A new UC Riverside-led study reveals that tiny microbes belching toxic gas helped cause and prolong the biggest mass extinction in Earth's history. The heat accelerated microbes' metabolisms, creating a deadly cycle of hydrogen sulfide production.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 20, 2021
A massive fossil of the giant millipede Arthropleura has been discovered in Northumberland, England, revealing it was up to 2.7 meters long and weighed 50 kilograms. The find sheds new light on the animal's habitat and evolution, suggesting it preferred open woodland habitats near the coast.
SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of the Geological Society·TypeObservational study·DateDec 20, 2021