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The Age of Fishes began with mass death

Researchers from OIST found that the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction drove an unprecedented richness of vertebrate life, with gnathostomes dominating all others. The study linked the mass extinction pulses to increased speciation after millions of years, highlighting their role in shaping the evolution of vertebrates.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 9, 2026

Ancient reef-builders dodged extinction — at least temporarily

Scientists discovered ancient stromatoporoids survived the Late Devonian extinction and continued to thrive as major reef-builders during the Carboniferous Period. The findings shed light on the resilience and adaptability of marine ecosystems.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalGeology·TypeSurvey·DateSep 25, 2024

Vascular plants colonized land extensively by the early Silurian: Study

Researchers used mercury isotope data to push back the timeline of vascular plant colonization, finding extensive land colonization by early Silurian (~444 Ma). This discovery links terrestrial organism expansion to co-evolution of earth systems, particularly atmosphere-ocean-weathering processes.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 28, 2023
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

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Dawn of fishes—early Silurian jawed vertebrates revealed head to tail

The discovery of complete early Silurian jawed fishes is a significant finding that sheds light on the origin of jaws in vertebrates. The two species, Xiushanosteus mirabilis and Shenacanthus vermiformis, have revealed key features about their body shape, form, and evolution.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature·DateSep 28, 2022

Sleeping giant could end deep ocean life

A new study by researchers at University of California - Riverside found that the position of continents can have a devastating effect on deep ocean creatures. Continental movement can cause a sudden collapse in global water circulation, leading to a stark separation between oxygen levels in the upper and lower depths.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 17, 2022

New Geology articles published online ahead of print in June

Researchers investigate the emergence of aerobic life through halogen ratios in crustal fluids, revealing insights into ancient environments. A newly discovered submarine volcano near Tokyo Bay, Japan, is found to have past eruptive activity that poses future hazards.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateJun 30, 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.

New species of rare ancient 'worm' discovered in fossil hotspot

Scientists have discovered a new species of lobopodian, an ancient relative of modern-day velvet worms, in 430 million-year-old Silurian rocks. The creature was fully three-dimensionally preserved and reconstructed using digital technology.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateAug 8, 2018
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Ocean anoxia in Late Ordovician mass extinction

Researchers found a prolonged ocean anoxic event worldwide during the Late Ordovician mass extinction, coinciding with peak glaciation and suggesting global cooling may have driven ocean anoxia. This finding could support the theory that global cooling played a role in triggering the LOME.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 21, 2018
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Fossil arthropod went on the hunt for its prey

A new species of carnivorous crustacean, Thylacares brandonesis, has been identified from a 435 million-year-old fossil found in Wisconsin. The creature used long, claw-like appendages to catch prey, similar to modern remipedes.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Evolutionary Biology·DateAug 21, 2014

Oldest land-living animal from Godwana found

Dr Robert Gess discovered a 350 million year old fossilized scorpion in the Eastern Cape, named Gondwanascorpio emzantsiensis. This find confirms that land-living invertebrates existed in Gondwana during the Devonian period.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalAfrican Invertebrates·DateSep 2, 2013

Ancient blob-like creature of the deep revealed by scientists

Scientists have discovered a unique blob-like creature called Drakozoon, which lived in the ocean approximately 425 million years ago. The creature's 3D model reveals it had eight deep ridges on its body, supporting the theory that early creatures were made of repeated units.

SourceImperial College London·JournalBiology Letters·DateAug 4, 2010

Ancient sea spider fossils discovered in volcanic ash

Fossil discovery reveals ancient sea spiders are related to land spiders and scorpions, with the new species Haliestes dasos dating back 35 million years. The preserved specimens provide valuable insights into their unique body form and behavior.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateOct 21, 2004

Alaskan terrane shared seaway with Siberia and Ural Mountains

Geologists find strong similarities in Silurian marine fossils between Alaska, Urals, and Siberia, indicating a shared contiguous seaway. This discovery contradicts a previous hypothesis that the Alexander terrane was located in the Southern Hemisphere during the Silurian period.

SourceGeological Society of America·DateMar 25, 2002
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