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Fossils

New Research

New Type of Arctic Dinosaur Discovered in Alaska

The duck-billed, crested lambeosaurine shows that a diverse array of dinos lived in the warmer but still harsh Arctic 70 million years ago

Trending Today

International Expedition Will Excavate the Dino-Rich ‘Jurassic Mile’

More than 100 paleontologists are heading to the fossil-filled Morrison Formation

Scotty’s skeleton is scheduled to go on view at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in May 2019

Cool Finds

Meet Scotty, the Largest and Longest-Lived T. Rex Ever Found

The dinosaur weighed an estimated 19,555 pounds and likely lived into its early 30s

Colors in nature can be produced by both pigments that absorb some light and microscopic structures that change the wavelength of light.

How Do Scientists Know What Colors Prehistoric Animals Were?

Fossil expert Maria McNamara explains how paleontologists are starting to investigate the hues of the past

The Cambrian Period was a time of remarkable diversification of life when many of the animal groups that exist today first appear in the fossil record.

Fossil Treasure Trove of Ancient Animals Unearthed in China

The fossils from the Cambrian Period include dozens of new species and provide a window into life more than 500 million years ago

Moros was probably about 170 pounds, or roughly the size or a deer.

Meet T. Rex’s Teeny Cousin Whose Name Means ‘Impending Doom’

A newly discovered tyrannosauroid provides insight into the 70 million year gap in North American tyrannosaur evolutionary records

A great white shark, probably considering its species' triumph over the now-extinct megalodon

New Research

Did Great White Sharks Drive Megalodon to Extinction?

An earlier extinction date puts megalodon’s fall in line with the rise of the great white

By analyzing fossilized vomit and droppings, scientists have determined that Smok wawelski was one of the first predators to crush the bones of its prey.

Prehistoric Crocodile Cousin Crushed the Bones of Its Prey Long Before T. Rex

Fossilized feces filled with bone reveal the feeding habits of an ancient predator

Pandamonium

Pandas Weren’t Always Picky Eaters

A new study suggests the all-bamboo diet was adopted in the recent past, not millions of years ago

With just two rows of teeth, Edestus slid its lower jaw to slice apart its prey.

Scientists Model How Prehistoric Shark Cut Through Prey With ‘Scissor Jaws’

The 330-million-year-old species Edestus had one of the most unique bites in natural history

Gemologist Brian Berger purchased the Indonesian opal last year

Cool Finds

Gemologist Finds Insect Entombed in Opal Rather Than Amber

The unusual specimen appears to contain an open-mouthed insect complete with ‘fibrous structures extending from the appendages’

An illustration showing what Galagadon would have looked like in life, swimming along the river floor.

New Prehistoric Shark Species Discovered Alongside Sue the T. Rex

The teeth of Galagadon nordquistae were discovered in the rock that once surrounded the famous T. rex skeleton.

“Little Foot’s” skull and a 3-D rendering of the endocast.

Detailed Scans of Ancient Human Skull Reveal Structure of the Brain and Inner Ear

The skull of “Little Foot,” one of the oldest known hominins, continues to teach researchers about human evolution

One of the flower-strewn slabs.

Cool Finds

Could These Fossils Push Back the History of Flowers?

A study analyzing 200 tiny flowers from 174 million years ago suggests angiosperms were around during the Jurassic, but paleobotanists are skeptical

The red arrow points to where the prehistoric shark tooth got lodged in the pterosaur's neck.

What Is a Shark Tooth Doing in the Neck of a Flying Pterosaur?

A new study suggests that the winged reptile fell prey to a hungry predator lurking in the water

Illustration of an adult and juvenile ankylosaur.

Armored Dinosaurs Kept Cool With a Labyrinth of Nasal Canals

A fluid dynamics study suggests the large and intricate passages in ankylosaurs’ skulls were a great way to cool off in the Cretaceous

The collection of prints, including this Iguanodon one, reportedly represents the most diverse, detailed collection of Cretaceous fossils ever discovered in Great Britain

Cool Finds

Trove of Well-Preserved Dinosaur Footprints Unearthed Along Sussex Coast

Researchers discovered more than 85 fossilized footprints left by at least seven prehistoric species

1921 Christmas greetings slide by Arthur Earland

The Nerdiest Christmas Cards Ever May Be These Microscope Slides Composed of Shells

The unusual holiday exchange, which lasted decades during the early 20th-century, hints at the drama between the two colleagues

The Ten Best Science Books of 2018

These titles explore the wide-ranging implications of new discoveries and experiments, while grounding them in historical context

Artist’s impression of Elasmotherium.

Modern Humans Emerged As Ancient ‘Siberian Unicorns’ Died Out—But Their Demise Wasn’t Our Fault

A new study has found that the ancient rhinoceros went extinct 39,000 years ago—not 100,000 years ago, as experts previously believed

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