MS-LS4-1

Analyze and interpret data for patterns in the fossil record that document the existence, diversity, extinction, and change of life forms throughout the history of life on Earth under the assumption that natural laws operate today as in the past.

  1. Fossils

    Dinosaur families appear to have lived in the Arctic year-round

    Fossils of baby dinosaurs in northern Alaska challenge the idea that northern dinosaurs only spent their summers in the high Arctic.

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  2. Fossils

    Ancient creature revealed as lizard, not a teeny dinosaur

    CT scans of 99-million-year-old fossils of hummingbird-sized specimens trapped in amber reveal a number of lizardlike features.

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  3. Archaeology

    Fossils unearthed in Israel reveal possible new human ancestor

    They come from a previously unknown Stone Age group that may represent a complex mashup of early members of our genus Homo.

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  4. Animals

    Let’s learn about dinosaurs’ fearsome neighbors

    Dinosaurs may get much of our attention, but there were plenty of other interesting critters during the Age of Reptiles, including our mammal ancestors.

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  5. Animals

    The secret to T. rex‘s incredible biting force is at last revealed

    The force of a T. rex bite was roughly 6 metric tons. A new study points to what’s behind that mighty force.

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  6. Genetics

    Europe’s ancient humans often hooked up with Neandertals

    DNA from ancient bones shows humans and Neandertals were regularly mixing genes by about 45,000 years ago.

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  7. Fossils

    Rhinos, camels and bone-crushing dogs once roamed Nebraska

    Scientists digging into the remnants of an ancient watering hole in Nebraska discovered evidence of an Africa-like savanna, complete with rhinos.

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  8. Fossils

    Scientists Say: Dinosaur

    Dinosaurs emerged between 243 and 233 million years ago. While some died out 66 million years ago, others are still with us — birds.

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  9. Fossils

    An ancient hippo-sized reptile may have been a speedy beast

    An Anteosaurus was a hefty reptile with a large snout. Its fossil skull hints that it may have moved fast for its time.

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  10. Animals

    Giant worms may have hidden beneath the ancient seafloor to ambush prey

    Twenty-million-year-old tunnels unearthed in Taiwan may have been home to creatures similar to today’s monstrous bobbit worms.

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  11. Archaeology

    This prehistoric woman from Peru hunted big game

    Women in the Americas speared large prey as early as 9,000 years ago, new archaeological evidence suggests.

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  12. Genetics

    Scientists Say: Evolution

    Evolution is how species change over time. Individuals in the group vary, and some will pass on their genes. Over time, the whole species changes.

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