Fossils

Fossils

Tube-dwelling sea creatures may be oldest known parasites

A fossil bed of clam-like animals from a half-billion years ago is covered in tube-dwelling organisms. These suggest the tube dwellers were parasites, scientists now report.

Fossils

Fossil stomach reveals a dinosaur’s last meal

A rare fossilized stomach reveals a dino’s dining preferences. It also provides clues to the ecosystem in which the reptile lived.

Fossils

Saber-toothed anchovy relatives were once fearsome hunters

Today’s plankton-eating anchovies sport tiny teeth. But their ancient kin were armed with spiky lower teeth and a giant upper sabertooth.

Fossils

The challenge of dinosaur hunting in deep caves

Spelunkers aren’t the only people to find caves interesting. So do paleontologists. Though getting to work may be harrowing, they find it’s worth it.

Earth

Scientists Say: Jurassic

During this time from about 200 million to 145 million years ago, dinosaurs reigned and many animals evolved, including birds and some early mammals.

Fossils

This dinosaur was no bigger than a hummingbird

The skull of one of these ancient birds — the tiniest yet known — was discovered encased in a chunk of amber originally found in Myanmar.

Fossils

Let’s learn about dinosaur extinction

Dinosaurs disappeared 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous. What made them go extinct?

Fossils

Scientists Say: Fossil

Under the right conditions, living things or traces they’ve left behind can be preserved in rock for a long time — millions or billions of years.

Fossils

Small T. rex ‘cousins’ may actually have been growing teens

Dinosaurs once thought to be mini cousins of Tyrannosaurus rex may have been merely adolescent members of the famous species, a new study suggests.

Animals

Blood vessels in their heads kept big dinos from overheating

Giant dinosaurs evolved several ways to cool their blood and avoid heatstroke.

Fossils

Fossils show mammals’ rise to dominance after the dino-killing asteroid

What happened to mammals after an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs? Newfound fossils show how they grew in size, eventually dominating much of life on Earth.

Fossils

Scientists Say: Paleontology

This is the study of prehistoric life based on fossils of microbes, plants, and animals found in rock.