In 2000, an extraordinary discovery was made in northern India’s Kashmir Valley: the giant fossil skull of an extinct elephant, which sheds light on a little-known chapter in elephant evolutionary history. The skull, found buried alongside 87 stone tools used by prehistoric humans, was excavated under the direction of Dr. Ghulam Bhat from the University … Read more
An analysis by Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany, on the manual capabilities of early hominins reveals that certain species of Australopithecus may have exhibited hand use patterns similar to those of modern humans. This discovery challenges previously held beliefs about the timeline of human tool use and the origins of manual dexterity, suggesting that … Read more
Paleontology, the study of ancient life through fossils, often reveals remarkable insights into the distant past, allowing scientists to reconstruct ecosystems, understand evolutionary processes, and explore the origins of life on Earth. One of the most significant discoveries in this field came from Brazilian paleontologist Rodrigo Temp Muller, who, working in collaboration with colleagues from … Read more
In a significant breakthrough in the field of anthropology, a researcher from the University of Hawaiʻi has proposed the identification of a new human species, Homo juluensis. This species, believed to have lived approximately 300,000 years ago in eastern Asia, may offer insights into the complex web of human evolution, particularly the enigmatic group of … Read more
More than a million years ago, on the sun-scorched savannas of what is now northern Kenya, two species of early humans may have crossed paths along the edge of an ancient lake. These hominins, primitive members of the human lineage, might have been scavenging for food, evading predators, or simply navigating their shared habitat. Their … Read more
Human footprints are a source of fascination. They evoke curiosity, urging us to imagine the actions, destinations, and lives of those who made them. When fossilized, footprints offer more than imagination—they preserve moments frozen in time, giving us direct glimpses into the behavior and movement of extinct organisms. For paleontologists, these prints are invaluable, providing … Read more
Feces, vomit, and fossilized food remnants from inside the stomachs of ancient animals are often overlooked as mundane byproducts of life, yet they can hold vital clues to our understanding of ancient ecosystems. These seemingly unremarkable substances have now provided fresh insights into one of the most pivotal events in Earth’s history—the rise of the … Read more
A tiny skeleton, discovered in Triassic-aged rocks within a quarry near Bristol, represents the oldest modern-type lizard on record, dating back at least 205 million years. This remarkable fossil, identified by a team of researchers from the University of Bristol, has opened new windows into the early evolution of lizards and their ancestral connections to … Read more
A team of botanists from Malaysia’s Sabah Forestry Department’s Forest Research Centre, in collaboration with colleagues from Australia, has identified a remarkable new species of giant pitcher plant in the ultramafic mountains of central Sabah, Borneo. The discovery, published in the Australian Journal of Botany, details the team’s journey to confirm the existence of this … Read more
About 230 million years ago, in the Late Triassic period, a remarkable chapter in the history of life on Earth began. This was the era when pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight, took to the skies. Long before the first birds appeared, these ancient creatures pioneered the art of aerial locomotion. Unlike their … Read more