Ancient species may have evolved more slowly and lasted longer, but the pace of evolution picked up after global ice ages, according to a new study from Virginia Tech. Published in the journal Science, the research traces the rise and fall of ancient life—long before the age of dinosaurs. If we think of the Earth […]
Fossils
Posted inArchaeology, Science
An Exceptional Fossil Lost World, 280 Million Years Old, Found in the Italian Alps as Glacier Snow Recedes
In an unprecedented discovery, an exceptional paleontological site has emerged from the mountains of the Orobie Valtellinesi Park in the Italian Alps. The fossils, preserved in delicate layers of sandstone and clay for 280 million years, reveal a complete Paleozoic-era ecosystem. This unique window into the past has been made possible by climate change, which […]
Posted inArchaeology, Science
A Fossil Found in Utah Reveals the Origin of the Earth’s First Vertebrates
The history of life on Earth dates back more than 500 million years, when complex-structured organisms emerged during the Cambrian period. A recent discovery in the western Utah desert sheds light on this crucial period in the evolution of vertebrates, the group that includes all animals with a backbone. In a geological area known for […]
Posted inScience
Fossil of an Extinct Animal That Lacked Eyes Found Petrified in Pyrite in an Exceptionally Well-Preserved State
Paleontologists have made a fascinating discovery in New York State: fossil remains of an ancient species of arthropod that existed approximately 450 million years ago, whose preservation is exceptional thanks to a unique fossilization process that involved the infiltration of pyrite, commonly known as “fool’s gold”. This new species, named Lomankus edgecombei, belongs to an […]
Posted inArchaeology, Science
Search for the Skull and Extraction of the Complete Skeleton of the Heaviest Animal to Have Ever Existed on Earth Begins in Peru
The vast Ica desert in Peru, a remote and difficult-to-access region, captured the scientific world’s attention in 2023 thanks to a colossal discovery: the first remains of Perucetus colossus, an ancient cetacean that lived approximately 40 million years ago and has been classified as the heaviest animal ever to have existed on Earth. Now, a […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology
An Extinct Rhinoceros Bone Found in Mycenae Is the First Evidence of Fossil Collection in Bronze Age Greece
A team of researchers has revealed the existence of the first fossil of a large animal found in a secure archaeological context on the Greek mainland. This discovery, recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, not only confirms the antiquity of human fascination with fossil remains but also provides tangible evidence of the intentional collection […]
Posted inScience
New Fossil Discovery Reveals the Ancestry of Mollusks as Armored Spiny Slugs
Researchers from the University of Oxford have unearthed a fossil that reshapes our understanding of the early evolution of mollusks. This remarkable find, a new species named Shishania aculeata, dates back 500 million years and provides insights into the origins of one of the most diverse and widespread groups of animals on the planet. The […]
Posted inScience
Spectacular fossil of four snakes that died together 38 million years ago is first evidence of reptilian social behavior
In a groundbreaking discovery, a fossilized group of four snakes dating back 38 million years has provided the first evidence of social behavior among reptiles. The discovery, made in western Wyoming, showcases a new species of snake named Hibernophis breithaupti. These findings shed light on the social behavior and evolutionary trajectory of the boa family […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
The Altamura Man, the Best-Preserved Neanderthal Fossil, Is So Ancient That It Was Found Embedded Among Stalactites and Stalagmites
In 1993, in the Lamalunga karst system near the town of Altamura in southern Italy, an extraordinary archaeological discovery was made: a Neanderthal skeleton, nicknamed the Altamura Man, which is estimated to be between 130,000 and 172,000 years old, was found. The discovery was not only significant due to its age but also because of […]
Posted inArchaeology, Science
The Most Amazing Trilobite Fossils Over 500 Million Years Old Found in Morocco
A group of researchers has discovered the best-preserved three-dimensional trilobite fossils ever found, shedding new light on these ancient marine inhabitants. The fossils, which date back more than 500 million years, were found in the High Atlas of Morocco and have been nicknamed “Pompeii trilobites” due to their extraordinary preservation in volcanic ash. Led by […]
