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The extinct American 'cheetah' was not a cheetah after all

With their slender bodies and long front legs, Miracinonyx trumani—often nicknamed the "American cheetah"—was long thought to be a North American analog of the African big cat. But in a new study published in the journal ...

Tiny fossils reveal big insights about ant ancestors

Two tiny ant fossils recovered in southern Saskatchewan are helping scientists better understand the evolutionary history of modern ants. Ant fossils dating from 72–56 million years ago are rare. What happened to insects ...

Neutron bone imaging brings T. rex to life

A broken rib from Scotty, the largest T. rex skeleton discovered, is helping scientists uncover new information about life on Earth 66 million years ago. Scotty's rib preserves something rarely seen in the fossil record: ...

Q&A: What dinosaur teeth reveal about diet and evolution

What did dinosaurs eat? Teeth provide important clues to understanding the ecology of dinosaurs, which became extinct approximately 66 million years ago. Their shape, structure and patterns of wear can help scientists reconstruct ...

More news

Evolution
Degraded DNA reveals two extinct Galapagos giant tortoise lineages
Evolution
Reconstructed Jurassic insect calls evoke a 165-million-year-old forest soundscape
Paleontology & Fossils
We discovered rare dinosaur tracks from the Coniacian age near Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia
Paleontology & Fossils
Egypt's deserts were once home to a diverse shark community
Paleontology & Fossils
Twenty years and 7,500 fossils reveal what blurs Earth's marine fossil record
Evolution
Neanderthal hips challenge long-standing hypothesis of a trade-off between childbirth and bipedal walking
Ecology
Scarce emergence of new species drove the decline of African megaherbivores, study suggests
Paleontology & Fossils
Were Denisovans tall compared to other ancient humans? We should be skeptical
Evolution
Rethinking how we name and classify our human ancestors following recent evolutionary discoveries
Evolution
Male Neanderthal pelvises resemble those of modern females, challenging decades-old assumptions
Evolution
Amber fossil reveals firefly relative with unprecedented antennae
Evolution
Last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees could have been a vertical climber, no matter its feet
Ecology
Giant crocodylians dominated the food chain in Miocene South America, fossil evidence suggests
Paleontology & Fossils
Crocodiles can't fly. Birds can. Scientists have finally figured out why
Evolution
A 236-million-year-old fossil challenges the story of mammalian live birth
Ecology
Paleontologists reconstruct forests of 56 million years ago with chilling parallels for our warming planet
Ecology
Two oceans, one country—and 20 times more sharks in the prehistoric Pacific
Ecology
Climate change decided who ruled as top predator 35 million years ago
Evolution
New evidence helps solve how earliest birds took flight
Paleontology & Fossils
Arctic fossil abandoned in 1948 proves to be record-size Triassic hunter

Other news

Biochemistry
Molecular antennae make light-activated molecular switches more sensitive
Biotechnology
Cacao genetics could help breeders reduce heavy metal levels in cocoa beans
Cell & Microbiology
These bacteria can change their diet to survive inside the body
Analytical Chemistry
Terbium's elusive plus-4 form emerges under ordinary lab conditions, opening possibilities for rare-earth metals
Astronomy
Chandra uncovers 'hypersoft X-ray sources' that may solve two astrophysical puzzles
Biotechnology
Researchers chart new course for AI-powered biomedical discoveries
Astronomy
Beryllium signal identifies stars that have swallowed rocky planets
Analytical Chemistry
Electrochemical system extracts pure hydrogen from ammonia at substantially lower temperatures
Condensed Matter
3D magnetic-field control reveals new way to tune spin textures
Environment
Estuary water quality trends have $100M implications, researchers find
Astronomy
Discontinuity and disorder: Explaining the luminosity bump in evolved stars
Astronomy
Helium measurements clarify conditions seconds after the Big Bang
Plants & Animals
The 'costly son' hypothesis: Why bigger sons may make births riskier across species
Archaeology
Ice Age origins of one of humanity's oldest drug habits discovered
Cell & Microbiology
AI reveals new class of cellular 'off switch' linked to cancer pathways
Planetary Sciences
JWST discovers that Chariklo's invisible rings are changing
Plants & Animals
Asian elephants can resist impulsive behavior, researchers find
Social Sciences
'Here, There and Everywhere': The Beatles have permeated research papers across academic disciplines
Molecular & Computational biology
Decades-old DNA mystery solved after strands are captured zipping together for the first time
Archaeology
Ancient bones reveal that cannibalism took different forms in Neolithic Spain

What science loses when T. rex becomes a trophy

On July 14, 2026, "Gus," one of the most complete specimens of Tyrannosaurus rex, went to an as-yet-unidentified buyer for $50.1 million. This auction at Sotheby's set a record for the most valuable fossil ever sold. Another ...

Bone 'fingerprints' unlock hidden stories of underwater caves

Bones preserved in underwater caves offer a rare and powerful window into the past—but until now, researchers have had limited tools to understand how the remains of extinct megafauna and other animals came to rest in their ...