#Paleontology8

27 May 2026

Early eukaryotes lived on ancient seafloor

Researchers studied microfossils from the McArthur and Birrindudu basins in Northern Territory, Australia, dated 1.75–1.4 billion years ago. The fossils occur mainly in oxygenated seafloor sediments, suggesting early eukaryotes needed oxygen and lived on the seafloor.

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Photo by masakazu sasaki, Unsplash

30 Apr 2026

New small mammal species from the dinosaur era

Researchers identified a new small mammal species from the Pacific Coast that lived about 75 million years ago. The discovery gives evidence about how some mammals survived the mass extinction 66 million years ago.

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12 Feb 2026

The human chin: an evolutionary byproduct

A new study argues the chin is not a direct adaptation but a byproduct of other skull changes. The chin is unique to Homo sapiens and helps identify our species in fossils.

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30 Dec 2025

Jaw membrane in ancient Thrinaxodon may be an early eardrum

Researchers used CT scans and engineering simulations on a Thrinaxodon fossil. Their models show a membrane in the jaw could work as an eardrum, pushing the origin of sensitive mammal hearing back by nearly 50 million years.

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30 Dec 2025

Foot bones show a species lived with Lucy

Researchers linked a set of foot bones found in Ethiopia to Australopithecus deyiremeda, a species that lived at the same time as Lucy. The fossils and tooth studies give new clues about walking and diet.

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26 Dec 2025

Molecules in million‑year‑old fossils show a warmer, wetter past

Researchers extracted metabolism molecules from fossil bones aged 1.3–3 million years. Analyses of animal and plant metabolites reveal diets, infections and local environments and suggest the study sites were warmer and wetter than today.

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17 Dec 2025

Age predicts survival of sharks and rays

A global fossil study of Neoselachii over 145 million years finds that species are much more likely to go extinct during their first four million years. The authors say age is a long-term predictor of extinction and humans add pressure today.

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8 Dec 2025

Pterosaurs and the fast rise of flight

New research used CT scans to study pterosaur brain cavities and found vision-related brain changes. Scientists say pterosaurs likely evolved powered flight quickly when the group first appeared, unlike birds.

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