Paleontology
Latest Contributing Articles
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The Mammoth, A Brief History
The mammoth is one of the iconic mega beasts that walked the earth. Although several species of mammoth evolved their extinction along with other mega beasts is a mystery
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Saber Toothed Cat and a Modern Comparison
One of the most instantly recognisable skeletons on display in museums is that of the Saber Tooth Cat. Today, a modern relative displays some of the same features
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Archaeopteryx, Was It a Bird or Dinosaur?
There has long been a debate over the evolution of birds, though when faced with the histology of the Archaeopteryx, dinosaurs are birds' most likely ancestors.
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Fossil Footprints and Hominid Evolution
The extraordinary fossil footprints discovered in Africa provide crucial evidence about hominid evolution, or how early man walked.
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The Case of the Imaginary Dinosaurs and Fossils
Recently, paleontologists came to the realization that perhaps one-third of "discovered" dinosaur species are simply younger or older versions of other dinosaurs.
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New Dinosaur Extinction Theories
The accepted theory is that collision with an asteroid caused the demise of the dinosaurs; this supposition is now being updated.
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Neanderthal Diet or Cavemen Eating Habits
The Neanderthals were capable predators and existed on a protein diet ranging from dolphin to dead animals.
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The World's Largest Snake
Earlier this year, scientists discovered a prehistoric snake skeleton that puts even the most extreme horror movie monsters to shame.
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Foraminifera Tell a Story of Climate Change
Paleontologists, climatologists, and geologists work to piece together the fragments of the world's climate history by drilling for ancient fossils.
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Laser Technology and Fossils
Cutting-edge paleontologists are utilizing laser technology by applying 3D imaging to fossils to aid in the preservation of the ancient relics.
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Life in the Triassic Period
Rebounding from a mass extinction, the Triassic period saw the rise of reptiles and dinosaurs, the splitting of a continent, and the appearance of the first mammals.
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Buffalo Paleontologists Discover a New Dinosaur
A Paleontologist husband and wife team recently discovered what seems to be a new type of anklyosaur, shedding light on the evolution of nature's army tank.
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Eons and Eras in Geology and Paleontology
To truly begin to understand paleontology, it is first important to have a good grasp on the basic geological timeline in which all life has existed.
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The Evolution of Whales and Dolphins
Whales and dolphins have long fascinated people and remain an image of paramount beauty and oceanic grace. But where did they come from?
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Microfossils and Paleontology
When many hear the word "paleontology," images of massive dinosaurs come immediately to mind. However, it is the tiny microfossils that form the base of paleontology.
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The Case for Smart Birds
Birds might have small brains, but they are uncommonly intelligent.
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Did Tyrannosaurus Rex Die from Bird Disease?
The world's largest and fiercest dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus rex, might have been wiped out by parasites similar to those found in feral pigeons, a new study shows.
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Origins of Cetaceans
The evolution of cetaceans - this is, whales, dolphins and porpoises - is a fascinating thread of paleontology.
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Burgess Shale Fossils
A discovery in the Burgess Shale of British Columbia brought to light the Cambrian Explosion, which set the mold for life on Earth.
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Echidna and Platypus May Have Common Ancestor
30 million-year old fossils of monotremes, previously believed to be a Cretaceous platypus, have been shown to be closely related to present day ground-dwelling echidnas
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Fossilized Human Ancestor Found
After 17 years of analysis scientists are beginning to find some surprises in the remains of a human-like creature found in Ethiopia.
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Giant Birds Ate Flightless Moa in New Zealand
A giant eagle, dating from the Pliocene era and preying on huge flightless birds, existed on New Zealand until modern times, becoming extinct only about 500 years ago
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Piltdown Man Archeological Hoax
In December 1912, the world was abuzz with the news that the missing link between apes and humans had been found.
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"Giraffe of the Mesozoic" Dino Found in China
The Qiaowanlong kangxii, a brachiosaur roughly 40 feet long, is believed to have lived in Asia in the Early Cretaceous period.
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Three New Australian Dinosaurs Discovered
Three dinosaur skeletons discovered this year in Queensland, Australia, are completely new, bigger and more terrifying than Velociraptor, their discoverers claim.
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The Controversial "Hobbits" of Flores
The discovery of Homo floresiensis sparked furious debate over its place in the ancient human lineage.
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The Legal Ramifications of Evolution vs Creation
The evolution vs creationism controversy grows ever more contentious and today rages not only scientifically but legally, socially, educationally, and even religiously.
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Evolution Answers Creationism
"Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without any proof." (Ashley Montagu)
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Creationism Seeks to Refute Evolution
Creationists have developed what they believe is a scientific rebuttal to the evidence offered by evolutionists to support the modern evolutionary synthesis
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How Do Creationists Explain Life?
Creationism has been offered as an alternative to evolution when explaining the origin of the earth and the diversity of life on it.
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Darwin's Bees and his Work as a Beekeeper
Charles Darwin knew that the natural instinct of honey bees to build beautiful and intricate hexagonal wax honeycombs could be explained by natural selection.
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Formation and Uses of Shark Tooth Fossils
A shark tooth fossil is more than just a relic of evolution. Traditionally used as tools and as decoration, how are these fossils formed and what else are they used for?
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Dinosaurs Smaller than Thought
Scientists have found a glitch in equations used to calculate the weight of gigantic dinosaurs such as Diplodocus.
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The Patterns of Evolution
Evolution may take several paths. Species may evolve apart (diverge), evolve similar structures and appearances (converge), or evolve together (coevolve).
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The Australian Fossil Mammal Site at Naracoorte
In 1969, a young paeleontologist, Dr Rod Wells, and his team broke through into a new section of the Victoria Cave at Naracoorte. What he found there changed his life.
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Charles Darwin and His Theory of Evolution
Darwin's book, "Origin of Species", became the cornerstone of modern evolutionary theory. What are the main components of Darwin's grand theory of evolution?
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A Short History of Evolutionary Theory
The development of evolutionary theory is a long and convoluted tale encompassing thousands of years of time and the contribution of many individuals along the way.
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Gene Flow as a Mechanism of Evolution
This planet teems with an amazing diversity of living species. How does gene flow help drive the process of evolution to produce such a riotous multitude of life?
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Genetic Drift as a Mechanism of Evolution
This planet teems with an amazing diversity of living species. How does genetic drift help drive the process of evolution to produce such a riotous multitude of life?
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The Fossil Record of Evolution
To hold a fossil is to touch life from the far distant past. What do bits and pieces of ancient bone and shell reveal about the types and diversity of ancient life?
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Natural Selection as a Mechanism of Evolution
This planet teems with an amazing diversity of living species. How does natural selection help drive the process of evolution to produce such a riotous multitude of life?
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Mutation as a Mechanism of Evolution
This planet teems with an amazing diversity of living species. How do mutations help drive the process of evolution to produce such multitudes?
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Comparative Anatomy as Evidence of Evolution
Homologous traits reveal a common ancestor but analogous traits point to convergent evolution. The challenge for evolutionary biologists is to determine the difference.
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The Molecular Record of Evolution
Buried deep in the genome of every species are molecular clues to the origin and evolution of that species.
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Hobbits?
Small skeletons found in a cave in Indonesia may be proof that a tiny race of humans once lived in that area.
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Lyuba, the Baby Mammoth
Scientists hope that the remains of an intact baby mammoth will help them to determine what caused the mammoths' extinction 10,000 years ago.
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Jurassic Dinosaurs Alive Chicago Brookfield Zoo
Learn Jurassic dinosaur fun facts about Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Dilophosaurus, Metriacanthosaurus, and Omeisaurus, then visit animatronic dinosaurs at Brookfield Zoo.
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Early Cretaceous Dinosaurs Alive Brookfield Zoo
Learn Early Cretaceous dinosaur fun facts about Baryonyx, Ruyang Yellow River Dinosaur, Stegosaurus, Yangchuanosaurus, then visit animatronic dinosaurs at Brookfield Zoo.
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Mid to Late Cretaceous Dinosaurs Brookfield Zoo
Learn Mid to Late Cretaceous dinosaur facts about Deinonychus, Parasaurolophus, Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex, and visit Chicago Brookfield Zoo's animatronic dinosaurs.
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Mammoth Evolution
Mammoths, extinct relatives of elephants, fascinate mankind from beyond the grave. They originated in Africa like humans and spread over the Northern Hemisphere.
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