Palaeontology
The fossil that might solve Afrasia's mystery. Image: Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Out of Asia

A new primate fossil suggests that our distant ancestors evolved in Asia, not Africa.

Flesh reconstruction of the whole body of Ichthyostega. Image: Julia Molner

Ancient creature brought back to life with 3D model

A highly advanced computer model shows how an early tetrapod heaved itself out of primordial water.

Stalagmites form when water containing calcium carbonate drips down onto the floor of a cave and leaves limestone behind when it evaporates. Image: Shutterstock/ Dumitrescu Ciprian-Florin

What stalagmites tell us about climate change

Cave formations can act as prehistoric weather stations.

The first plants would have been similar in structure to liverworts. Image: Shutterstock/Collpicto

Plants and fungi joined forces to colonise the world

Soil-dwelling fungi played a crucial role in plant evolution.

Dr Judyth Sassoon holding part of the snout of the Westbury pliosaur. The holes on the specimen are tooth sockets. Credit: Simon Powell

Ancient reptiles suffered from arthritis

Joint pain may be an age-old affair.

Conservator Angelyn Bass cleans and stabilises the surface of a wall of a Maya house that date to the 9th century. The figure of a man who may have been the town scribe appears on the wall to her left. Image: Tyrone Turner/2012 National Geographic

Earliest Mayan calendar goes well beyond 2012

A small room in Xultún indicates that the Mayan calendar goes well beyond 2012.

The carnivorous ceratosaurs were one to two metres in height. Image: Brian Choo

Australia’s newest predatory dinosaur

An anklebone fossil has revealed that the ceratosaurs called Australia home.

An artist's rendition of two Diplodocus, one of the species that appeared to have a stable population. Image: Shutterstock

New clues for dinosaur extinction

New research suggests that some dinosaurs may have been slowly declining before they finally disappeared.

An extinct marsupial mega-herbivore, Diprotodon optatum. Drawing by Peter Murray/Image © Science/AAAS

Blame it on the hunters

New state of the debate: Australian megafauna hunted to extinction.

mouse

Of mice and Vikings

The Vikings weren’t the only invading force during the 10th century.

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