https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/fossils_ruins/evolution/ Evolution. Read about natural selection in a flask and genetic variation in flowers. Consider the evolution of human social behavior, and more. en-us Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:13:42 EDT Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:13:42 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/fossils_ruins/evolution/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261014015457.htm A 120-million-year-old fossil forgotten in a museum for nearly a century has revealed a terrifying new dinosaur that may have been more dangerous to humans than a T. rex. The tiger-sized predator also provides the first evidence of megaraptorans in Europe, helping explain how these mysterious dinosaurs eventually became gigantic hunters. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:51:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261014015457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261014001406.htm A massive prehistoric snake discovered in India may have rivaled the largest snake ever known. Called Vasuki indicus, the 47-million-year-old giant could have reached up to 50 feet long, making it comparable to the legendary Titanoboa. Scientists believe its enormous body made it a slow-moving ambush predator, similar to a modern anaconda. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 01:44:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261014001406.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261012185013.htm A newly identified 210-million-year-old dinosaur from Zimbabwe is helping scientists uncover a surprisingly distinct prehistoric ecosystem. The discovery suggests that ancient climate differences may have separated dinosaur populations across southern Africa, leading to unique species that challenge previous assumptions about their evolution. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:53:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261012185013.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261012185005.htm A 165-million-year-old fossil has revealed an extraordinary Jurassic predator that may help explain how mammals developed one of their most important evolutionary advantages. Although only 20 inches long, Megacauda sungei was a heavyweight among early mammal relatives, swimming through ancient waterways and hunting prey with specialized teeth. Its advanced swallowing anatomy reveals an early step toward the ability to safely nurse on milk, a key development in mammalian evolution. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:44:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261012185005.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042113.htm New fossils from South Africa are reshaping the story of early human evolution. Researchers have described 18 hominin fossils from Drimolen Cave, including an adult Homo erectus skull fragment dated to about 2 million years ago, supporting evidence that the species appeared in southern Africa roughly 200,000 years earlier than long thought. The finds also reveal that Paranthropus robustus, which lived alongside Homo erectus, was gradually evolving even larger teeth and stronger chewing muscles as the climate changed. Thu, 08 Oct 2026 08:47:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042113.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261003234023.htm New research suggests animals could have evolved as early as 800 to 700 million years ago, roughly 200 million years earlier than some previous estimates. If so, the first animals may have lived before or during Snowball Earth, leaving behind little trace because their soft bodies were rarely preserved. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 22:29:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261003234023.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053531.htm A huge genomic and fossil study suggests bats first evolved in Europe around 65 to 60 million years ago before spreading across the globe. The findings also indicate that flight and echolocation emerged near the beginning of bat evolution, potentially helping explain how bats became one of the most successful mammal groups on Earth. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 01:12:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053531.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225036.htm A 245-million-year-old marine reptile fossil preserves an astonishing amount of detail, including its stomach, liver, and intestines. The discovery reveals that Austronaga minuta was highly adapted for swimming even though its digestive system remained surprisingly simple. Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:39:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260927225036.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093204.htm A beautifully preserved fossil from Mongolia’s Gobi Desert has solved a mystery that puzzled paleontologists for nearly 40 years. Tamirkhan balcarceli shows that zhelestids were not early relatives of modern placental mammals, despite having teeth that seemed to suggest they were. Instead, the rabbit-like animal belonged to a separate lineage of small Cretaceous mammals. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:25:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093204.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093155.htm Scientists resurrected antimicrobial peptides from mammals that lived millions of years ago and found that some were more potent against drug-resistant bacteria than modern human versions. These evolutionary relics could provide new clues for designing treatments as antibiotic resistance becomes an increasingly serious threat. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 05:59:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925093155.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005447.htm Scientists studying ancient Australian rocks uncovered more than 12,000 fossils from some of the oldest known eukaryotes on Earth. These early complex cells lived in settings ranging from coastal mudflats to the open sea, but only where oxygen was available. Oxygen-free environments contained simpler microbes instead. The findings strengthen the idea that oxygen played a crucial role in the emergence of complex life. Sun, 27 Sep 2026 07:55:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260925005447.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005709.htm A broken rib from Scotty, the largest known T. rex skeleton, contains an extraordinary fossilized network of blood vessels formed while the dinosaur was healing. Scientists used neutron and X-ray imaging to look inside the 66-million-year-old bone without damaging it, revealing details rarely preserved in fossils. Wed, 23 Sep 2026 22:20:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260922005709.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm Chemical clues preserved inside fossilized T. rex teeth reveal that the dinosaur maintained a body temperature of about 97 degrees Fahrenheit, almost identical to humans. The finding provides direct evidence that the giant predator was warm-blooded, helping explain how it stayed active and survived in chilly environments as far north as Alaska. Sun, 20 Sep 2026 01:56:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919031020.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232128.htm A newly identified 240-million-year-old animal from Tanzania is forcing scientists to rethink the early dinosaur timeline. Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda belongs to a group previously known only from South America, linking fossil deposits on the two continents. That connection suggests Tanzania’s supposed oldest dinosaur fossils may actually be millions of years younger than previously thought. Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:48:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260915232128.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102436.htm A 125-million-year-old crocodile fossil has revealed preserved skin, possible sensory organs, sophisticated respiratory structures, and an unexpected pattern on its tail. Ultraviolet light exposed alternating bands that may represent ancient camouflage, potentially preserving the oldest known coloration in a crocodylomorph. Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:07:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260914102436.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913082203.htm Ancient DNA reveals that plague was already killing hunter-gatherers in Siberia 5,500 years ago, long before cities and flea-driven epidemics. The prehistoric strains may have been especially dangerous because they carried a genetic factor capable of provoking severe immune reactions. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 22:54:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913082203.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003849.htm A feather discovered inside 66-million-year-old fossilized dinosaur poop may help explain why modern birds survived the asteroid catastrophe. The extinct bird it came from had more primitive insulating feathers, suggesting superior plumage may have helped the ancestors of living birds endure the deadly impact winter. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:47:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003849.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231735.htm Scientists have used DNA from living descendants to identify four more members of the doomed Franklin expedition, including Harry Peglar, whose identity had remained uncertain for 166 years. The findings offer new clues about the sailors who survived for years in the Arctic before joining the expedition’s ultimately fatal escape attempt. Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:46:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909231735.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201603.htm Scientists have identified a giant new dinosaur from Brazil that reached about 20 meters long and lived 120 million years ago. Its surprising evolutionary ties to a Spanish dinosaur suggest its ancestors crossed ancient land connections between Europe, Africa, and South America. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:42:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201603.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201558.htm The extinct “American cheetah” was not really a cheetah at all, but a puma relative with an unexpectedly flexible lifestyle. Fossils from the Yukon suggest northern populations survived partly by eating fish, possibly including salmon, while southern cats hunted on land. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:58:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201558.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260903064233.htm Archaeologists have identified tiny 80,000-year-old projectile points in Uzbekistan that may have been used like arrowheads. Their size, design, and impact damage closely resemble weapons found much later at a Homo sapiens site in France. The discovery suggests sophisticated projectile technology may have appeared in Central Asia long before modern humans became firmly established in Europe, potentially rewriting a major chapter of human migration. Sat, 05 Sep 2026 20:46:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260903064233.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm A meter-long scorpion with massive pincers stalked ancient Britain 415 million years ago, long before forests and the better-known age of giant insects. Its surprising size and possible semi-aquatic lifestyle could reshape ideas about how early arthropods became giants. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:23:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035221.htm Ancient footprints in Kenya reveal that eight Paranthropus boisei may have traveled together 1.4 million years ago, with some individuals reaching surprisingly large, human-like body sizes. The tracks offer a rare glimpse of their social behavior and suggest these extinct human relatives may have lived in more complex groups than previously thought. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 11:17:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829035221.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010455.htm Ancient fossils suggest insects conquered land through a long amphibious phase rather than making an abrupt jump from water to dry ground. A newly identified 324-million-year-old species still carried paddle-like abdominal limbs, revealing an evolutionary bridge between aquatic ancestors and modern six-legged insects. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:22:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010455.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002450.htm Scientists have identified exceptionally rare soft tissue preserved in a 450-million-year-old crinoid fossil, more than 200 million years older than the first dinosaurs. Its delicate tube feet offer a remarkable new window into how some of Earth’s earliest reef animals lived, fed, and evolved. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:12:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002450.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002413.htm The human family tree may be due for a major rewrite. Researchers argue that Australopithecus and Paranthropus should be folded into the genus Homo because new fossils have blurred many of the traits once used to separate them. The proposed shake-up could provide a simpler, more accurate picture of our surprisingly complicated evolutionary past. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:42:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260820002413.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064811.htm Scientists are searching some of Earth’s oldest rocks for tiny fossils that could reveal how simple microbial life made the extraordinary leap toward plants, animals, and other complex organisms. Solving that ancient mystery may also help determine whether complex life could emerge on worlds beyond Earth. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:40:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260815064811.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235837.htm Scientists have discovered a new extinct amphibian species hiding in the fossil collections of Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits. Named Spea labreae, the Ice Age spadefoot toad is an exceptionally rare find—only one other extinct Pleistocene amphibian has ever been identified in North America. Its bones had been sitting in collections since the 1950s before a researcher noticed features that set it apart from known species. Sun, 16 Aug 2026 03:33:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260814235837.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045555.htm Fossils collected in Osaka more than 30 years ago have revealed a surprise hiding in plain sight: four previously unrecognized bones from a giant Cretaceous mosasaur. Among them is the first confirmed premaxilla—the frontmost bone of the upper jaw—ever identified in a Japanese mosasaur fossil. Even more intriguing, parts of the skull show unusual anatomical features that don’t match known mosasaurs, raising the possibility that the remains belong to an entirely new species. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 10:19:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045555.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811053042.htm Researchers have found strong evidence that original collagen can survive inside dinosaur fossils for tens of millions of years, overturning a long-standing assumption about fossilization. The discovery could unlock hidden molecular clues about dinosaur biology, evolution, and how ancient proteins managed to survive for so long. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 05:51:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811053042.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811011134.htm Scientists probing life’s deepest origins have uncovered evidence that the first free-living cells may have emerged not once, but twice. The findings suggest a striking possibility: life may share one ancient genetic code, yet have undergone two separate transitions into free-living existence. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 01:32:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260811011134.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015700.htm Dogs have been shaping—and being shaped by—humans for about 15,000 years, evolving from early partners of hunter-gatherers into an astonishing range of specialized companions. Across the globe, they adapted alongside people to wildly different environments and needs, from powerful Arctic sled dogs and agile rainforest hunters to high-altitude dogs with genetic traits for surviving thin air. Some were even bred for wool, while others played important spiritual or ceremonial roles. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 01:57:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260810015700.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260808234956.htm A 240-million-year-old reptile discovered in Brazil is revealing what evolution looked like just before the rise of dinosaurs and crocodiles. The small predator had unusually positioned legs that may have allowed it to move more efficiently than many earlier reptiles. Its close relatives were previously known mostly from other continents, suggesting these ancient animals spread much farther across the Triassic world than scientists realized. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:40:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260808234956.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035137.htm Dinosaurs conquered the land at enormous sizes, but strangely, they almost never evolved into truly tiny animals. New research suggests that physiology alone can’t explain this missing miniature end of the dinosaur spectrum—and that early mammals may have been partly responsible. While dinosaurs kept mammals from becoming large, small mammals may have returned the favor by occupying ecological niches that could otherwise have supported mouse-sized dinosaurs. Sun, 09 Aug 2026 06:15:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260807035137.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034644.htm A spectacular fossil site in Canada contains 567-million-year-old creatures that may represent some of the earliest animals to move, reproduce sexually, and develop recognizable body plans. The discovery pushes key evolutionary milestones back by up to 10 million years and suggests complex animal life may have first flourished in the deep ocean. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:33:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034644.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034619.htm An exceptionally preserved snake fossil from Brazil reveals that early snakes were far more diverse than scientists once thought. Detailed brain reconstructions show that Tametara mirim was adapted for burrowing, while another ancient snake was suited to life above ground. Other fossils point to marine lifestyles as well. By 80 million years ago, snakes were already experimenting with very different habitats and sensory systems. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:42:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260804034619.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080906.htm A tiny 518-million-year-old sea creature has revealed the earliest known evidence of the structures that eventually became spiders’ fangs. Hidden inside the fossil were pincerlike limbs and preserved soft tissues that help explain how the ancestors of spiders and scorpions evolved into formidable hunters. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:18:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260803080906.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801093740.htm A massive crocodilian capable of attacking dinosaurs has been brought back to life as the first scientifically accurate mounted skeleton of Deinosuchus schwimmeri. The 31-foot replica at Georgia’s Tellus Science Museum was built from detailed fossil scans and more than 40 years of research by paleontologist Dr. David Schwimmer, for whom the species was named. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:50:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801093740.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034139.htm Modern humans carry DNA from two mysterious extinct lineages in addition to Neanderthals and Denisovans. Their hidden genetic legacy shows that our evolutionary past was shaped by repeated mixing among many different human groups. Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:58:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260731034139.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010732.htm A fossil overlooked for nearly 80 years has revealed a previously unknown crocodile relative that lived 210 million years ago in what is now New Mexico. Named Eosphorosuchus lacrimosa, the jackal-sized predator had a reinforced skull, powerful jaw muscles, and a short snout built for tackling larger prey. Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:34:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729010732.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260723084852.htm A newly identified fossil ape from northern Egypt is reshaping ideas about where the ancestors of modern apes first emerged. Analyses place it closer to living apes than any known East African species of the same age, pointing to North Africa and the Middle East as a possible birthplace and crossroads for the ape lineage that eventually produced gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. Fri, 24 Jul 2026 03:03:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260723084852.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032119.htm Fossils discovered in Japan more than two decades ago have finally been identified as a new genus and species of giant salamander. Limnospondylus ajimuensis lived around 3.5 million years ago in a warmer, wetter Kyushu and may have reached 1.1 meters in length. Its discovery hints that many more unknown giant salamanders could be hiding among fossils previously given the wrong classification. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:58:41 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032119.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032105.htm Ancient fern savannahs may have transformed parts of Europe into a wildfire-prone inferno during the end-Triassic mass extinction. New fossil evidence suggests the ferns repeatedly regrew after fires, creating fresh fuel that helped prolong the devastation. Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:10:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032105.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260721000828.htm Ancient DNA from China’s vast 4,000-year-old Shimao settlement is revealing how one of East Asia’s earliest complex societies was organized. Researchers found that its people were largely descended from local Yellow River farming communities, but also had genetic ties to distant southern and steppe populations, pointing to extensive prehistoric contact. Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:59:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260721000828.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260715083546.htm Fossils from Queensland suggest a newly recognized marsupial order may have survived in Australia for around 35 million years, rewriting part of the story of how the continent's unique mammals evolved. The discovery challenges the idea that Australia's marsupials all came from a single straightforward ancestral lineage. Sun, 19 Jul 2026 01:53:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260715083546.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260709160637.htm Scientists have discovered a previously unknown fossil goose that challenges a decades-old theory about the evolution of New Zealand's birds. The find suggests the country's giant flightless geese evolved from much more recent arrivals, revealing a far more dynamic evolutionary history than once believed. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:57:14 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260709160637.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260626030443.htm Claims that Neanderthal men "preferred" Homo sapiens women may make for catchy headlines, but the underlying research does not actually show prehistoric romance. The genetic evidence only points to an uneven pattern of DNA inheritance, which could have been shaped by biology, migration, or social organization. Archaeological evidence suggests Neanderthal groups may have followed traditions where women moved between communities, opening the door to far more complicated explanations than simple attraction. Tue, 07 Jul 2026 02:47:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260626030443.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060216.htm A stunning fossil discovery shows that ancient bees used the empty tooth sockets of mammal bones as tiny nests after owls scattered the bones across a cave floor 20,000 years ago. It's the first known evidence of bees nesting inside animal bones, revealing an astonishingly creative survival strategy. Sun, 05 Jul 2026 15:23:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060216.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260624115624.htm Scientists discovered ancient wolves on a tiny Baltic island where they could only have been brought by humans, suggesting an unexpectedly close relationship between people and wolves thousands of years ago. Evidence indicates the wolves were fed, possibly cared for, and may even have been managed or selectively bred long before modern ideas of domestication. Sun, 05 Jul 2026 17:54:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260624115624.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623083123.htm A new study suggests early humans were using fire in South Africa’s Wonderwerk Cave as far back as 1.79 million years ago. Researchers found burned bones deep inside the cave, where natural wildfires could not have reached, indicating that fire was likely carried in and maintained by human ancestors. The discovery pushes back the timeline for fire use and reveals surprisingly sophisticated behavior long before humans could create fire on demand. Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:12:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623083123.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621110957.htm Tyrannosaurus rex may have been a much slower grower than scientists realized. A new study of 17 tyrannosaur fossils found that the giant predator likely took about 40 years to reach its full size of roughly eight tons, extending previous estimates by 15 years. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:32:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621110957.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621060311.htm A newly discovered feathered dinosaur called Jian changmaensis may be the missing predator responsible for mysterious piles of crushed prehistoric bird bones in China. The four-winged glider, a close cousin of Velociraptor, helps reveal how early birds and their dinosaur relatives shared the same ancient landscape. Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:58:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621060311.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260616103124.htm A surprising new study suggests the earliest primates didn't originate in tropical forests but in cold, dry parts of North America. Some may have even survived seasonal Arctic conditions by slowing their metabolism or hibernating. Researchers found that dramatic climate shifts, rather than warmth, played a major role in driving primate evolution and expansion. The discovery reshapes our understanding of how our own lineage began. Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:28:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260616103124.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034229.htm A newly identified crocodile species nicknamed “Lucy’s hunter” prowled Ethiopia’s rivers when Lucy’s species walked the Earth more than 3 million years ago. The giant predator was likely the most dangerous animal in the ecosystem and may have regularly hunted early human relatives. Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:13:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034229.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034213.htm Millipedes may have been crawling across Earth's landscapes nearly 460 million years ago, long before vertebrates ventured onto land. A new study finally completes their evolutionary family tree, revealing surprising clues about these ancient ecosystem engineers and their early chemical defenses. Sun, 14 Jun 2026 03:33:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034213.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034210.htm Ancient encounters between humans and the mysterious Denisovans are still shaping people today. By analyzing genomes from populations across the Pacific, researchers uncovered evidence that the ancestors of Near Oceanians interbred with at least three different Denisovan groups, leaving behind genetic variants that remain active in modern humans. Sat, 13 Jun 2026 21:52:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034210.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260612032038.htm A spectacular fossil fish discovered on a remote cliff in New Zealand nearly 30 years ago has finally revealed its full story thanks to an unexpected discovery: the original collector’s long-lost field notebooks. The 1.2-meter fossil, preserved in stunning three-dimensional detail, belonged to an ancient tarpon-like predator that cruised New Zealand waters about 55 million years ago. Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:15:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260612032038.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260611024612.htm A tiny set of ancient genetic “switches” may have played a surprisingly large role in making human language possible. Researchers found that these DNA regions, which act like volume controls for genes involved in brain development, have an outsized influence on language ability despite making up less than 0.1% of the genome. Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:13:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260611024612.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260610003042.htm Earth’s earliest animals may have held evolution back because they reproduced asexually, creating low-competition communities that changed very little over time. When environmental pressures pushed them toward sexual reproduction, biodiversity exploded and evolution accelerated dramatically. Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:56:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260610003042.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260606075855.htm Ancient grooves on human teeth, once hailed as evidence of tooth-picking, may simply be the result of natural wear, according to a new study of wild primates. The research also revealed that a common modern dental defect appears to be uniquely human, hinting that today's lifestyles may be reshaping our teeth in unexpected ways. Mon, 08 Jun 2026 06:49:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260606075855.htm