Genome duplications helped flowering plants survive mass extinctions

May 08, 2026

Reported by AI

Extra copies of genetic material appear to have boosted the survival of flowering plants during Earth's major environmental crises, including the event that wiped out the dinosaurs.

A study of 470 angiosperm species found 132 ancient genome duplications that clustered around nine periods of upheaval between 108 million and 14 million years ago. These included climate shifts, changes in oxygen levels and mass extinctions, such as the asteroid impact 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period.

Top predators endured after end-Permian mass extinction

The end-Permian extinction, which occurred 252 million years ago, eliminated over 80 percent of marine species, yet many ocean ecosystems maintained complex structures with top predators surviving. A new study of seven global marine sites reveals that despite severe losses, five ecosystems retained at least four trophic levels. This suggests ecosystems' resilience depends on their unique species compositions, offering insights for modern climate threats.

Lost fossils reveal diverse marine predators after Permian extinction

February 25, 2026 Reported by AI

A cache of 250-million-year-old fossils rediscovered in Australia has shown a diverse community of early ocean predators following Earth's worst mass extinction. These marine amphibians, including species from the trematosaurid group, indicate a rapid global spread in the early Mesozoic era. The findings challenge previous views that limited such creatures to a single species in the southern hemisphere.

Science

Research reveals key differences in dinosaur and mammal parenting

Science

Freeze-thaw cycles aided evolution of early cell-like structures

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Study suggests two cryptic species hide for every known vertebrate

Meteor impacts may have sparked life on early Earth

Scientists suggest that asteroid impacts created hot, chemical-rich environments that could have kick-started life on Earth. A new review led by recent Rutgers graduate Shea Cinquemani highlights impact-generated hydrothermal systems as potential cradles for life's building blocks. These systems may have persisted for thousands of years, providing ideal conditions for early biology.

Study shows cloned mice accumulate harmful mutations

March 25, 2026 Reported by AI

A 20-year experiment cloning mice has revealed that clones develop significantly more genetic mutations than naturally reproduced mice, accumulating to fatal levels after multiple generations. Researchers led by Teruhiko Wakayama at Yamanashi University in Japan found over 70 mutations per clone generation on average, three times higher than in controls. The findings, published in Nature Communications, raise concerns for applications in farming, conservation and de-extinction efforts.

Study reveals global slowdown in species turnover

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London analyzed data from the BioTIME database and found species turnover in ecosystems has declined by a third since the mid-1970s. This challenges expectations that ecosystems would accelerate turnover in response to climate change and other pressures. Lead author Emmanuel Nwankwo described nature's self-repair mechanism as an engine grinding to a halt.

Ancient fossil shows early land vertebrate ate plants

February 11, 2026 Reported by AI

Scientists have identified a 307-million-year-old fossil as one of the earliest known land vertebrates to consume plants. The creature, named Tyrannoroter heberti, featured specialized teeth for grinding vegetation. This discovery challenges previous understandings of early terrestrial diets.

May 04, 2026 22:19