Paleontology
Dinosaur skeleton settles debate over tiny T. rex fossils
A complete dinosaur skeleton has provided strong evidence that fossils long debated as juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex belong to a separate species called Nanotyrannus. Researchers analyzed a specimen from the 'Duelling Dinosaurs' site, confirming it as a fully grown individual distinct from T. rex. The findings challenge decades of palaeontological arguments.
Ancient lead exposure may have shaped human brain evolution
A study of fossil teeth reveals that prehistoric hominids were exposed to lead for at least 2 million years, potentially influencing brain evolution. Modern humans appear to have adapted better to the toxin than relatives like Neanderthals, according to research using ancient samples and brain organoids. However, some experts question the extent of this exposure and its evolutionary implications.
New Mongolian dinosaur bridges gap to tyrannosaurs
Paleontologists have discovered Khankhuuluu, a new species of tyrannosauroid dinosaur from Mongolia that represents a key transitional form in the evolution of Tyrannosaurus rex. This medium-sized predator, weighing about 750 kilograms, lived 86 million years ago and likely migrated from Asia to North America, where larger tyrannosaurs evolved. The find, detailed in a recent Nature study, highlights the dinosaur's agile hunting style and shared traits with later giants.
Fossil fish rewrites otophysan evolution history
A tiny fossil fish discovered in southwestern Alberta is the oldest North American otophysan, offering new insights into the evolution of freshwater fish species. Named Acronichthys maccognoi, the 4 cm specimen from the Late Cretaceous period suggests otophysans transitioned from marine to freshwater environments at least twice. The find, detailed in a study published on October 2 in Science, challenges previous understandings of their global spread.
Jurassic midge fossil challenges insect evolution theories
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An international team of researchers has discovered a 151-million-year-old fossil of a non-biting midge in Australia, the oldest known from the Southern Hemisphere. This find, named Telmatomyia talbragarica, reveals freshwater adaptations previously linked only to marine species, suggesting the Chironomidae family originated in Gondwana. The discovery reshapes understanding of ancient insect biogeography.