New England – Conservationists at Zoo New England have pioneered a method to unravel the mysteries of predator-prey dynamics among local turtle populations. Researchers examine bite marks and scars on turtle shells to identify the culprits behind attacks. This technique draws from field observations and controlled experiments, offering vital clues for protecting threatened species. The ...
A fresh analysis has upended long-standing debates in paleontology by identifying two small tyrannosaurids as immature stages of the formidable Tarbosaurus bataar. This reclassification not only simplifies the family tree of Late Cretaceous predators but also stretches the known territory of Tarbosaurus across vast swaths of Asia. Researchers detailed their findings in a study that ...
Stevns Klint, Denmark – Researchers uncovered a minuscule fragment of pterosaur wing bone in the chalk cliffs of this UNESCO World Heritage site, offering fresh evidence of small-bodied flying reptiles in the waning moments of the Cretaceous period. The discovery, detailed in a recent scientific paper, points to pterosaurs with wingspans under 50 centimeters thriving ...
Global forests, which cover about a third of the planet’s land surface, confront a web of interconnected challenges and opportunities. A recent horizon scan by researchers mapped emerging trends across politics, finance, and technology poised to influence these ecosystems profoundly. Published in Forest Policy and Economics, the analysis draws from consultations with experts to spotlight ...
Researchers revealed a profound human footprint on the planet’s rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Large freshwater animals, weighing more than 30 kilograms at maturity, have spread dramatically beyond their original habitats through deliberate introductions. A comprehensive study documented this trend across 142 countries and regions, highlighting both the allure of economic opportunities and the lurking ecological ...
Durango, Mexico – Wildlife officials marked a significant milestone in conservation history by releasing eight endangered Mexican wolves into the state’s forests. Two family groups, each comprising four wolves, now roam areas untouched by the species for nearly half a century. This reintroduction revives a vital portion of their ancestral habitat, signaling renewed hope for ...
Hong Kong and Singapore – These bustling Asian hubs imported nearly a million live wild birds from Africa between 2006 and 2020, according to newly analyzed trade data. The surge highlighted a shift in global patterns, as demand grew among affluent collectors and pet enthusiasts. Canaries dominated the shipments, raising alarms about sustainability and hidden ...
Northern New Mexico’s Ghost Ranch yielded a remarkable fossil in 1948 amid a mass of dinosaur bones, but the specimen languished in Yale University’s Peabody Museum basement for decades. Researchers recently confirmed it belonged to a previously unknown relative of modern crocodiles, named Eosphorosuchus lacrimosa. This finding illuminates the early evolutionary steps of crocodylomorphs toward ...
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona – A team of paleontologists uncovered the jawbone of a small flying reptile that glided through Late Triassic skies 209 million years ago. This specimen, the earliest pterosaur known from North America, belonged to a new species called Eotephradactylus mcintireae. Preserved in a remote bone bed rich with volcanic ash, ...
You probably think of the Grand Canyon as an old place already, but the story you see from the rim is only the final chapter of a book that started more than a billion and a half years ago. When you stand there looking across that enormous chasm, you are not just staring at a ...
