Scientists in Costa Rica have uncovered a new way to gauge the health of regenerating rainforests by tuning into their natural symphonies. Researchers analyzed thousands of hours of audio recordings from the Nicoya Peninsula to assess the impacts of the nation’s Payments for Ecosystem Services program. This approach reveals not just tree regrowth, but the ...
Northern Mongolia’s rugged landscapes have yielded a remarkable paleontological find. Researchers confirmed fossilized footprints of large theropods dating to approximately 120 million years ago during the Lower Cretaceous period. These trackways mark the earliest known evidence of sizable carnivorous dinosaurs in the region, filling a significant gap in the local fossil record. The discovery highlights ...
Blacksburg, Virginia – A mangled dinosaur skull, unearthed over four decades ago and long overlooked, has revealed a new species of early meat-eating predator. Virginia Tech geosciences senior Simba Srivastava led the analysis that identified the fossil as belonging to one of the last survivors of the Herrerasauria family from the Triassic period’s close. This ...
Iowa – Wetlands on private lands stand at the intersection of wildlife preservation and water quality improvement across the state’s expansive agricultural regions. These natural areas filter pollutants from runoff and provide essential habitats for diverse species. Researchers from Iowa State University prepare to share data-driven insights through an upcoming webinar hosted by The Wildlife ...
Wildlife conservation demands more than scientific discovery; it requires action at the community level. Extension professionals fulfill this need by channeling research findings into tangible strategies that protect habitats and species. The Wildlife Society, a prominent organization in wildlife management, spotlights this dynamic through an upcoming webinar that underscores the power of these connections. These ...
Northern New Mexico – A partial skull unearthed at the renowned Ghost Ranch has unveiled Ptychotherates bucculentus, a newly identified carnivorous dinosaur from the late Triassic period. Researchers described the species from fossils dating approximately 201 million years ago, offering a window into the final days of early dinosaur diversity before a massive extinction reshaped ...
Mongolia’s Gobi Desert yielded a remarkable fossil that paleontologists recently named Shri rapax, a dromaeosaurid closely related to Velociraptor. This predator, preserved in the Djadokhta Formation from about 75 million years ago, surfaced through a shadowy path involving poaching and smuggling before returning to scientific study. Its exceptional anatomy reveals how ancient raptors diversified to ...
Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan – Deep in Indonesian Borneo, a groundbreaking initiative challenges traditional conservation methods by putting cash directly into the hands of local communities. The KehatiKu program, launched by scientific consultancy Borneo Futures, encourages residents to document wildlife encounters through a simple mobile app. In its first year, participants submitted nearly 175,000 records ...
Researchers have exposed a critical vulnerability in South American reptile populations amid accelerating climate change. Embryos of the Amazon lava lizard developed profound physical abnormalities when incubated under warmer conditions projected for coming decades. This discovery underscores how subtle shifts in nest temperatures could cascade into population declines for species ill-equipped to adapt. Details of ...
Dinosaurs dominated Earth for over 165 million years, evolving remarkable adaptations for survival in a world of giants and predators. Among their most impressive traits were bursts of speed that allowed small hunters to chase prey and large herbivores to flee danger. Scientists estimate these velocities through fossilized skeletons, trackways, and biomechanical models, revealing a ...
