Articles for category: Fossils & Fieldwork

7 Clues That a Fossil Spent Time Underwater Before It Was Found

7 Clues That a Fossil Spent Time Underwater Before It Was Found

The ancient remains of creatures that lived millions of years ago tell stories that go far beyond their original lives. When paleontologists discover fossils, they’re not just finding evidence of prehistoric life – they’re uncovering clues about incredible journeys these specimens took long after death. Some fossils carry secret signatures that reveal they spent time ...

Ancient astronauts

When Paleontology Meets Sci-Fi: UFO Lore vs. Prehistoric Truths

The ancient skies above Earth witnessed phenomena far more extraordinary than any UFO sighting reported today. While modern conspiracy theorists debate mysterious lights and alleged alien visitations, paleontologists have been uncovering evidence of creatures so bizarre they make science fiction seem mundane. Imagine pterosaurs with 35-foot wingspans soaring through prehistoric atmospheres, or marine reptiles larger ...

Shuvuuia: The Nocturnal Dino With Eagle Eyes and Mole Claws (Mongolia)

In the late Cretaceous period, approximately 75-81 million years ago, a small, peculiar dinosaur scurried through the arid landscapes of what is now Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. This remarkable creature, named Shuvuuia (meaning “bird” in Mongolian), represents one of paleontology’s most fascinating discoveries. Combining seemingly contradictory features—extraordinarily keen night vision like modern owls, paired with digging ...

A BLM volunteer uses a compressed air tool called an air scribe, which operates like a miniature jackhammer, to chip through the hard rock matrix that covers the fossil.

10 Fossils That Captured Ancient Life in the Middle of Action

Picture this: you’re frozen mid-step, your expression captured forever while reaching for something just out of grasp. That’s exactly what happened to countless creatures millions of years ago, except instead of a photograph, they became fossils. These remarkable snapshots from deep time don’t just show us what ancient animals looked like – they reveal their ...

8 Incredible Dinosaur Discoveries Made by Amateur Paleontologists

8 Incredible Dinosaur Discoveries Made by Amateur Paleontologists

You don’t need a PhD in paleontology to make history. Sometimes a curious eye, a fortunate walk, or sheer determination can lead to breathtaking finds that reshape what we know about our planet’s ancient past. Throughout history, amateur fossil hunters have stumbled upon some of the most spectacular dinosaur discoveries ever recorded, proving that science ...

7 Iconic Dinosaur Fossil Sites You Can Visit Across North America

7 Iconic Dinosaur Fossil Sites You Can Visit Across North America

Think dinosaurs are just for museum display cases? Think again. Scattered across North America are ancient landscapes where you can stand exactly where these prehistoric giants once roamed, touch fossils that are millions of years old, and witness paleontologists actively uncovering the secrets of our planet’s distant past. From the badlands of Alberta to the ...

How Can We Reconstruct Dinosaur Sounds from Fossil Evidence?

How Can We Reconstruct Dinosaur Sounds from Fossil Evidence?

Have you ever watched a dinosaur movie and wondered whether those terrifying roars actually reflected reality? You’re not alone. For decades, filmmakers have crafted iconic soundscapes for these ancient beasts, yet scientists working with fossils can tell us something quite different. The truth is, reconstructing what dinosaurs actually sounded like presents a fascinating puzzle that ...