ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE

Getting to the Core of Extinction—Researchers Return to Crater That Caused Millions of Dinosaurs to Die

SPACE It’s no big surprise as to why we exited the Jurassic period. The dinosaurs and their lineage ended with a shocking crash when a catastrophic asteroid plummeted to Earth, and dust and debris blocked out the Sun. But now researchers are hoping that by going back to the site of the impact they may be able to learn a bit more about ancient biological and geological processes, and perhaps even what cosmic changes led to the asteroid’s impact.

The Miracle of Birth of the Ancient Mosasaurs

A new study published in the journal Palaeontology has revealed some interesting new details about the process of reproduction in Mosasaurs, the large marine lizards that once populated the waters about 65 million years ago.

New Sensitivity Study May Reveal ‘Terror Birds’ Hunted In Packs

News this week revealed a frightening new addition to the fossil record—a “Terror Bird” species known more scientifically as Llallawavis scagliai (aka Scaglia’s Magnificent Bird). But in spite of its massive size and terrifying stance, this top-tier predatory may not have been the most well-adapted hunter that it could be… That is, unless it was hunting in packs.

With a Bit of Luck and Inspiration, One 4-Year-Old Boy Found a Dinosaur in Texas

Think that you don’t have what it takes to start a career in paleontology, even though your fascination with dinosaurs never ends? Well never fear, news this week reveals that you’re never too old, or too young, to start on the hunt for dinosaurs. And 4-year-old Wylie Brys, of Mansfield, Texas, is proving this sentiment true.

Tombs Filled with Mummies Discovered in Peru

Scientists have discovered tombs filled with up to 40 mummies, each around a 1,200 year old ceremonial site in Peru's Cotahuasi Valley. Thus far, archaeologists have excavated seven tombs containing at least 171 mummies in an area now called Tenahaha.

Goldfish Invade Colorado Lake

It seems that goldfish have invaded a Colorado lake in Boulder, Colorado and experts believe that the cause is the disposal of unwanted family pets.

Dwarf Dragons Discovered in the Andes

Just when we thought that scientists have found all the species they were going to, a new species of lizard dubbed the dwarf dragon has been discovered in the Andes Mountains of South America.

How One Endangered Species Is Making A Change For the Better—Eating Sweeter Flora Instead

Many endangered species like the Giant Tortoises of the Galápagos islands share a similar fate with the introduction of human beings to their natural landscape. With humans so too come the pets and the plants that invade their space. And more often than not it means that these endangered species either die off or adapt to avoid competition or costly meals. But for some, in very rare conditions, it means that the species can thrive even better than it could on its sparse local sources for food. And in a new study published this week in the Biotropica, researchers say that after a four year study, tracking the movement and foraging behavior of giant tortoises, it appears that they are seeking out sweeter treats of invasive flora and fruits instead of their local fare.

The Energy for a New Crawl—Galápagos Tortoises Feast on Invasive Plants for a New Foraging Technique

When it comes to invasive flora, most conservation ecologists know that the ramifications that come with these primary producers often appear much higher in the food chain. Some animals are unequipped to utilize the plants for food, while others simply find the energy spent foraging for it is far too much for the energy gained. And it’s a dynamic that often leads some species to coevolve. But looking into one of the first Darwinian subjects, Galápagos Giant Tortoises, some researchers have found that the unique species may be getting far more out of the invasive flora than they once thought—enough to even change their foraging behavior altogether.
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