News

This 8,000-year-old art shows math before numbers existed

Over 8,000 years ago, early farming communities in northern Mesopotamia were already thinking mathematically—long before numbers were written down. By closely studying Halafian pottery, researchers uncovered floral and plant designs arranged with precise symmetry and numerical patterns, revealing a surprisingly advanced sense of geometry.

17/12/2025 sciencedaily

1.5-million-year-old fossil face is forcing a rethink of human origins

tooth migration Ethiopia fossil discovery human origin

Scientists have digitally reconstructed the face of a 1.5-million-year-old Homo erectus fossil from Ethiopia, uncovering an unexpectedly primitive appearance. While its braincase fits with classic Homo erectus, the face and teeth resemble much older human ancestors. This discovery challenges long-held ideas about where and how Homo erectus evolved. It also hints at a complex web of migrations and possible mixing between early human species.

16/12/2025 sciencedaily

Giant sea monsters lived in rivers at the end of the dinosaur age

tooth feeding predator Dinosauria Mosasaurus isotope

Giant mosasaurs, once thought to be strictly ocean-dwelling predators, may have spent their final chapter prowling freshwater rivers alongside dinosaurs and crocodiles. A massive tooth found in North Dakota, analyzed using chemical isotope techniques, reveals that some mosasaurs adapted to river systems as seas gradually freshened near the end of the age of dinosaurs. These enormous reptiles, possibly as long as a bus, appear to have hunted near the surface, perhaps even feeding on drowned dinos

15/12/2025 sciencedaily

Anurognathus: Beast of the Week

Germany Jurassic Late Jurassic Anurognathus Pterosauria skull

This week we will be checking out a unique little pterosaur, Anurognathus ammoni!  Anurognathus lived in what is now Germany during the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago.  It was tiny, sporting a 14 inch (35.5 cm) wingspan, and would have likely eaten insects.  It's genus name translates to "Frog Jaw" since its skull was similar looking to a frog's, being extremely blunt with a wide mouth.  Watercolor reconstruction of Anurognathus ammoni by Christopher DiPiazza.Anurognathus' sku

14/12/2025 prehistoricbeastoftheweek

New fossils in Qatar reveal a tiny sea cow hidden for 21 million years

bone Qatar fossil

Fossils from Qatar have revealed a small, newly identified sea cow species that lived in the Arabian Gulf more than 20 million years ago. The site contains the densest known collection of fossil sea cow bones, showing that these animals once thrived in rich seagrass meadows. Their ecological role mirrors that of modern dugongs, which still reshape the Gulf’s seafloor as they graze. The findings may help researchers understand how seagrass ecosystems respond to long-term environmental change.

12/12/2025 sciencedaily

Episode 171: Freshwater Mosasaurs

Hell Creek Mosasaurus formation

We dip into the freshwaters of the Hell Creek Formation. Oh dear

12/12/2025 palaeocast

Fossil brain scans show pterosaurs evolved flight in a flash

flight fossil Pterosauria bird discovery evolution

Ancient pterosaurs may have taken to the skies far earlier and more explosively than birds, evolving flight at their very origin despite having relatively small brains. Using advanced CT imaging, scientists reconstructed the brain cavities of pterosaur fossils and their close relatives, uncovering surprising clues—such as enlarged optic lobes—that hint at a rapid leap into powered flight. Their findings contrast sharply with the slow, stepwise evolution seen in birds, whose brains expanded over

09/12/2025 sciencedaily

This rare bone finally settles the Nanotyrannus mystery

bone growth museum fossil specimen Nanotyrannus Tyrannosaurus discovery

Scientists have confirmed that Nanotyrannus was a mature species, not a young T. rex. A microscopic look at its hyoid bone provided the key evidence, matching growth signals seen in known T. rex specimens. This discovery suggests a richer, more competitive tyrannosaur ecosystem than previously believed. It also highlights how museum fossils and cutting-edge analysis can rewrite prehistoric history.

09/12/2025 sciencedaily

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting 2025

United Kingdom

For 2025, SVP’s Annual Meeting was held in Birmingham, UK, giving the Palaeocast crew easy access to one of the world’s biggest palaeontological conferences. Emily and Filippo were able to record interviews with many of the delegates and the organisers of the event. Since it’s not always possible to find the time and money to [&hellip

03/12/2025 palaeocast

A lost Amazon world just reappeared in Bolivia

Bolivia excavation tectonics

Researchers exploring Bolivia’s Great Tectonic Lakes discovered a landscape transformed over centuries by sophisticated engineering and diverse agricultural traditions. Excavations show how Indigenous societies adapted to dynamic wetlands through raised fields, canals, and mixed livelihoods. Today’s local communities preserve this biocultural continuity, guiding research and conservation.

01/12/2025 sciencedaily-human-evo

Ancient long snouted croc from Egypt rewrites evolution

hunting predator Egypt fossil specimen discovery evolution

A newly identified crocodile relative from Egypt pushes back the origins of the marine-hunting dyrosaurids by millions of years. The fossil, Wadisuchus kassabi, shows a mix of primitive and advanced traits that mark a key evolutionary transition. Rare specimens of different ages reveal how these ancient predators developed. The find reinforces Africa as the center of early dyrosaurid evolution.

01/12/2025 sciencedaily

242-million-year-old mini predator changes lizard evolution

limb tooth predator fossil evolution new species skull

A tiny 242-million-year-old fossil from Devon is shaking up scientists’ assumptions about the earliest members of the lizard lineage. Instead of the expected skull hinges and palate teeth typical of modern lizards and snakes, this ancient creature shows a surprising mix of primitive and unusual traits—along with strikingly large, blade-like teeth. High-resolution synchrotron scans revealed details invisible to the naked eye, helping researchers name the new species Agriodontosaurus helsbypetrae

30/11/2025 sciencedaily

Dinosaur mummy found with hooves and a hidden crest

crest scale movie Dinosauria Edmontosaurus

Scientists have reconstructed the most complete and lifelike profile of Edmontosaurus annectens thanks to an extraordinary preservation process called clay templating, in which a thin clay film captured the dinosaur’s skin, scales, spikes, and even hooves in three dimensions. By combining newly excavated “mummies,” advanced imaging, and artistic reconstruction, researchers revealed a tall crest, a single row of tail spikes, delicate pebble-like scales, and—most remarkably—the earliest known hoov

30/11/2025 sciencedaily

Edmontosaurus: Beast of the Week

Cretaceous Late Cretaceous Canardia Dinosauria Edmontosaurus Hadrosauria

Today we are checking out one of the largest and most well studied of the duck-billed dinosaurs.  Enter Edmontosaurus!  Edmontosaurus annectens in watercolors by Christopher DiPiazza.Edmontosaurus was a hadrosaur ("duck-billed") dinosaur that could grow to at least 39 feet (12 meters) long from beak to tail that lived during the late Cretaceous period in what is now western North America.  There are currently two recognized species within the genus, Edmontosaurus regalis and Edmontosaurus annect

29/11/2025 prehistoricbeastoftheweek

A strange ancient foot reveals a hidden human cousin

Ethiopia isotope

Researchers have finally assigned a strange 3.4-million-year-old foot to Australopithecus deyiremeda, confirming that Lucy’s species wasn’t alone in ancient Ethiopia. This hominin had an opposable big toe for climbing but still walked upright in a distinct style. Isotope tests show it ate different foods from A. afarensis, revealing clear ecological separation. These insights help explain how multiple early human species co-existed without wiping each other out.

28/11/2025 sciencedaily-human-evo

Nanotyrannus: Beast of the Week

United States Cretaceous Dinosauria Nanotyrannus

 This week we will be learning about a dinosaur who's identity has been the subject of a lot of debate or decades.  Check out Nanotyrannus!Nanotyrannus was a meat-eating dinosaur that lived in what is now Montana in the United States during the latest Cretaceous period, between 67 and 66 million years ago.  From snout to tail it measured between 17 and 20 feet (6.2 meters) long as an adult. The genus name translates to "Small/Dwarf Tyrant" because it was originally believed to be a close relativ

19/11/2025 prehistoricbeastoftheweek

Scientists find a surprising link between lead and human evolution

tooth fossil evolution genetics

Researchers found that ancient hominids—including early humans—were exposed to lead throughout childhood, leaving chemical traces in fossil teeth. Experiments suggest this exposure may have driven genetic changes that strengthened language-related brain functions in modern humans.

16/11/2025 sciencedaily-human-evo

Science finally solves a 700-year-old royal murder

genetics study

Genetic, isotopic, and forensic evidence has conclusively identified the remains of Duke Béla of Macsó and uncovered remarkable details about his life, ancestry, and violent death. The study reveals a young nobleman with Scandinavian-Rurik roots who was killed in a coordinated, emotionally charged attack in 1272.

14/11/2025 sciencedaily-human-evo

New Neanderthal footprints in Portugal reveal a life we never expected

hunting Portugal tracks behavior

Footprints preserved on ancient dunes show Neanderthals actively navigating, hunting, and living along Portugal’s coastline. Their behavior and diet suggest a far more adaptable and socially complex population than once assumed.

13/11/2025 sciencedaily-human-evo

Archaeologists may have finally solved Peru’s strange “Band of Holes” mystery

Peru

In Peru’s mysterious Pisco Valley, thousands of perfectly aligned holes known as Monte Sierpe have long puzzled scientists. New drone mapping and microbotanical analysis reveal that these holes may once have served as a bustling pre-Inca barter market—later transformed into an accounting system under the Inca Empire.

10/11/2025 sciencedaily-human-evo