Fossils – Page 4 – PossibleThreat Articles

Big data reveals extraordinary unity underlying life's diversity

October 8, 2019 0 Comments Charles Darwin, Evolution, Evolutionary Biology, Fossils, Fungus, Nature, Origin of Life, Soil Types

Limits to growth lie at the heart of how all living things function. The diversity of life is staggering. From microscopic algae to elephants, life has devised countless ways to thrive in every environment on the planet. But while biologists have tended to focus on the many varied forms that species have evolved, the age of 'big data' offers an unprecedented view of some surprisingly common features shared by all creatures, great and small.

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Early hunter-gatherers interacted much sooner than previously believed

October 7, 2019 0 Comments Ancient Civilizations, Archaeology, Cultures, Environmental Awareness, Fossils, Geography, Natural Disasters, Sustainability

A nearly 4,000-year-old burial site found off the coast of Georgia hints at ties between hunter-gatherers on opposite sides of North America, according to new research.

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The last mammoths died on a remote island

October 7, 2019 0 Comments Early Mammals, Endangered Animals, Extinction, Extreme Survival, Fossils, Nature, Origin of Life, Paleontology

Isolation, extreme weather, and the possible arrival of humans may have killed off the holocene herbivores just 4,000 years ago.

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Oldest miniaturized stone toolkits in Eurasia

October 2, 2019 0 Comments Ancient Civilizations, Anthropology, Cultures, Early Humans, Evolution, Fossils, Human Evolution, Origin of Life

Microliths are often interpreted as being part of composite tools, including projectile weapons, essential to efficient Homo sapiens hunting strategies. In Europe and Africa, these lithic toolkits are linked to hunting medium and large-sized animals in grassland or woodland settings, or as adaptations during periods of climatic change. The presence of microliths in Sri Lanka suggests the existence of more diverse ecological contexts for these technologies by some of the earliest members of our species.

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African evidence support Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis

October 2, 2019 0 Comments Asteroids, Comets and Meteors, Early Climate, Endangered Animals, Fossils, Geography, Global Warming, Nature, Near-Earth Object Impacts, New Species, Origin of Life, Space Exploration, Space Telescopes

A team of scientists from South Africa has discovered evidence partially supporting a hypothesis that Earth was struck by a meteorite or asteroid 12,800 years ago, leading to global consequences including climate change, and contributing to the extinction of many species of large animals at the time of an episode called the Younger Dryas.

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Fossil fish gives new insights into evolution after end-Cretaceous mass extinction

October 2, 2019 0 Comments Dinosaurs, Ecology, Environmental Awareness, Exotic Species, Extinction, Fish, Fossils, New Species, Paleontology

An international research team has discovered a new and well-preserved fossil stingray with an exceptional anatomy, which greatly differs from living species. The find provides new insights into the evolution of these animals and sheds light on the recovery of marine ecosystems after the mass extinction occurred 66 million years ago.

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What did ancient crocodiles eat? Study says as much as a snout can grab

October 1, 2019 0 Comments Dinosaurs, Early Mammals, Extinction, Fossils, Nature, New Species, Paleontology, Wild Animals

To study the diet of ancient crocodiles, two researchers combined mathematical analyses of the animals' shapes, surveys of modern crocodiles' diet, modeling methods for reconstructing the diet of fossil groups, and forensic-style interpretations of damaged bones from the distant past.

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Insight into competitive advantage of modern humans over Neanderthals

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Ancient Civilizations, Anthropology, Cultures, Early Humans, Fossils, Lost Treasures, Origin of Life, Paleontology

A team of researchers have evidenced mechanically delivered projectile weapons in Europe dating to 45,000-40,000 years — more than 20,000 years than previously thought. This study indicated that the spear-thrower and bow-and-arrow technologies allowed modern humans to hunt more successfully than Neanderthals — giving them a competitive advantage. This discovery offered important insight to understand the reasons for the replacement of Neanderthals by modern humans.

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