All articles tagged with #fossil analysis
A new analysis of 7-million-year-old fossils suggests Sahelanthropus tchadensis was likely a bipedal hominin, supported by a newly identified femoral feature indicating upright walking, making it a strong candidate for the earliest human ancestor.
A new study suggests that injuries in hadrosaurid dinosaur tails, likely caused by mating behavior, could be used to identify female dinosaurs, providing a novel method for sex determination in fossils.
Paleontologists have found evidence suggesting that injuries on hadrosaur tails are linked to mating behavior, potentially allowing scientists to distinguish male from female dinosaurs and advancing understanding of dinosaur sexual dimorphism.
A new study using AI analysis reveals that leopards hunted and ate early human ancestors, Homo habilis, around 2 million years ago in East Africa, with evidence from fossilized jawbones showing carnivore tooth marks attributed to leopards.
A study reveals that early humans like Homo habilis were still preyed upon by predators such as leopards around 1.75 million years ago, challenging previous beliefs that humans had already become top predators by that time.
The article discusses the convergent evolution of diverse jaw joints in mammaliamorphs, supported by fossil data, digital reconstructions, and phylogenetic analysis, highlighting evolutionary adaptations in mammalian jaw structures.
Paleontologists have discovered preserved ancient proteins in a 24-million-year-old rhinoceros fossil, challenging previous timelines of rhino evolution and demonstrating the potential of protein analysis to study deep past species beyond the limits of ancient DNA, thereby opening new avenues for understanding evolutionary history.
Scientists used paleoproteomics to analyze proteins from 2-million-year-old teeth of Paranthropus robustus, revealing new insights into its diversity, sex, and potential multiple species, thus advancing understanding of human evolutionary history.
A new study of the 140,000-year-old Skhūl I skull from Israel reveals a complex mixture of archaic and modern features, sparking debate over its classification and suggesting it may represent a unique human group. Advanced imaging techniques highlight its hybrid traits, but DNA analysis has yet to be conducted due to preservation concerns. The findings also raise questions about early human social and burial practices.
A 140,000-year-old child's skull from Skhul Cave shows features of both modern humans and Neanderthals, suggesting possible hybridization, though some experts believe it primarily aligns with Homo sapiens. The study highlights the complexity of human ancestry and interbreeding between ancient populations.
A new study challenges long-held beliefs about the formation of the Grand Canyon's Tonto Group, revealing it was shaped by multiple shoreline advances and rapid environmental changes during the Cambrian Period, rewriting the understanding of Earth's early marine ecosystems and geological history.
A study in Science Advances reveals that early human ancestors, such as Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi, combined tree climbing with advanced stone tool use earlier than thought, showing a complex, mosaic evolution of the human hand that supported both arboreal and terrestrial lifestyles, challenging the idea of a linear hand evolution from ape-like to human-like forms.
Scientists analyzed enamel proteins from 1.8 to 2.2 million-year-old Paranthropus robustus teeth, revealing biological sex differences and high genetic diversity, suggesting the existence of distinct groups and frequent intergroup mating.
Small pieces of tooth enamel from 2 million-year-old fossils in South Africa have been analyzed using proteomics, revealing new insights into early human relatives, including sex determination and potential species diversity, highlighting the limitations of traditional methods and the promise of advanced protein analysis in paleoanthropology.
Scientists analyzing hundreds of bird specimens have discovered a set of feather rules that can predict which dinosaurs could fly, settling debates on the evolution of flight. All flying birds have 9 to 11 asymmetrical flight feathers, while flightless birds vary in the number of primary feathers. Fossil analysis suggests flight evolved once in dinosaurs, with some species losing the ability while others became modern birds. The research challenges previous claims about multiple flight evolutions in dinosaurs and highlights the importance of examining feather structure in assessing flight potential.