Biology

Apr 26th, 2026 - Early birds were like 'T rex reincarnated', says scientist who believes avian skulls offer insight into dinosaurs' behaviour T rex is often depicted as more brawn than brains, but now scientists are hoping to probe just what was going on inside its head, drawing on findings from another kind of dinosaur: birds. Scientists have previously found some species of bird not only make and use tools, but are able to plan ahead and show basic forms of empathy – with laboratory tests suggesting ... [Read More]

Apr 26th, 2026 - Researchers find 'alarming' effect on fertility across global species from simultaneous exposures Simultaneous exposure to toxic chemicals and climate change's impacts likely generates an additive or synergistic effect that increases reproductive harm, and may contribute to the broad global drop in fertility, new peer-reviewed research finds . The review of scientific literature considers how endocrine-disrupting chemicals, often found in plastic, coupled with climate change's effects, such as ... [Read More]

Apr 25th, 2026 - Welcome! Log into your account Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. Phidippus Regius Care Guide: The Regal Jumping Spider Researched and written by the ExoPetGuides editorial team with AI-assisted drafting. All husbandry parameters and veterinary references independently verified against peer-reviewed sources, including the Journal of Arachnology, published Phidippus regius care protocols from Josh's Frogs and the Tarantula Collective, Animal Diversity Web (University of ... [Read More]

Apr 25th, 2026 - After a two-year wait, video of a young male crossing above a road gives hope that critically endangered species can survive habitat fragmentation The critically endangered Sumatran orangutan has been filmed for the first time using a canopy bridge to cross a road. In 2024, conservationists in the Pakpak Bharat district of North Sumatra in Indonesia built the bridge high over the Lagan-Pagindar road, which provides an essential route for local people but which became a barrier for animals. ... [Read More]

Apr 24th, 2026 - Follow Earth on Google Soft-bodied animals almost never become fossils. Their bodies break down quickly and leave little behind. This is why a new discovery from Québec stands out. Scientists have identified a 450-million-year-old tubular polyp fossil that relates closely to modern jellyfish. The fossil survived conditions that usually erase this kind of life. Researchers named the species  Paleocanna tentaculum . It is the first soft-bodied cnidarian polyp found from the Ordovician ... [Read More]

Apr 24th, 2026 - A hundred million years ago during the late Cretaceous period, the oceans were filled with giant predators, prowling for their next meal. There was the mosasaur — a giant toothy marine reptile (and a surprise hero in Jurassic World). There were large sharks. And now, in the journal Science , researchers present evidence for ancient colossal octopuses — what they believe are the largest invertebrates ever described. Using innovative fossil reconstruction techniques, the researchers ... [Read More]

Apr 24th, 2026 - Scientists warn that the fungus is spreading quickly through U.S. forests, where it outcompetes native fungi and reduces biodiversity. The golden oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus citrinopileatus ) may be a culinary hit in certain parts of the U.S. (notably Florida). However, it is becoming an ecological problem. With its bright yellow, cushion-like caps, the golden oyster mushroom has become a favourite among home growers and food lovers. It is widely available in grow-your-own kits and sold in ... [Read More]

Apr 24th, 2026 - It's quick and easy to access Live Science Plus, simply enter your email below. We'll send you a confirmation and sign you up for our daily newsletter, keeping you up to date with the latest science news. Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world's most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & ... [Read More]

Apr 24th, 2026 - Scientists just discovered a new species of lizard hiding in the Australian desert and there may be fewer than 20 left Researchers have  described  a new-to-science species of skink that may be one of Australia's most threatened reptiles. The small population of the skink, possibly fewer than 20 individuals, lives in a pocket of rocky gorge within the arid Mutawintji National Park in New South Wales state, the researchers report in a  new paper . The skink has been named  ... [Read More]

Apr 24th, 2026 - Follow Earth on Google Strolling a familiar beach and stumbling upon a relic from the age of dinosaurs sounds like pure fantasy, yet that is exactly what happened on England's west coast. A stretch of shoreline below Somerset's crumbling cliffs yielded a bone so large that it challenged everything we thought we knew about prehistoric marine reptiles. The fossil – a lower jaw more than 6½ feet long – promised a creature leagues beyond anything alive today. The find ... [Read More]

Apr 24th, 2026 - Layer by layer, researchers revealed the jaws of an ancient predator. Some 80 million years ago, the late Cretaceous oceans were patrolled by 17-meter mosasaurs, long-necked plesiosaurs, and massive, predatory sharks. For decades, the paleontological consensus was that this was the age of vertebrates; anything without a backbone was lunch. However, a new Science paper argues there was another apex predator lurking in the depths, and it didn't have a single bone in its body. Researchers have ... [Read More]

Apr 24th, 2026 - Follow Earth on Google Worms might not seem like headline-makers, but a new fossil discovery is rewriting their history in a big way. Scientists have found 535 million-year-old remains that suggest ringed worms were already spreading across ancient oceans, living both along the seafloor and out in open water. The discovery pushes their timeline back significantly and offers a clearer look at how early animals began branching into different ways of life. Annelids and worm evolution At South ... [Read More]

Apr 24th, 2026 - It took more than two years, but we can finally rest easy that it's not the contorted remains of an alien creature. Reading time 3 minutes A strange, mound-shaped object was found at the bottom of the ocean in 2023, and scientists had no idea what it was. After years of running tests and working with hundreds of samples, a team of researchers has finally solved the puzzle. And no, it's not weird alien stuff. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed the results of ... [Read More]

Apr 24th, 2026 - Follow Earth on Google A newly identified dinosaur from Patagonia, Bicharracosaurus dionidei , is reshaping how scientists map the rise of some of the largest animals ever to walk the Earth. The fossil suggests that relatives of Brachiosaurus may have reached South America earlier than expected, expanding their known range across ancient continents. But the discovery comes with a twist – its unusual mix of features raises new questions about where these giants truly belong on the dinosaur ... [Read More]

Apr 23rd, 2026 - Meet the 19-metre octopus that prowled the ancient seas Giant octopuses may have ruled the ancient oceans 100 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed, according to new research. Some of the earliest octopuses are believed to have been powerful predators equipped with strong arms for grabbing prey and beak-like jaws for munching on the shells and bones of other animals. A new study of some remarkably well preserved jaws suggest they reached up to 19 metres, potentially making them the largest ... [Read More]

Apr 23rd, 2026 - NEW YORK (AP) — The top predator prowling the seas during the age of the dinosaurs 100 million years ago may have been the octopus . New analyses of fossilized jaws reveal that massive, kraken-like octopuses once hunted alongside other marine predators. They boasted eight arms and long bodies that extended more than 60 feet (18 meters), rivaling other carnivorous marine reptiles . "These krakens must have been a fearsome sight to behold," University of Alabama paleontologist Adiel ... [Read More]