Prehistoric life

Colossal dinosaur discovered in Thailand. The 27-tonne giant was as long as a blue whale
A team of palaeontologists led by University College London have just announced the discovery of a brand-new species of dinosaur – the largest ever discovered in Southeast Asia

It's been confirmed – the kraken monster really did exist, 84 million years ago...
This giant cephalopod dwarfed mosasaurs and other massive marine reptiles that lived during the time of the dinosaurs…

"Any animals standing within 1,500km of the impact would have been instantly vaporised." 10 deadly, terrifying times to be alive...
Over the course of its 4.5-billion-year history, the Earth has witnessed its fair share of terrible times…
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The prehistoric ‘graffiti’ cave where teenagers spray-painted their hands 9,000 years ago – and no one knows why...
Learn how an Italian priest uncovered the world’s largest and most dramatic display of handprints and rock art

"It looked more like something from Alien than an animal." 10 weirdest prehistoric bugs, including a car-sized one that weighed the same as a Labrador
If you thought there were some strange bugs living today, wait until you meet these oddballs from prehistory…

"They wore clothes, wielded fire, and created art; they may have even been smarter than us..." Just who were our closest cousins?
From ice-age hunters to our closest extinct relatives, this essential guide uncovers who the Neanderthals really were — and what they reveal about us.

"Extremely rare" platypus teeth found in Australian outback. Here's why the discovery has got scientists so excited
A new study describing the discovery of rare platypus fossils has shed some light on the evolutionary history of one of Earth’s most enigmatic mammals…

Massive 15kg echidnas once roamed south-east Australia. Evidence of the bizarre animals was found 120 years ago in a cave
The re-examination of an Ice Age fossil that has spent the last 120 years in the bowels of a museum has filled a major knowledge gap in Australia’s prehistoric fauna…

500-million-year-old clawed predator found in Utah desert forces scientists to rethink origin of spiders
Named after French explorer Jacques Cousteau, Megachelicerax cousteaui is the oldest of its kind ever found, not to mention one of the strangest…

“It was just bones all over the floor.” Fossil hunters make astounding discovery in Texan water cave
A flooded cave in central Texas has yielded the remains of Ice Age animals that have never been found in the region before…

"It has two, whopping, 22cm-long fangs that give it the look of an aquatic saber tooth tiger."10 deadly, utterly terrifying prehistoric fish
The saying ‘there’s always a bigger fish’ rings particularly true when looking at these monsters from prehistory…

Colossal prehistoric creatures once “ruled the oceans”. Now see them close-up at the Natural History Museum’s new London exhibition
Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep is a new exhibition coming to the Natural History Museum this spring

436-million-year-old fossil found in South China is oldest complete bony fish ever discovered
The discovery of two ancient fish in South China has re-written what we thought we knew about the evolution of early vertebrates.

Teeth from a 15 meter-long shark and ancient plants: 15 incredible fossils you could find on the shoreline
Want to get close to life millions of years ago? It's easier than you think. Here are 15 amazing fossils you could find across the UK

Dinosaur hunters discover staggering 'hell heron' with giant head crest in Sahara Desert
The new species of ‘scimitar-crested’ Spinosaurus is the first of its kind found in more than a century.

9 mind-blowing photos of animals entombed in amber
Astonishing images of amber-enveloped spiders, flies and lizards.

This prehistoric apex predator is older than trees, the Atlantic Ocean and even the North Star. A biologist explains why
Are sharks really older than trees? Yes – and a whole lot more, explains Will Newton

10 terrifying prehistoric mega-beasts that ruled before the dinosaurs – from a car-sized millipede to an armoured fish whose bite could crush steel
Meet the bizarre prehistoric animals that once ruled the world millions of years ago - and they're not dinosaurs

Why this new 'spiny dragon' dinosaur found in China is such a huge deal
The Iguanodon-like dinosaur had a covering of hollow spikes, according to new research.

Steven Spielberg’s Netflix docuseries brings the rapid rise and tragic downfall of “nature’s greatest empire” to life
Everything you need to know about the Netflix docuseries The Dinosaurs – including the iconic voice on narrating duties

It’s 1,500m long, wide and high enough to drive a van through, and its ceiling is covered in animal scratches - but what humongous creature made them?
The world’s largest palaeoburrow is located in the Amazon Rainforest and is so long it’d take you roughly 20 minutes to walk from one end to the other…

Fossil poo, fossil vomit, fossil penis... World's 10 weirdest fossils that will have you scratching your head
You might have an idea of what a fossil looks like – but these fossils are slightly different (and will change the way you think about ancient wildlife and civilisations!)

“It’s extraordinary”: Australia’s oldest ever dinosaur fossil found in Brisbane
A dinosaur footprint discovered by a student in 1958 has been formally documented.

443-million-year-old eel-like animal discovered near Glasgow stuns scientists
A team of scientists from the University of Manchester have uncovered some of the earliest evidence of advanced, camera-like eyes in two jawless fish found just south of the Scottish city…
