Prehistoric life
Longer than two school buses put together – and ruler of the oceans for 20 million years: 7 biggest prehistoric sharks ever to terrorise Earth's oceans
You might think today’s sharks are big, but during prehistory there were species that grew more than twice as large…
New crocodile species discovered in rocks used to build Egypt’s Great Sphinx
Scientists have uncovered a new species of extinct crocodile in Egypt, after reanalysing fossils in rock used to build the ancient wonder
"The newly born pups had just a few seconds to reach the surface and take their first breath, otherwise they would drown"
BBC computer-animated footage reveals one of the deadliest births in the ancient oceans of the Jurassic
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The oldest thing on Earth is a massive 4.4 billion years old – and there’s more to it than meets the eye
The Jack Hills in Western Australia are home to ancient zircon crystals that offer remarkable clues about Earth’s early crust, water, and the origins of life.
8,400 years ago, a lake bigger than France suddenly disappeared. What happened next changed Earth forever
The story of Lake Agassiz reveals how quickly a changing climate can reshape landscapes, ecosystems and human civilisation
Stomach, liver and intestines of 245 million year old marine reptile unearthed in Chinese mountains
This exceptionally well-preserved fossil offered researchers a goldmine of information about the animal’s digestive system.
Before cats were cats, horses were horses and dogs were dogs: 5 ancient animals that were the first of their kind
These animals roamed Earth hundreds of millions of years ago and were the beginning of many animal lineages we know today.
Bizarre four-winged dinosaur discovered in China
This tiny, magpie-sized dinosaur adds further evidence to the theory that flight-related features evolved independently in several different groups, not just birds.
35 million years ago, a massive 7km-wide asteroid smashed into Earth – turning graphite into diamonds was just one of its incredible effects
The impact left a 100km-wide crater in Siberia and was so powerful it transformed graphite into diamonds – but that was just one of its astonishing effects.
Was this the most confusing animal to ever live? It had a squid’s body, cuttlefish fins, a trunk, a beak – and bizarrely, what look like handlebars
Researchers shined UV light on this 125-million-year-old crocodile. What they found is fascinating
New research provides key information about the early evolution of a group of reptiles known as crocodylomorphs.
First-ever T. rex trackway found by high school teacher in North Dakota
These massive footprints were made by a T. rex 66.5 million years ago.
It was taller than an elephant, laid eggs the size of basketballs and could crush you underfoot - meet the largest bird that ever lived
These flightless giants were the largest birds to ever walk the Earth, growing to sizes that echoed those of their dinosaur ancestors…
Remains of 25m-long Diplodocus discovered in Spain. It’s the first evidence of the iconic dino outside the US
This discovery challenges our understanding of dinosaur distribution in the Late Jurassic period.
Scientists have brought a 170-million-year-old Jurassic forest back to life – and you can hear what it sounded like
It’s impossible to go back in time to the Jurassic, but thanks to a new study you can sit back and listen to what a forest during this period may have sounded like…
Experts looked inside the jaws of T. rex – and discovered something human-like about the ‘king of the dinosaurs’
T. rex is one of the most closely studied dinosaur species – but as it turns out, there’s still a lot to learn.
London’s Natural History Museum has just reopened a “hidden” gallery closed off since World War II
Objects on display include a hand axe found near a woolly mammoth and a replica jaw of a domesticated Palaeolithic dog
“Imagine a huge pig with a turtle’s beak and tusks.” New prehistoric species discovered hiding in London’s Natural History Museum
The remains of a prehistoric animal species in London’s Natural History Museum have officially been classified – and it could change the dinosaur timeline
A tiny object preserved in dinosaur poop may unlock one of palaeontology’s biggest mysteries
The fossilised dinosaur poop was discovered in the USA’s Hell Creek Formation, a known hotspot for prehistoric remains
It wiped out 90% of life on Earth, turned the oceans into graveyards – and it very nearly ended life on our planet entirely
The time nearly everything died
It looked like a rodent but don't be fooled, this was no rodent. This is thought to be the world's first primate – and our ancestor
Meet the tiny mammal that survived the dino-killing asteroid to became our earliest ancestor
It's more than 185 million years old, as long as the Suez Canal – and locked inside are millions of ancient monsters
From giant marine reptiles to intricate spiral shells, the Dorset coast remains a treasure trove for modern explorers.
Jurassic squid-like animal unearthed in Wyoming is “fattest” ever discovered
Cephalopods have been around for over 500 million years, and although the octopus and squid rule today, that wasn’t always the case…
What is the oldest known DNA, and is Jurassic Park still theoretically possible?
And do we even need to find ancient DNA to reconstruct dinosaur genetic sequences?
