Fossil

Scientists say microscopic magnetite fossils may have enabled an ancient creature to detect Earth’s magnetic field, offering clues to how early species navigated long distances.

The fossil, called Cretosabethes primaevus, shared traits with modern mosquitoes. Scientists think it lived in small water pools in tree hollows or leaf axils during the Cretaceous period.

"For the first time, we have a complete, detailed picture of a large dinosaur that we are really convinced of."

With 75% of its skeleton preserved in Devon Island’s Haughton Crater, the Miocene rhino shows the species crossed the North Atlantic land bridge much later than once thought, says lead author Fraser.

The research team confirmed they will conduct micro computed tomography scans to determine whether the egg contains a fossilized embryo.

Dated to about 1.5 million years ago, the bones display a long robust thumb, short fingers and a mobile little finger, hinting at tool use and precision grips beyond the genus Homo.

A Dutch commission ruled the haul, which includes the Java Man skull cap, was seized 'against the will of the local population', clearing the way for its unconditional repatriation.

Newtonsaurus cambrensis is very large, larger than most, if not all, contemporary predators. For a therapod dinosaur from the Triassic era to be so large is essentially unprecedented. 

The fossil, discovered in July, measures three and a half meters and will undergo exhaustive analysis before public display.

“This year we can talk about the year of the elephant. From 2018 until now, we had identified two skulls, but only this year did we find three” described an archeologist.

New study shows neonatal pterosaurs in Germany’s Solnhofen limestone died in violent storms, explaining why tiny specimens dominate the fossil record.