Theropod dinosaur facial reconstruction and the importance of soft tissues in paleobiology
Theropod dinosaurs such as the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex have long been portrayed with their teeth fully visible, similar to extant crocodilians. This pattern of portrayal largely had to do with relatedness between dinosaurs and crocodilians and the relationship between tooth and jaw size.
Giant insect thought extinct in eastern U.S. found in a Walmart
For the first time in more than 50 years, a giant lacewing (Polystoechotes punctata) has been found in eastern North America. The discovery raises new questions about the distribution of the Jurassic-era insect that mysteriously vanished from the eastern seaboard decades ago.
Back from extinction: Resurrecting the Tasmanian tiger
Native to Australia and Papua New Guinea, the thylacine disappeared from the mainland and its northern neighbor more than 2,000 years ago. Some blame its demise on the arrival of the dingo, another apex predator, but others argue that is debatable. There is no debate, however, when it comes to what happened to the 5,000 […]
Scientists plan the resurrection of an animal that’s been extinct since 1936
Almost 100 years after its extinction, the Tasmanian tiger may live once again. Scientists want to resurrect the striped carnivorous marsupial, officially known as a thylacine, which used to roam the Australian bush. The ambitious project will harness advances in genetics, ancient DNA retrieval and artificial reproduction to bring back the animal.
