This article explores the ongoing debate surrounding the final Neanderthal populations, focusing on evidence from the Iberian Peninsula and the latest research that challenges previous assumptions. It investigates the use of radiocarbon dating and archaeological evidence to pinpoint the last known Neanderthal communities and considers the potential for interbreeding with Homo sapiens.
A new study proposes that a surge in pollen during the last ice age may have caused allergies in woolly mammoths, leading to their extinction. Researchers suggest that the pollen boom could have interfered with their sense of smell, hindering their ability to find mates and ultimately driving them to extinction.
John Long, a paleontology professor, reveals the secrets behind sharks’ incredible longevity and how they thrived through five mass extinction events. In his new book, ‘The Secret History of Sharks’, he delves into the evolution of these magnificent predators and shares fascinating discoveries about their adaptability, warm-bloodedness, and the ongoing threat they face from humans.
A new analysis of the DNA of ‘Thorin’, a Neanderthal who lived around 42,000 years ago, reveals he belonged to a previously unknown lineage isolated for 50,000 years. This discovery challenges existing theories about Neanderthal extinction and highlights the importance of social and cultural factors in their demise.
The dodo, often depicted as a slow, clumsy bird, has been misrepresented. New research reveals it was a powerful, fast-moving creature perfectly adapted to its environment. The study sheds light on the dodo’s true nature and its role in the ecosystem, highlighting the importance of understanding extinct species for conservation efforts.
A new study has revealed that the last surviving population of woolly mammoths on Wrangel Island, isolated for 6,000 years, did not go extinct due to genetic reasons. Instead, a sudden and unknown event likely wiped them out, leaving researchers with a new mystery to solve.
Encephalartos woodii, an ancient cycad species, is on the brink of extinction due to an existential crisis. Despite surviving dinosaurs and mass extinctions, this enigmatic plant faces a unique challenge: it has no known female partner. Scientists are racing against time to find a female specimen to save this living fossil and preserve its genetic legacy.
Scientists have unearthed the fossils of the world’s largest-ever cheetah species, a behemoth that roamed Eurasia over a million years ago. Weighing up to 420 pounds, this colossal predator was significantly heavier than modern cheetahs, comparable in size to tigers and lions. Its impressive 780,000-year-old fossils showcase distinctive skull and snout characteristics, indicating a unique lineage within the cheetah family. Despite its similarities to modern cheetahs, such as tooth arrangement and nasal anatomy, this giant cheetah succumbed to extinction around 500,000 years ago due to climate change during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition.
The discovery of a deceased mammal resembling a fisher near Kent State University in Ohio has sparked speculations that the species, once hunted to near extinction in the 19th century, may still exist in the region. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is conducting an autopsy to determine the animal’s identity. If confirmed as a fisher, it would mark the westernmost sighting of the species in Ohio in over 200 years.
A Tenerife activist, Atterni Rivero Quintero, has raised concerns about the dwindling presence of native islanders due to the increasing influx of expats, particularly British tourists. Quintero warns that this overtourism and property acquisition by outsiders could lead to the extinction of the local population if left unchecked. The protests in Santa Cruz on April 20, with 120,000 participants, highlighted the frustration and anger among islanders over the negative impacts of tourism, including environmental degradation, poverty, and rising property prices. Quintero, a former resident of El Medano, was forced to leave her hometown due to the overwhelming presence of outsiders and the disruption it caused to her daily life.
