Palaeontology
New prehistoric turtle species discovered in NT museum collection
A 13-million-year-old species of turtle has been discovered after its fossil sat in a display case at an NT museum for decades. An expert says there could be countless more undiscovered animal fossils in their collection.
'It was so surreal': UK quarry worker uncovers 150-metre 'dinosaur highway'
Researchers say the 166-million-year-old fossilised footprints could be one of the world's biggest dinosaur track sites.
Model of what may have been a real-life 'drop bear' now on display in SA
A complete replica skeleton of Australia's largest mammalian predator can now be seen pouncing at tourists visiting South Australia's World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves.
World's most expensive dinosaur fossil goes on display at New York museum
The giant stegosaurus fossil, dubbed "Apex", is 3.3 metres tall and 8.2 metres nose to tail and is one of the most complete fossils of this type of dinosaur in existence.
Footprints suggest two types of ancient human relatives walked side by side 1.5 million years ago
Newly discovered fossil footprints indicate two different ancient human relatives walked upright around a muddy lake in Kenya.
Fossil poop shows how dinosaurs rose to dominance
Using hundreds of samples of fossilised faeces, vomit and intestinal contents, alongside bones and footprints, researchers traced the rise of the dinosaurs over millions of years.
Shark quiz: How much do you know about great whites and megalodons?
Is your shark knowledge a bit … fishy? Let's find out how well you know these impressive ocean predators.
'It's like a Mona Lisa': Giant Jurassic tadpole fossil includes skeleton, nerves and eyes
Researchers have discovered the oldest-known tadpole reported to date, a fossil from 161 million years ago found in Argentina. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of frogs and toads.
'Kiddies running screaming to their mums': The giant lizard that terrified and fascinated a generation of Brisbane kids
Ask any Brisbane child of the 1990s and earlier what their memories of the Queensland Museum are and they might start talking about this giant lizard.
Prehistoric dugong found with bite marks from ancient crocodile's 'death roll' and tiger shark scavenging
The "fragmentary skeleton" found in north-western Venezuela showed deep bite marks around the snout.
425-million-year-old fossil trapped in ash sheds light on the evolution of sex
When a UK palaeontologist examined rocks collected from rural west England in the 1990s, he found something unexpected: a tiny fossil with a perfectly preserved penis.
Answers found in prehistoric cold case at 8-million-year-old fossil bed
Palaeontologists working near Alice Springs uncover for the first time a set of articulated bones and partial skeleton ofIlbandornis woodburnei, a massive bird that once roamed an evolving continent 8 million years ago.
Stegosaurus skeleton sells for record $67.5m at US auction
About 150 million years after its death, the stegosaurus nicknamed Apex has been sold to a private buyer.
First ancient chromosomes reconstructed from 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth
An incredibly well-preserved woolly mammoth specimen that died 52,000 years ago in Siberia has now had its chromosome structure reassembled for the first time.
At 2.4 billion years old, this shiny black rock could tell scientists an enormous amount about the origins of complex life
A 2.4-billion-year old microfossil found in the Pilbara's Hamersley Ranges could be a missing link in the evolution from simple to complex life, according to researchers.
How the discovery of a 509-million-year-old fossil flipped palaeontology on its head
Scientists were taught that they would never find fossils in volcanic rock but a recent discovery shows the complete opposite.
3D recreation of 509-million-year old trilobite fossils
Palaeontologists have used CT scanners to recreate a trilobite preserved in volcanic ash
Researchers had nothing but skeletons of this ginormous Australian bird. An artist brought it to life
Ever wondered how artists create images of dinosaurs and other extinct animals? We go behind the scenes with a palaeoartist to find out how he brought an ancient "giga-goose" to life from a pile of bones.
How we made two hours of TV about an ancient true crime mystery
From filming in some of the most remote and inhospitable areas of Australia, to working with an A-list Hollywood actor, this is how the ABC Science team investigated what killed our ancient megafauna.
Think you know your diprotodon from your procoptodon? Take our mega megafauna quiz to find out
Towering birds, terrifying lizards and massive marsupials once roamed Australia. How much do you know about our mega-sized past?