Paleo in the News

Theoretical physicist Alex Lupsasca is pushing for a space telescope to glimpse the thin ring of light that is thought to surround every black hole.

Scientists found thousands of patterned fish nests in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea, boosting calls for marine protected areas.

The Alf Museum is proud to announce this year’s recipient of the Raymond M. Alf Award for Excellence in Paleontological Research and Education, Dr. Bruce MacFadden. The award, given annually, honors a paleontologist who demonstrates exceptional achievement both in original scientific research, as well as in education and outreach at the primary and secondary school (K-12) levels.

Dr. MacFadden is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus from the University of Florida. He is renowned for his research studying fossil mammals, particularly the evolution of horses, and has researched a range of topics from studying ancient climates to using machine learning to identify shark teeth. His work has taken him across the Americas from Barstow, a field site in the Mojave Desert also long studied by the Alf Museum, to sites in Bolivia and Panama. Dr. MacFadden has more than 200 scientific publications and is the author of two books: Fossil Horses and Broader Impacts of Science on Society.

In addition to his paleontological research, Dr. MacFadden also has a respected career as an educator and education researcher. He has over 15 years of experience working to understand how people learn in museums and how scientists and teachers can better collaborate to teach K-12 students. Involving educators with actual scientific research and field work has been a passion of Dr. MacFadden’s. In 2015, he was visiting scientist in Santa Cruz County schools, where he collaborated with science educators to develop lesson plans for elementary schools that focused on local fossils. He has also developed many opportunities for K-12 educators to participate in paleontological field work and research in places like Florida and Panama. Leading a team of teachers, students, and avocational paleontologists, Dr. MacFadden established The FOSSIL Project, an online community for fossil enthusiasts and professionals to connect about fossils and education.

Through his long career, Dr. Bruce MacFadden has established himself as a leader in the paleontological community and continues to push innovation in both research and education to better connect the two. He has served as president for both the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and the Paleontological Society and has been recognized with multiple awards and fellowships. The Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology is proud to celebrate Dr. MacFadden’s many achievements with this year’s Alf Award.

The open-source AI model improves transparency in predicting how proteins interact with other molecules, which could speed up drug discovery.

Scientists have linked bipedalism to changes in how the human pelvis developed millions of years ago.

The story of Atlantic hurricanes is treading a familiar — and frightening — path: Climate change is fueling huge, slow-moving, rain-drenching storms.

A new study shows how much food polar bears leave behind — and how their decline threatens scavengers across the Arctic.

DNA and stone tool comparisons suggest Eastern European Neandertals trekked 3,000 kilometers to Siberia, where they left a genetic and cultural mark.

With a high-speed camera and a tiny guillotine, scientists showed that chopping onions slowly and with sharper knives cuts down on tears.

These tropical forest CO₂ emissions may warn of similar shifts in other regions, a key topic for COP30 climate talks in Brazil.

New research shows that the rise of Sumer was deeply tied to the tidal and sedimentary dynamics of ancient Mesopotamia. Early communities harnessed predictable tides for irrigation, but when deltas cut off the Gulf’s tides, they faced crisis and reinvented their society. This interplay of environment and culture shaped Sumer’s myths, politics, and innovations, marking the dawn of civilization.

Dinosaurs weren’t dying out before the asteroid hit—they were thriving in vibrant, diverse habitats across North America. Fossil evidence from New Mexico shows that distinct “bioprovinces” of dinosaurs existed until the very end. Their extinction was sudden, not gradual, and the recovery of life afterward mirrored climate-driven patterns. It’s a powerful reminder of life’s adaptability and fragility.

Dinosaurs weren’t dying out before the asteroid hit—they were thriving in vibrant, diverse habitats across North America. Fossil evidence from New Mexico shows that distinct “bioprovinces” of dinosaurs existed until the very end. Their extinction was sudden, not gradual, and the recovery of life afterward mirrored climate-driven patterns. It’s a powerful reminder of life’s adaptability and fragility.

Dinosaurs weren’t dying out before the asteroid hit—they were thriving in vibrant, diverse habitats across North America. Fossil evidence from New Mexico shows that distinct “bioprovinces” of dinosaurs existed until the very end. Their extinction was sudden, not gradual, and the recovery of life afterward mirrored climate-driven patterns. It’s a powerful reminder of life’s adaptability and fragility.

New research shows that hippos lived in central Europe tens of thousands of years longer than previously thought. Ancient DNA and radiocarbon dating confirm they survived in Germany’s Upper Rhine Graben during a milder Ice Age phase. Closely related to modern African hippos, they shared the landscape with cold-adapted giants like mammoths. The finding rewrites Ice Age history and suggests regional climates were far more diverse.

New research shows that hippos lived in central Europe tens of thousands of years longer than previously thought. Ancient DNA and radiocarbon dating confirm they survived in Germany’s Upper Rhine Graben during a milder Ice Age phase. Closely related to modern African hippos, they shared the landscape with cold-adapted giants like mammoths. The finding rewrites Ice Age history and suggests regional climates were far more diverse.

AI promises to speed up scientific analysis and writing. However, AI agents struggled with accuracy and judgment.

DNA from Napoleonic soldiers’ teeth uncovered two fever-causing bacteria that may have worsened the army’s fatal retreat from Russia.

Scientists have unveiled Khankhuuluu, a new Mongolian dinosaur species that predates and closely resembles early Tyrannosaurs. With its long snout, small horns, and lean build, it represents a transitional form between swift mid-sized predators and giant apex hunters like T. rex. The find also suggests that large Tyrannosaurs first evolved in North America following an ancient migration from Asia.

Scientists have unveiled Khankhuuluu, a new Mongolian dinosaur species that predates and closely resembles early Tyrannosaurs. With its long snout, small horns, and lean build, it represents a transitional form between swift mid-sized predators and giant apex hunters like T. rex. The find also suggests that large Tyrannosaurs first evolved in North America following an ancient migration from Asia.