Explore

10,000-Year-Old Mastodon Tooth Discovered in California by Scientist

10,000-Year-Old Mastodon Tooth Discovered in California by Scientist

A remarkably well-preserved 10,000-year-old Pacific mastodon molar was recently discovered in San Mateo County, California, by geomorphologist Brigid Lynch. Initially mistaken for a peculiar rock, the object was later confirmed by paleontologists to be an adult mastodon tooth. According to Wayne Thompson, a paleontologist, it is the most complete and spectacular mastodon molar found in the area. The Pacific mastodon, a large mammal related to modern-day elephants, was prevalent in the American West, including California, and went extinct over 10,000 years ago due to climate change and overhunting. The fossilized tooth has been donated to Stanford University, where researchers at the school of sustainability will use carbon dating to determine its precise age. This discovery provides valuable insight into the Ice Age saga and past biodiversity.

New Research Suggests Supercontinent Gondwana Influenced Cambrian Explosion

New Research Suggests Supercontinent Gondwana Influenced Cambrian Explosion

Recent scientific studies indicate that the supercontinent Gondwana, which existed approximately 500 million years ago, was significantly larger than previously estimated and may have played a crucial role in the Cambrian Explosion. This period, spanning from 541 to 485 million years ago, saw the rapid diversification of nearly all modern animal groups. Researchers analyzed tens of thousands of ancient volcanic rocks, using geochemical fingerprinting to trace fragments of Gondwana's crust hidden deep beneath present-day Asia, Europe, and North America. This new analysis suggests Gondwana covered about 80 percent of Earth's total land area, a substantial increase from older estimates of 64 percent. The method involved examining the chemical composition of deeply buried rocks to map the extent of Gondwana's crust, even in areas now part of different continents due to plate tectonics. The findings imply that a landmass of this scale would have actively shaped Earth's chemistry, climate, and the conditions nec...

Cambrian Period Witnessed Significant Diversification of Life, Posing Evolutionary Puzzles

Cambrian Period Witnessed Significant Diversification of Life, Posing Evolutionary Puzzles

The Cambrian period, which occurred approximately 541 to 540 million years ago, is recognized for a rapid and extensive diversification of life forms, an event commonly referred to as the Cambrian Explosion. This relatively brief period, lasting between 20 to 25 million years, saw the appearance of most major animal phyla in the fossil record. This sudden emergence of diverse life forms presents a significant scientific puzzle, as evidence suggests that the complexity and variety of multi-cellular life had already begun to increase well before the Cambrian period, specifically during the Neoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic periods. The Cambrian Explosion is characterized by the emergence of numerous new types of animal life, including various microfaunal groups, and remains an area of ongoing research and limited understanding despite extensive study.

US Archaeologists Unearth First Running T-Rex Footprints in North Dakota

US Archaeologists Unearth First Running T-Rex Footprints in North Dakota

Archaeologists in North Dakota have discovered the first continuous set of footprints belonging to a running Tyrannosaurus Rex. The four giant, three-toed footprints, spanning 23 feet, were found in the Hell Creek Formation within the state's Badlands. This discovery, made after a Colorado schoolteacher, Kent Hups, led researchers to the site, marks a significant paleontological find. While individual T-Rex footprints have been found previously, this is the first instance of continuous tracks, providing a unique insight into the dinosaur's movement. Tyler Lyson, senior curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, emphasized that while bones offer much information, footprints capture a specific moment of behavior, allowing scientists to trace an animal's movement across the landscape. The footprints measure approximately 3.3 feet per step. In addition to the tracks, T-Rex skeletal remains were also found in the vicinity.

Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky high school sports scores, Sept. 14-20

Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky high school sports scores, Sept. 14-20

A look at Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati high school sports scores reported to The Enquirer from September 14 to September 20.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department Lifts Voluntary Fishing Closures on North Platte River and Deer Creek

Wyoming Game and Fish Department Lifts Voluntary Fishing Closures on North Platte River and Deer Creek

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has announced the immediate lifting of voluntary afternoon fishing closures on the North Platte River downstream of the Lusby Public Access Area and on Deer Creek through the Deer Creek PAA. These closures, initially implemented in late July, were a precautionary measure due to elevated water temperatures that could stress trout populations. According to Matt Hahn, Casper Region fisheries supervisor, recent cooler weather across the Casper region has led to a significant drop in water temperatures, bringing them back into a safe range for trout. Forecasts indicate a continued overnight cooling trend, further reducing immediate stress on local fish. The department expressed appreciation for the angling community's cooperation during the closure, noting that pausing fishing during the hottest hours played a crucial role in protecting the local fishery.

Well-preserved tooth from Pacific mastodon found in a creek in San Francisco Bay Area

Well-preserved tooth from Pacific mastodon found in a creek in San Francisco Bay Area

Brigid Lynch was working along a wooded creek in a mountainous part of the San Francisco Bay Area on a habitat restoration project when something that didn’t look like the rocks she’d been studying caught her eye

Famous Yellowstone wolf pack might have outsmarted Wyoming hunters

Famous Yellowstone wolf pack might have outsmarted Wyoming hunters

Mollie's Wolf Pack appears to have made a fortuitous move.

Well-Preserved Pacific Mastodon Tooth Discovered in San Francisco Bay Area Creek

Well-Preserved Pacific Mastodon Tooth Discovered in San Francisco Bay Area Creek

A well-preserved fossilized tooth from a Pacific mastodon was discovered earlier this year in a creek within a mountainous area of the San Francisco Bay Area. Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist at Balance Hydrologics, found the tooth while working on a habitat restoration project for the California red-legged frog in a Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District preserve in San Mateo County. The tooth, approximately 9 inches (23 centimeters) long, is in excellent condition, retaining both its crown and root, with even the root canal visible. The discovery was announced this week by the public land management agency, which preserves over 70,000 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains region. The fossil has since been donated to Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability.

Fossilized Pacific Mastodon Tooth Discovered in San Francisco Bay Area Creek

Fossilized Pacific Mastodon Tooth Discovered in San Francisco Bay Area Creek

A well-preserved fossilized tooth from a Pacific mastodon was discovered in a creek within a San Francisco Bay Area preserve. Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist at Balance Hydrologics, found the tooth earlier this year while working on a habitat restoration project for the threatened California red-legged frog in a Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District preserve in San Mateo County. The tooth, approximately 9 inches long, is in excellent condition, retaining both its crown and root, with even the root canal visible. The discovery was announced by the public land management agency, which oversees over 70,000 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains region. The fossil has since been donated to Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability, where it will be studied and a 3D copy will be made for public outreach and education by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. This find highlights the presence of extinct elephant-like species in the region thousands of years ago.

Jonathan Bailey and Dog Wrigley Rescued After Week-Long Search in Wind River Range

Jonathan Bailey and Dog Wrigley Rescued After Week-Long Search in Wind River Range

Jonathan Bailey, an Idaho hiker, and his dog, Wrigley, were successfully located and rescued after being missing for a week in Wyoming's Wind River Range. The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office confirmed their safe recovery on Friday. Bailey and Wrigley had been separated from their group in the Bridger Wilderness, having set out from the Elkhart Park Trailhead towards the 1000 Island Lake area. Family members had previously indicated that Wrigley, who typically walks on a leash, might have gotten loose, leading Bailey to follow the dog off the designated trail. Although Bailey had a backpack and sleeping bag, he lacked a tent. The pair were discovered by hikers near Miller Lake and subsequently transported by helicopter to the Pinedale airport. This rescue concludes a busy period for Sublette County Search and Rescue, which responded to six calls over the Labor Day Weekend.

2026 Mountain West Week 2: Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds, Predictions

2026 Mountain West Week 2: Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds, Predictions

Welcome to the start of the season!