The hottest Paleontology Substack posts right now

The Tully Monster is a 310‑million‑year‑old marine fossil that looks utterly bizarre and still baffles scientists, with debates over whether it was a fish, a worm, or something else entirely.
Everyday pebbles can hide ancient fossils like crinoids that trick our brains into seeing faces or teeth — pareidolia makes us read familiar shapes into random patterns.
Ailsa Craig supplies a unique granite used for Olympic curling stones, and with only one other quarry in the world, the sport relies on a tiny, protected island whose quarrying is now limited.

Humans are about to travel farther from Earth than almost anyone alive has in over 50 years as crewed lunar missions restart, and oddly few people seem to be paying attention.
Underwater stone walls off Brittany may be about 7,000 years old, suggesting Mesolithic coastal communities built big, durable structures and inspiring the old myth of a drowned city.
A new mapping project has uncovered tens of thousands of miles of previously unknown or conjectured Roman roads, revealing the empire's transport network was far larger and more complex than historians had thought.

A new Denisovan genome has been sequenced, revealing more about the interactions between Denisovans, Neanderthals, and modern humans. This helps us understand how different human lineages mixed together in the past.
Denisova Cave is a rich source of ancient human DNA, providing valuable insights into human evolution. Both Denisovans and Neanderthals lived and interacted in this cave, leading to mixes in their genetic make-up.
The discovery of Denisova 25, an even older Denisovan genome, allows scientists to trace back our shared ancestry further. It shows that ancient humans had many connections and interbred with different groups over time.

Geology shows us that a lot of Earth's history is missing in the rocks we see. For example, not all ancient events are recorded, which creates a unique beauty in how landscapes look today.
The constant fight between uplift and erosion shapes our mountains. Mountains grow tall, but erosion, through water and wind, continuously wears them down, making them more interesting.
Geology helps us understand deep time but also captures small moments in history. Trace fossils show us detailed actions of past life, connecting us to individual stories from millions of years ago.

A person found part of a jawbone while visiting their parents' house, and it could be related to ancient humans like Neanderthals. This discovery shows that fossils can be hidden in unexpected places, even in our homes.
Many buildings, like the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, are made from a stone called travertine that has preserved fossils of leaves and other plants. This means you can see ancient life without going to a museum.
Cities like Seattle are full of building stones with hidden fossils, encouraging people to look closer at their surroundings. Exploring urban areas can reveal fascinating pieces of our natural history.

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Neanderthals were more diverse than previously thought, similar to modern humans. Recent DNA findings show that they had unique social behaviors and were genetically distinct from their neighbors.
The ancient DNA era has rapidly changed our understanding of human prehistory. Discoveries from ancient genomes have revealed new insights into our ancestors and how they interacted with Neanderthals.
A notable finding is the discovery of a Neanderthal named Thorin, who lived in isolation for thousands of years. This suggests that Neanderthals had unique ways of life that are very different from modern humans.

The book 'Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales' explores the rich fossil history of Washington State, showcasing a vast timeline of plants and animals that lived there over hundreds of millions of years.
It features twenty-four profiles that connect specific fossils with their geological and human history, making the science behind them more engaging and accessible.
The authors include beautiful fossil photos and aim to deepen readers' appreciation for the paleontology and geology of Washington State through these stories.

Erratic rocks are large stones left behind by glaciers when the ice melts. They can be quite big, even the size of a school bus.
Some famous erratics, like the Wedgwood Rock in Seattle, have interesting histories and have been popular spots for locals for many years.
The study of these erratics helped scientists like Goethe understand the Ice Age and how rocks traveled long distances due to ice.

The earliest known connections to fossils in Washington come from the Wanapum people, who used ancient petrified wood for tools over 9,000 years ago.
Naturalists like Archibald Menzies and others in the early 1800s began documenting fossils in Washington, although many of their specimens have been lost over time.
The mystery of who first collected fossils in Washington remains, but geologist James Dwight Dana is a strong candidate for making one of the earliest fossil collections.

The team is taking a holiday break and won't be posting regularly for a bit. They want to keep readers engaged even during this time.
They are sharing older posts to remind new readers of valuable content they might have missed. One highlight is a post about 'awe' that fits the holiday season.
They welcome feedback from readers, whether it's about the new idea, suggestions for topics, or just holiday wishes. They are happy to hear from everyone.

The Manis Mastodon is a significant archaeological site where a mastodon was found with a projectile point embedded in its rib, suggesting early human hunting around 13,800 years ago.
Another discovery of bison bones on Orcas Island showed signs of butchering, providing more evidence that ancient humans hunted large animals for food.
Some scientists are skeptical about the human connection to these finds, suggesting that the animals could have died from natural causes or other means, not necessarily human actions.