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Image of a woolly mammoth skin from the Siberian permafrost.
Rebuilding the Genome of Woolly Mammoths
A well-preserved 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth skin sample with fossils of ancient chromosomes could offer a glimpse into the history of life.
Rebuilding the Genome of Woolly Mammoths
Rebuilding the Genome of Woolly Mammoths

A well-preserved 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth skin sample with fossils of ancient chromosomes could offer a glimpse into the history of life.

A well-preserved 52,000-year-old woolly mammoth skin sample with fossils of ancient chromosomes could offer a glimpse into the history of life.

extinct species

landscape of frozen river
Worms Frozen for 46,000 Years are the Oldest Known Living Animals
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Aug 15, 2023 | 5 min read
Nematodes buried in Siberian permafrost may be able to stay in a state of suspended animation indefinitely, according to recent findings.
A fossilized mammoth tusk sitting in a grassy field during sunset 
Woolly Mammoth Genomes Reveal Genetic Adaptations to Cold
Hannah Thomasy, PhD | Dec 12, 2022 | 2 min read
Researchers identified mutations in genes that may be involved in fat regulation, fur growth, and morphology.
Fernanda, a Fernandina giant tortoise (<em>Chelonoidis phantasticus</em>), was identified in 2019, decades after her species supposedly went extinct.
When an Extinct Species Is Found Alive, What Happens Next?
Andy Carstens | Nov 1, 2022 | 6 min read
Finding a creature in the wild that had been considered long gone brings hope—and quite a bit of uncertainty.
Artist’s rendering of an early mammal called a mammaliamorph
Warm-Bloodedness in Mammals May Have Arisen in Late Triassic
Andy Carstens | Jul 21, 2022 | 2 min read
Researchers mapped ear canal shape to body temperature to predict when ancestors of mammals first became endothermic.
Dinosaur Fossil (Tyrannosaurus Rex) Found by Archaeologists
Are We in the Midst of a Sixth Mass Extinction?
Katarina Zimmer | Jul 18, 2022 | 10+ min read
Today’s extinction rates are sky-high. But scientists debate if that’s sufficient evidence to conclude that Earth is undergoing a mass extinction event—or whether that’s even a helpful designation.
Illustration of creatures from today&rsquo;s crisis
Infographic: A Look at the Big Five Mass Extinctions
Katarina Zimmer | Jul 18, 2022 | 4 min read
Extinction is a natural part of life on Earth. But occasionally, extinction rates have surged far beyond usual levels, driving mass extinction events that have reshaped the trajectory of life.
A scientific illustration of a Christmas Island rat
Genome Spotlight: Christmas Island Rat (Rattus macleari)
Christie Wilcox, PhD | Mar 24, 2022 | 4 min read
The near-complete genome of a recently extinct rodent elucidates the potential—and difficulties—of resurrecting species.
elephant herbivore extinction risk predator omnivore iucn red list
Risk of Extinction Is Greatest for Large Herbivores: Study
Ruth Williams | Aug 5, 2020 | 3 min read
Data on vertebrate species that have become, or are likely to become, extinct reveal plant eaters are most under threat.
Image of the Day: Big Body, Little Brain
Amy Schleunes | Feb 20, 2020 | 1 min read
An extinct rodent relative of the capybara appears to have had a smaller brain-to-body ratio than similar species.
DNA of Red Wolves, Once Gone from the Wild, Discovered in Texas Pack
Carolyn Wilke | Jan 14, 2019 | 2 min read
The wild population of the species was declared extinct almost 40 years ago, but now researchers have found their genes in a pack of canines near the Gulf coast.
Productivity Paradox
Jim Daley | Jun 1, 2018 | 2 min read
During the last ice age, there wasn’t much plant matter to eat on northern steppes, but herbivorous woolly mammoths were abundant. How did they survive?
Gigantic “Tree Lobsters” Not Extinct After All
Catherine Offord | Oct 8, 2017 | 2 min read
Researchers identify the Lord Howe Island stick insect on the remains of a large volcano in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.
The Topography of Teeth
Bob Grant | Nov 28, 2016 | 2 min read
Intricate, digital maps of animals’ teeth, created using the same geographical tools used by mapmakers, may help researchers determine the diets of extinct species.
Genome Digest
Karen Zusi | Nov 19, 2015 | 4 min read
What researchers are learning as they sequence, map, and decode species’ genomes
Snail Revival Raises Peer Review Debate
Jyoti Madhusoodanan | Oct 15, 2014 | 3 min read
Rediscovery of a snail thought to be extinct has raised questions about the peer-review process that approved the publication of the extinction report.
lonesome george
2012’s Noteworthy Species
Sabrina Richards | Dec 18, 2012 | 5 min read
A roundup of species that made their scientific debut in 2012, and a few that said goodbye as well
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