Evolution has resulted in the development of both herbivores and carnivores – but how? What type of food did extinct vertebrates eat? And how can we gain insight into the diets of these creatures? In living animals, we can simply observe what they feed on today. In the case of extinct species, however, researchers rely on morphological or chemical information supplied by fossils. A team led by Professor Thomas Tütken of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has now compiled a reference framework of isotope compositions indicating the type of diet for extant reptiles that represents a useful reference dataset to reconstruct the diet of fossil reptiles.

Researchers in Japan have found that the taller the Japanese black pine trees (Pinus thunbergii) along the coast, the deeper their roots penetrate the ground. Deeper roots make trees more resistant to damage from tsunamis and strong winds. Their findings suggest that the resilience of coastal P. thunbergii trees may be improved by inducing deep root growth, specifically in short trees.

A recent study published in National Science Review reports the discovery of fossilized chewing lice eggs in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, offering the earliest direct evidence of parasitic lice feeding on feathers of early stem-group birds. The eggs, attached to enantiornithine feathers, reveal early host-parasite relationships during the Mesozoic. This finding supports the hypothesis that lice evolved parasitism in association with basal birds and provides insights into their early ecological specialization. The research enriches understanding of lice-host coevolution and highlights the role of ancient vertebrates in the evolutionary transition of lice from free-living ancestors to obligate parasites.

A newly described dinosaur whose fossils were uncovered by University of Wisconsin–Madison paleontologists is challenging the existing narrative, with evidence that the reptiles were present in the northern hemisphere millions of years earlier than previously known.

Marine and coastal geoscience play a critical role in understanding ancient and modern geological history, offshore and coastal hazards, and climate change. Deep-water environments prevent scientists from directly visiting field sites, so unique methods must be employed for researching the ocean floor.One common approach is offshore drilling, which provides core samples that can be analyzed in laboratories. While this method is useful for retrieving otherwise inaccessible materials, it is expensive and has its limitations. A new study in Geosphere explores a more cost-effective alternative: deploying a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to record exposed rock layers on the ocean floor and construct virtual outcrops 

The paper – published today in Nature Communications – shows that while wildfire smoke increasingly covers large portions of the U.S., losses of average, or background, photovoltaic solar resources remain modest outside of the areas immediately surrounding active fires, where smoke plumes are dense.