MS-LS4-2

Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for the anatomical similarities and differences among modern organisms and between modern and fossil organisms to infer evolutionary relationships.

  1. Fossils

    ‘Frankenstein’ dino showed a mashup of traits

    New species unearthed in Chile is “an anatomical Frankenstein,” declares one of its discoverers.

    By
  2. Animals

    Scientists Say: Nematode

    Nematodes are a group of related small worms found all over the world. They can cause disease, but they also can be useful for scientists to study.

    By
  3. Animals

    Bird DNA leads to strange family tree

    Field guides often group birds together by similarities in appearance or behavior. But a new study, based on DNA, confirms earlier suspicions that such groupings are only skin-deep.

    By
  4. Fossils

    Tar pit clues provide ice age news

    New analyses of insects and mammals trapped in the La Brea Tar Pits point to climate surprises during the last ice age.

    By
  5. Fossils

    Dinos ‘quickly’ shrunk into birds

    Scientists had long known birds descended from dinosaurs. A study now shows that the morphing from dinos into birds went along with a quick and steady shrinking of their body sizes.

    By
  6. Fossils

    Some Arctic dinos lived in herds

    Fossil footprints retrieved from Alaska indicate that plant-eating duckbill dinos not only traveled as extended families but also spent their entire lives in the Arctic.

    By
  7. Fossils

    Newly dated footprints: Oldest human tracks?

    These footprints, found nearly a half-century ago, may be almost four times older than first thought, scientists now report.

    By
  8. Fossils

    Mega-bird!

    What may have been the bird world’s biggest flier ever had wings so long, they would have had trouble flapping fast enough to keep it aloft in tough winds. But this behemoth would have been able to soar both far and fast.

    By
  9. Archaeology

    Neandertal ancestor?

    Fossils found in a Spanish cave have features that are a combination of Neandertals and other species. The mix suggests Neandertal roots go back even farther than scientists had suspected.

    By
  10. Fossils

    Scary ‘chicken’ roamed Earth with T. rex

    Scientists have just pieced together evidence of a weird new dinosaur that sported sharp claws, feathers and a beak. And it just may have been one of the last dinos to roam Earth about 67 million years ago.

    By
  11. Fossils

    Reviving dinosaurs

    With the help of computers, researchers are getting a pretty good idea of how these ancient creatures moved, walked and ate.

    By
  12. Fossils

    Where do humans come from?

    Some scientists propose a newfound South African species as the most likely ancestor of the line that led to humans. But not everyone accepts that this is where it all began.

    By