Fossils & Paleontology Archives

Light micrograph of a moss's leaf cells at 400X magnification photographed by Kristian Peters CC BY-SA 3.0 Source

Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Plant Biology, Press Release

The Big Bang Of Plant life: Discovery Sheds Light On How Cells Form Walls

by Keith CowingMay 5, 2026May 5, 2026

Cell walls are a crucial structure of plant life, protecting cells from damage, giving plants shape, and containing energy-rich nutrients. And yet the process of how the walls begin to […]

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Press Release

How Rock Removes CO2 From The Atmosphere

by Keith CowingApril 30, 2026April 30, 2026

Rocks can bind carbon dioxide — and much faster than previously thought. For a long time, it was assumed that the transformation of CO2 into carbonate rock depends on very […]

A: Microscope images of the aragonite host showing two survey areas (M1 and M2). B: Area M1 showing micrometer-sized fossil structures in more detail. Figure adapted from Tulej et al., 2015.

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Tricorders & Sensors

Laser-based Mass Spectrometry For The Detection Of Signatures Of Life Within Our Solar System

by Keith CowingApril 22, 2026April 22, 2026

The search for signatures of life beyond Earth has been a major goal of space research and astrobiology for decades. The combination of expanded knowledge on Solar System bodies from […]

a, (i), Lepidodendron reconstruction; (ii), leaf and leaf scar of Lepidodendron; (iii), Lepidodendron strobile and sporangia; (iv), Lepidodendron sporophyll and sporangia; (v), Lepidodendron sporophyll. b, (i), Tomiostrobus reconstruction, modified after ref. 13; (ii) to (iv), Tomiostrobus (= Annalepis) sporophyll with sporangia from Permian–Triassic transitional Kayitou Formation in South China. c, (i), Pleuromeia reconstruction based on in situ Pleuromeia fossil from Middle Triassic Badong Formation in South China; (ii), Pleuromeia vegetative leaf from Middle Triassic Badong Formation in South China; (iii), Pleuromeia sanxiaensis sporophyll with sporangia from Middle Triassic Badong Formation in South China; (iv), Pleuromeia marginulata sporophyll with sporangia from Middle Triassic Badong Formation in South China. d, (i), One possible reconstruction of the Lepacyclotes (= Annalepis) based on in situ fossils from Middle Triassic Badong Formation in South China; (ii), adaxial side of the Lepacyclotes (= Annalepis) sporophyll with sporangia; (iii), abaxial side of the Lepacyclotes (= Annalepis) sporophyll. e, (i), Another possible reconstruction of the Lepacyclotes (= Annalepis) based on in situ fossils from Middle Triassic Badong Formation in South China; (ii), adaxial side of the Lepacyclotes (= Annalepis) zelleri sporophyll with sporangia from Middle Triassic Badong Formation in South China. f, Lepacyclotes (= Annalepis) zelleri sporophyll assemblage in circle from Middle Triassic Badong Formation in South China. g, adaxial side of the Lepacyclotes (= Annalepis) brevicystis sporophyll with sporangia from Middle Triassic Badong Formation in South China, modified after ref. 29. h, (i), Isoetes sketch; (ii) adaxial side of the Isoetes sporophyll with sporangia. The grey circle inside the sporophyll shows sporangium. -- Nature Ecology & Evolution

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Extinction events, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Impact events, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Press Release

How Primitive Plants Evolved To Survive Earth’s Most Catastrophic Extinction Event

by Keith CowingApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

How primitive plants evolved to survive Earth’s most catastrophic extinction event.

NASA scientist Mary Beth Wilhelm collects soil samples from Chile's Atacama Desert. Studying ancient life in the driest places on Earth helps us to understand conditions on Mars. -- NASA

Analog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Sample Return, Status Report

Community Survey: Field-Based Studies And Sample Processing Facility

by Keith CowingApril 20, 2026April 20, 2026

Scientists at Northern Arizona University are conducting a research study gathering views from members of the planetary science community on field-based studies and the interest in a potential centralized facility […]

Rock description, contamination discrimination, and in situ microbial detection. a, b, Core sample under visible (a) and UV light (b), showing a crack (red arrowhead) made with a sterile hammer. Blue fluorescence indicates contamination on the edge. c, Broken surface under UV light showing contamination where blue fluorescence is visible only at the core edge (red arrowhead). d, Thin section (crossed polarizers) displaying orthopyroxene (opx), clinopyroxene (cpx), phlogopite (phl), and quartz. e, Prepared rock section with analytical points (yellow arrows). f–h, Fluorescence microscopy (SYBR Green I) of green regions, with analytical spots marked. i, O-PTIR spectra of the rock (colored squares) compared to control microorganisms (E. coli, N. aerobiophila, and M. sedula). -- biorxiv.org

Analog Studies, Astrochemistry, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report

Deep Microbial Colonization in 2-Billion-Year-Old Ultramafic Rock from the Bushveld Complex

by Keith CowingApril 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Archean cratons may provide stable microbial habitats in the deep subsurface, as evidenced by the discovery of billion-year-old crustal fluids.

Summary of representative locations in the Arabian Peninsula that could be employed as analog sites for astrobiological studies. Colors denote environment types (green: salt flats, dark blue: deep-sea brine pools, light blue: hydrothermal vent systems, white: snow-covered mountains and deserts, gray: volcanic fields, red: hot springs, and yellow: deserts) -- Extremophiles

Analog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report

Extreme Arabian Environments And Their Microbiomes: New Frontiers For Astrobiology And Biosignature Discovery

by Keith CowingApril 13, 2026April 13, 2026

Astrobiology assesses the habitability of planetary bodies and the potential for extraterrestrial life.

Graphical Abstract -- Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy

Analog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report

Microstructural And Biochemical Constraints On Cryptoendolithic Life In Atacama Halite: Implications For Extreme Habitability

by Keith CowingApril 11, 2026April 11, 2026

Halite pinnacles from the Yungay area in the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert harbor cryptoendolithic microbial colonies.

A deuterostome cambroernid fossil from the Jiangchuan Biota and artist’s reconstruction (IMAGE)

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Sample Return

Spectacular Fossil Treasure Trove Pushes Back Origins Of Complex Animals

by Keith CowingApril 8, 2026April 8, 2026

A newly discovered fossil site in southwest China has transformed our understanding of how complex animal life emerged on Earth, revealing that many key animal groups had already evolved before […]

Relationship between total group age T and crown group age tcg across various diversification rates λ − µ, equation 4. The heatmap represents the crown group age for a given rate and total group age (isolines are presented for reference). The orange dot-dashed line is the minimum value for T to fit the observed eukaryotic-grade fossil record of the late Palaeoproterozoic (1780 Ma), the red-dashed isoline is the minimum age for tcg fitting the observed crown-eukaryote fossil record from the end of the Mesoproterozoic (1050 Ma), and the grey interval is the range of possible tcg require to obtain the living diversity for a given rate and total age. The isolines for late LECA (tcg = 1200) or generous late LECA (tcg = 1400 Ma) are the red-dotted lines. -- biorxiv.org

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Sample Return, Status Report

Clade Dynamics Support An Early Origin Of Crown Eukaryotes

by Keith CowingApril 7, 2026April 7, 2026

The timing of the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) remains a fundamental question in evolutionary biology and palaeontology. Unambiguous eukaryotic-grade fossils appear from 1780 Ma, but no crown-group supergroups are […]