Australasian Science: Australia's authority on science since 1938
Fossil File
Fossil File
Kangaroo Teeth Tell Their Story of Evolution
By John Long
An analysis of kangaroo teeth reveals a rapid burst of evolution in response to the expansion of grassland rather than drier climate conditions.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
The Oldest Lizards, Salty Amphibians and Dandruffy Dinosaurs
By John Long
While dinosaur dandruff and salt-tolerance in tetrapods have palaeontologists excited, the recent auction of fossil bones is a sore point.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Dinosaurs Should Rock Older Students Too
By John Long
Primary schools use dinosaurs to teach how scientific disciplines overlap. Universities should too.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
The Rise of Spiders and Roaches
The 100-million-year-old spider Chimerarachne preserved in Burmese amber. Credit: Dr Diying Huang, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaoentology
By John Long
Tiny fossils preserved in amber reveal when spiders evolved their ability to spin webs and cockroaches first spread across the globe.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Fossil Treasures in Urban Australia
By John Long
Our biggest cities remain great places to search for fossils. Here are some tips about where to start looking.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
When Palaeontology and Philosophy Meet
By John Long
The Cambrian explosion of animal diversity, evident at the Burgess Shale fossil site, is fertile ground for philosophers to ponder.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Gliding Jurassic Mammals, Huge Dinosaurs and Ice Age Birds
A 160-million-year-old gliding mammal (Maiopatagium) discovered in China. Credit: Prof Zhe-Xi Luo, University of Chicago
By John Long
Gliding Jurassic Mammals, Huge Dinosaurs and Ice Age Birds
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
The Amazing Dinosaur Tracks of Broome
By John Long
The discovery of a diverse range of dinosaur tracks fills in a huge gap that tells us what kinds of dinosaurs once inhabited Australia during the first quarter of the Cretaceous period.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Getting a Palaeontology Job in Australia
By John Long
Australia’s funding system disadvantages students attempting to turn their palaeontology studies into a career.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
Explorer’s Tragic Burden Transformed Geology
By John Long
Scott’s tragic Antarctic expedition sowed the first seeds of Gondwana.
The full text of this article can be purchased from Informit.
