fossil record

New figures show the world added around 690 gigawatts of solar power capacity in 2025, according to reporting by pv magazine. The total underscores the continued rapid expansion of solar energy worldwide, as installations keep outpacing forecasts driven by falling costs and strong demand in major markets. Industry observers are weighing what the record-scale buildout means for grids, fossil fuel demand and global climate targets.

Gary Griggs's latest Our Ocean Backyard column examines fossils from an ancient ocean, continuing his long-running series for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. The piece looks at how marine remains record past ocean conditions, offering readers in the Monterey Bay area a local lens on deep-time ocean history and changing seas.

Researchers using molecular clock analysis, which estimates evolutionary timelines from genetic mutations, have proposed that animals may have originated roughly 200 million years earlier than the fossil record previously indicated. The finding, reported by Live Science, is drawing attention for potentially rewriting a key chapter in the history of life on Earth, as it pushes animal emergence far deeper into geological time than established views.

Ahead of the COP31 climate summit, Amnesty International Australia is calling on the Australian government to halt fossil fuel expansion and better protect environmental defenders. The group argues that showing genuine climate leadership in the Asia-Pacific requires more than diplomatic hosting — it demands cutting new coal and gas projects and safeguarding activists who face threats for their work.

Byron Donalds, a Florida congressman and Republican candidate, is being examined for his positions on climate and energy policy. Voter-education efforts are laying out where he stands on issues such as clean energy, fossil fuels and federal climate action, as part of broader coverage comparing candidates' records ahead of the election.

A critic of the Book of Genesis argues that the fossil and archaeological record of how humans lost their body fur and developed clothing contradicts the biblical story that nakedness brought shame. Instead, the loss of fur is attributed to gradual migration between hot and cold environments over hundreds of thousands of years, with clothing emerging as a practical response to climate rather than a moral one.

Nature has published a piece examining what the fossil record reveals about ancient life, drawing together current paleontological findings. The article highlights how fossil evidence continues to reshape scientific understanding of early organisms and Earth's biological history, prompting discussion among researchers and science readers about the evolving picture of life's deep past.

Scientists have concluded that a fossil long celebrated as the world's oldest reptile does not hold that title after new research challenged its classification. The finding removes the specimen from its landmark status in the reptile family tree, prompting researchers to reconsider which creature truly deserves the record. Details of the reclassification and the fossil now claiming the crown are drawing attention in the palaeontology community.

A wind turbine taller than the Eiffel Tower is being developed in Germany with the aim of increasing the country's electricity production. The project stands out for its record-breaking height at a time when Germany is pushing to expand renewable energy capacity. The scale of the structure has drawn attention as Germany works to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet its energy transition goals.

A new study suggests animals may have evolved around 200 million years earlier than previously believed, pushing back the timeline for the emergence of animal life on Earth. The finding is drawing attention from scientists and science readers, as it challenges long-held assumptions about when the first animals appeared in the fossil record and how early life developed on the planet.

Researchers have reported horseshoe crab trace fossils that shed light on how ocean life recovered after a major extinction event. The fossils, which record the animals' movement and activity rather than their bodies, offer a rare window into marine ecosystems in the aftermath of the catastrophe. Scientists say such trace fossils can reveal behaviour and survival patterns that body fossils cannot.

A new dinosaur species with four wings has been discovered in China, according to BBC Wildlife Magazine. Details about the fossil, its age, and the species name have not yet been widely reported. The find adds to China's rich record of feathered dinosaurs and is drawing attention from palaeontology enthusiasts and science media worldwide.