Paleontology 28 January 2026

AI tool aims to match dinosaur footprints to the animals that made them, study says
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AI tool aims to match dinosaur footprints to the animals that made them, study says

Researchers unveiled an AI system that analyzes dinosaur footprints, using eight recurring shape traits from 1,974 track silhouettes spanning 150 million years. The method reached up to 93% agreement with expert identifications and aims to reduce subjectivity in matching tracks to specific dinosaur groups. The team released their code and an app called DinoTracker.
February 6, 2026
Cambrian “Huayuan biota” fossils in China reveal a thriving deep-sea world after Earth’s first animal die-off
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Cambrian “Huayuan biota” fossils in China reveal a thriving deep-sea world after Earth’s first animal die-off

Scientists in southern China uncovered over 50,000 marine fossils from Hunan, dating to 512 million years ago, shortly after the Sinsk extinction. Analysis revealed 153 species, most new to science, preserved with soft tissues. The fossils show a complex deep-water ecosystem, including predators and pelagic tunicates. Researchers say the Huayuan biota rivals Burgess Shale and Chengjiang in diversity and preservation.
January 28, 2026