Giant octopuses may have ruled the oceans 100 million years ago

Modern octopuses are known for their intelligence and flexibility, slipping through tight spaces, hiding in reefs, or drifting through the deep ocean. However, new research suggests their distant ancestors lived very differently. Scientists now believe that the earliest octopuses were not quiet, elusive creatures but massive predators that hunted at…

Giant prehistoric insects didn’t need high oxygen after all, study finds

Three hundred million years ago, Earth looked nothing like it does today. The continents were joined together in a massive supercontinent called Pangaea. Near the equator, vast coal-swamp forests stretched across the landscape. Oxygen levels in the atmosphere were much higher than today, and wildfires were frequent. Life was abundant…

Scientists just found what keeps plant cells from growing out of control

Plants spend most of their lives using photosynthesis to make energy. However, in the earliest phase after a seed begins to grow, they cannot yet capture light. During this short but critical window, they depend on stored fatty acids instead. To break down these fatty acids, plant cells use a…