The Ocean Through Time

Life began in the ocean around 3.5 billion years ago and as evolution progressed, many species went extinct -- and some left behind fossils -- as others appeared. And even now, the ocean hasn't stopped changing as evolution continues and humans leave their mark.

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Climate Change at the Poles

At the ends of the Earth, life thrives despite extreme conditions. In the Arctic and Southern Oceans, organisms have evolved adaptations to cope with year-round cold and six months of...
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New Archaeocetes from Peru Are the Oldest Fossil Whales from South America

The evolution of whales represents one of the great stories in macroevolution...
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Top Predators Timeline

What makes a top predator? Razor-sharp teeth? Speed? Strength? Size? Who is the...
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Long Before Coral, Mollusks Built the Ocean's Reefs

About 100 million years ago , during the heyday of the dinosaurs, reefs were...

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Elevator Rudists

May 1, 2013 - 9:48AM
These "elevator" rudists, an ancient bivalve , used one long heavy valve to anchor themselves in the sediment. They used their tentacles (shown here in pink) to filter food from the sea water. Discover more about the ancient...

Teeth and Jaw of an Ancient Shark

Mar 21, 2013 - 9:20AM
This well-preserved fossil is the only intact partial skull ever found of a...

Megalodon Teeth

Feb 26, 2013 - 9:35AM
Two fossilized teeth from a megalodon ( Carcharodon megalodon ) dating back...

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Did Whale Evolution Go Backwards?

Whales swim, but their ancestors walked. Whales are mammals (like us) whose ancestors lived on land. Life probably began in...
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