Left: Illustration of Ottoia, a prehistoric priapulid, burrowing. Right: Ottoia worm.

Compiling a ‘dentist’s handbook’ for penis worms

06 May 2015

A new study of teeth belonging to a particularly phallic-looking creature has led to the compilation of a prehistoric ‘dentist’s handbook’ which may aid in the identification of previously unrecognised specimens from the Cambrian period, 500 million years ago.

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Casts of fossils such as this beautiful Fractofusus specimen from Newfoundland are on display

A snapshot of life 560 million years ago

10 March 2014

A new display at the Sedgwick Museum focuses on the latest research into a group of fossils that might be the earliest examples of animals ever found. Palaeontologist Dr Alex Liu hopes that the exhibition will raise awareness of the unique organisms that lived in the Ediacaran period.  

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Beachcombing for early humans in Africa

31 May 2013

From the earliest modern humans to the present day, our species has evolved dramatically in both biological and behavioural terms. What forces prompted these momentous changes?

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