Over 500 million years ago, the Cambrian Period sparked an explosion of skeletal creativity. Salterella, a peculiar fossil, defied conventions by combining two different mineral-building methods.

Explore 25 Major Events in Earth's 4.5 Billion Year History. Discover pivotal moments from its formation to the rise of life.

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story: Life on Earth had to begin somewhere, and scientists ...

From butterflies to blue whales, corals and worms, Earth is home to an incredible diversity of animals. How all of these ...

A huge and beautifully preserved suite of fossils discovered in China has cast doubt on the idea that complex life flourished dramatically during a rapid burst of evolution known as the Cambrian ...

Animal life is extraordinarily diverse and complex, having colonised almost all environments on Earth – from hostile hydrothermal vents in the deep sea to the skies across our continents. But all this ...

More than 500 million years ago, during what is known as the Cambrian period, the seas and oceans on Earth were filled with a ...