December 20, 2011 Enlarge Two radiations of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii), Carboniferous forms (facing left) and acanthomorph teleosts (facing right) underwent distinct cranial (feeding) and later postcranial (habitat) stages in trait diversification. Credit: (Photographs by Lauren Sallan and Matt Friedman). The history of evolution is periodically marked by explosions in biodiversity, as groups of species try […]

An artist’s impression of the dicynodont, a mammal-like reptile. PALAEONTOLOGISTS have found tantalising evidence that their hunch is right. Dicynodonts – the prehistoric mammal-like reptiles named because of their oversized tusks – did exist in Australia. Fossilised remains of the bull-sized herbivores, which roamed the Earth before dinosaurs, have been found on every continent including […]

Idukki district experienced a series of mild tremors in the wee hours of Saturday. The tremors were felt at Upputhura, Velliamattom, Chappath, Vandiperiyar and other parts of in Idukki district and Poonjar, Erattupetta, Adukkam of the neighbouring Kottayam district. No damage has been reported so far. Altogether four tremors are reported to have occurred in […]

Small cracks appeared at least at three points in the 115-year-old Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala’s Idukki district following two minor tremors that occurred early on Friday. The tremors and cracks have created panic among the people in River Periyar’s downstream areas. The district has more than a dozen large and medium-sized dams including Asia’s largest […]