Paleontologists uncover Vasuki Indicus, possibly the largest snake to roam Earth, in India's lignite mines. Estimated at 11 to 15 meters long, it challenges Titanoboa as the biggest serpent. Surprising gentle demeanor suggests it may have been a swamp-dwelling giant. The discovery provides insights into ancient ecosystems and India's paleontological significance, signaling a new chapter in understanding prehistoric life. Published in 'Scientific Reports,' it underscores Earth's dynamic history and ongoing mysteries.
In “The Invention of Prehistory,” the historian Stefanos Geroulanos argues that many of our theories about our remote ancestors tell us more about us than them.
This kind of Mother Goose is no fairy tale. A 50 million year old skull reveals that huge birds with a 5 meter wingspan once skimmed across the waters that covered what is now London, Essex and Kent. These giant ocean-going relatives of ducks and geese also had a rather bizarre attribute for a bird: their beaks were lined with bony-teeth.