A surprising discovery in the feathers of a fossil vulture from central Italy has revealed that volcanic deposits can preserve delicate tissue structures in unprecedented detail, offering new insights ...

While fossilized feathers are typically found in ancient mudrocks from lakes or lagoons, this specimen was embedded in volcanic ash—an extremely rare occurrence.

Fossil evidence of a diverse plant ecosystem that thrived in a Chinese desert during the world’s largest mass extinction could offer insight into how humans could survive a future great dying event.

Valentina Rossi received funding from The Palaeontological Association (UK) and The Paleontological Society (USA). She is currently receiving funding from the European Research Council (H2020-ERC ...

'Fossils preserving evidence of soft tissues are essential for our understanding of the evolution of life and ancient biodiversity,' the study states The international team, led by UCC's Dr ...

A 30,000-year-old vulture feather represents a “two-for-the-price-of one” discovery: the fossil itself, and the first evidence that volcanic ash can preserve such soft tissues in exquisite detail. The ...

Fossilized feathers discovered 136 years ago are still revealing new secrets. Researchers found that the volcanic rock preserving the feather holds microscopic details preserved within the fossil.

An analysis of a 30,000-year-old fossil vulture from Central Italy has revealed for the first time that volcanic rock can preserve microscopic details in feathers - the first ever record of such a ...

An analysis of a 30,000-year-old fossil vulture from Central Italy has revealed for the first time that volcanic rock can preserve microscopic details in feathers—the first ever record of such a ...

The research follows an analysis of a 30,000-year-old fossil vulture found in volcanic rock Dr Valentina Rossi preparing a fossil sample to be analysed in the lab. Photo: Dirleane Ottonelli.

‘The Doom of the Alban Hills’ a digital painting representing a possible scenario of the moments before the vulture carcass was entombed in the pyroclastic current. Credit: Dawid A. Iurino, edited ...