Ancestor of ancient flying reptiles found

Scientists have found a fossil from 163 million years ago that represents the oldest known example of a lineage of advanced flying reptiles that later would culminate in the largest flying creatures in Earth's history.  The newly identified Jurassic period creature, a species named Kryptodrakon progenitor, was unearthed in the Gobi desert in northwestern China.

Tiny planet found to have Saturn-like rings

The object, called Chariklo, lies two billion kilometres out in the solar system between Uranus and Saturn.

Radar shows mirror-smooth sea on Saturn moon

The radar readings, taken last year, show the surface of Ligeia Mare, Ti­tan’s second largest sea.

Saturn may be spawning tiny new moon

Astronomers suspect the object may be going through stages that characterised the birth of other moons, and planets.

Big, unseen planet may inhabit outer Solar System

A dwarf planet just found far outside the known Solar System also hints that a far bigger one lurks.

Possible exomoon detected

Though unconfirmable, the finding is seen as a tantalising first step toward finding exomoons.

First Earth-sized planet in a 'habitable zone'

In a long-awaited first, astronomers report finding an Earth-sized exoplanet possibly able to support life.

Odour memory

Long-term, odour-memory formation in the brain is linked to smell perception by affecting the expression of olfactory receptors in the nose.

Sea fossil has oldest cardiovascular system

Scientists claim to have found a fossil of a shrimp-like creature that lived 520 million years ago with an exquisitely preserved heart and blood vessels that represent the oldest-known cardiovascular system. Named Fuxianhuia protensa, the creature was a primitive arthropod, a group of invertebrates with external skeletons that includes crustaceans like crabs, lobsters and shrimp as well as insects, spiders and millipedes.

Ocean found on Saturnian moon

An ocean of liquid water exists below the frozen surface of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus, according to new data from the Cassini spacecraft.

Researchers believe the water is in contact with a rocky floor below, making it more suitable for a hypothetical origin of life.