Virginia opossums are like living fossils—they’ve been scuttling around North America for tens of millions of years, barely changing since the age of dinosaurs. These scrappy survivors are also the continent’s only marsupials, carrying their young in pouches just like kangaroos.

Editor’s Note: Opossums might not be glamorous, but they’re a fascinating piece of evolutionary history right in our backyards. Their resilience and unique biology remind us how much life on Earth has endured—and how much we still have to learn about the creatures that share our world.

Scientists studying rocks from the Grand Canyon have uncovered fossils that hint at when complex life first thrived in Earth's ancient oceans. These findings suggest a vibrant ecosystem existed much earlier than previously thought, reshaping our understanding of life's evolution.

A chilling discovery in Spain’s Atapuerca archaeological site reveals that Homo antecessor, an ancient human relative, likely practiced cannibalism—even on toddlers. A 850,000-year-old neck bone from a young child shows clear cut marks, suggesting this species didn’t shy away from eating their own kind, regardless of age.

Scientists have uncovered what they believe was a prehistoric "mating arena" in Colorado, where male theropods—relatives of the T. rex—once strutted their stuff to impress females. Footprints suggest these dinosaurs might have performed backward-walking displays, like a Jurassic moonwalk, as part of their courtship rituals.