Paleontologists unearthed fossils in the Grand Canyon dating back more than 500 million years that offer a new look into a time when complex life emerged on Earth.

Paleontologists named the worm Kraytdraco spectatus, for its resemblance to a Star Wars monster. They say it sheds light on the Grand Canyon’s prehistoric ecosystem.

Learn how the Grand Canyon used to be home to an ancient evolutionary competition that has since left behind a plethora of soft-bodied fossils.

A treasure trove of exceptionally preserved early animals from more than half a billion years ago has been discovered in the Grand Canyon, one of the natural world's most iconic sites.