Research points to a dramatic global climate shift. Starting around 13 million years ago, during the later part of the Middle Miocene, New Zealand experienced a period of rapid cooling.

The Miocene period dates from 23 to 5 million years ago. A 1,500-pound whale fossil was found along the Gaviota Coast.

The origin of the human lineage ~7 million years ago seems far removed from the Early Miocene (23 to 16 million years ago), but in fact there are surprising resonances in the anatomy, environment, and ...