Why Did Dinosaurs Have Small Arms?
T. rex receives the most attention for being a massive dinosaur with short arms. It’s not the only dinosaur like this. While some dinosaurs such as Deinocheirus were known for their extremely long arms, some…
Topics in Paleontology
We cover topics in paleontology to answer common questions about the field to educate and inspire readers of all ages.
Why Did Crocodiles Survive the Dinosaur Extinction?
As any dinosaur nerd can tell you, the non-avian dinosaurs all died at the end of the Cretaceous when an asteroid struck the Earth around 66 million years ago. There are countless media references to…
How Did Aquatic Dinosaurs Die Out?
Some of the most well-known groups of prehistoric animals from the Mesozoic Era are the so-called aquatic dinosaurs, and for good reason: they’re large, fearsome, apex predators. So how did aquatic dinosaurs die out? Some…
Did Dinosaurs Have Feathers or Scales?
Most people have seen depictions of Tyrannosaurus a thousand times: they’re fearsome, likely hungry given their invariably open mouths, and covered in lizard-like scales. Some artists, however, take a different approach. These deviants show the…
Can Dinosaurs be Resurrected?
We have all wondered this since our childhood: can dinosaurs be resurrected? As much as technology has advanced, the possibility does not seem so far-fetched. Is it possible to bring back the dinosaurs? The most…
How Do Scientists Determine the Age of Fossils?
When reading about dinosaurs or visiting a museum you may have wondered: how do scientists determine the age of fossils? Are they really millions of years old? How do scientists know that, for example, Tyrannosaurus…
Are Dinosaur Bones in Museums Real?
One of the most famous Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons, “Stan” the T. rex, may also be the most well-traveled T. rex. At the moment, he currently resides in Texas, New Mexico, Washington, D.C., Kansas, Wyoming, Indiana,…
Why Are Fossils Found in Sedimentary Rock?
Most readers will likely be familiar with the three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Many readers may not realize, however, that fossils only come from sedimentary rocks. Why are fossils found in sedimentary…
How Do Fossils Provide Evidence for Evolution?
Evolution is one of the most important theories in modern science. It provides a framework for understanding where modern species came from, including our own. Evolution teaches scientists how to understand trends in biodiversity, genetics,…
What’s the Difference Between Paleontology and Archaeology?
As a child, I often annoyed everyone around me talking about dinosaurs nonstop. Honestly, I still do this. Though one thing always annoyed me too. Why did everyone think that I wanted to be an…
Do Dinosaurs Have Common Names?
Do dinosaurs have common names? Dinosaur names are notoriously difficult to say. We all know the most popular ones because they’re prevalent in pop culture. Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus are no more difficult to say…
Why Do Kids Like Dinosaurs?
One thing has been held for centuries: children love dinosaurs. They beg for dinosaur toys, adorn their rooms with dinosaur posters, and become engrossed in dinosaur films. The concept of conceptual domains or topics of “intense…
