why did dinosaurs have small arms

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 dinosaurs had even shorter arms than T. rex. It’s a question that researchers tackled as it may provide clues that will help us understand more … Read More

why did crocodiles survive the dinosaur extinction

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 this devastating extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs. But what about the crocodiles? Why did crocodiles survive the dinosaur extinction? The asteroid impact drove many … Read More

How Did Aquatic Dinosaurs Die Out

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 of these creatures have even starred in the recent Jurassic World franchise, further enhancing their fame. The oversized Mosasaurus from Jurassic World elevated the notoriety … Read More

did dinosaurs have feathers or scales

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 beloved T. rex covered in feathers. While most people reject change for simply psychological reasons, others may wonder if they’ve been wrong all these years. … Read More

How Do Scientists Determine the Age of Fossils

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 millions of years old? How do scientists know that, for example, Tyrannosaurus rex lived about 66 million years ago? Are these estimates verifiable? So, how do scientists determine the age of a fossil? Scientists use two general techniques … Read More

Are Dinosaur Bones in Museums Real

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, Wisconsin, the United Kingdom, and even Tokyo, Japan. There’s only one Stan, so how can he be in so many places at once? The answer … Read More

Why Are Fossils Found in Sedimentary Rock

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 rock? Fossils are found in sedimentary rock because the conditions of sedimentary rock formation are crucial to fossilization, as igneous and metamorphic rock formation would … Read More

How do Fossils Provide Evidence for Evolution

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, and Earth’s history. Further, evolution provides insights into such disparate topics as endangered species conservation, vaccine development, and antibiotic, pesticide, and herbicide resistance. How do … Read More

what's the difference between paleontology and archaeology

Paleontology vs. Archaeology [Detailed Comparison]

As a child, I often annoyed everyone around me talking about dinosaurs nonstop. Honestly, I still do this. However, one thing always annoyed me too. Why did everyone think that I wanted to be an archaeologist? What’s the difference between paleontology and archaeology? Paleontology is the study of prehistoric life through fossils while archaeology is the study of ancient humans … Read More

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 than Elephant; how many people can pronounce, much less, spell Tuojiangosaurus? Do dinosaurs have common names? Dinosaur names are often hard to pronounce because their scientific names are derived from … Read More