LiveScience Topics: Dinosaurs

The subject of blockbuster films, history museum exhibits and much more, dinosaurs continue to interest people today after first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. These vertebrate animals dominated the land for more than 160 million years before experiencing a catastrophic extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago. The first dinosaur was recognized in the 19th century and ever since, dinosaurs have been the source of many questions. What contributed to the rapid extinction of the dinosaur? What do the latest fossil findings reveal about the dinosaur and its way of life? How is the modern bird connected to these prehistoric creatures? Could dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex and Brontosaurus really be brought back to life with mosquito DNA?

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Top 5 Surprising Turkey Facts

Thanksgiving is no longer what the Pilgrims had in mind. Plus, what we now know about turkeys.
Following Feathers from Birds to Dinosaurs

Ornithologist follows the evolution of feathers, shedding light on dinosaur colors.
Key to Success? Dinosaurs May Have Been Warm-Blooded

Many dinosaurs may have been warm-blooded just like mammals or birds.

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25 Amazing Ancient Beasts

Incredible creatures discovered in recent years, artfully rendered.
Flying Reptile May Have Snatched Dinosaurs in Midair

Fossils from a small flying reptile fill evolutionary gap.
'First Bird' Not Very Bird-Like

Tiny bone chips from a primitive bird suggest it grew more like a dinosaur.
Newfound Tiny Tyrannosaur Had Horns

Newly described fossil of tyrannosaur family member has horns, long snout, small skull.
Dinosaur-killing Space Rock Barely Rattled Algae

The identification of molecular fossils from algae in the so-called K-P boundary point to a very fast recovery of these organisms following the meteorite impact that killed the dinosaurs.
Mighty T. rex Killed by Lowly Parasite, Study Suggests

The T. rex named Sue might have been killed by a disease that afflicts birds even today.
Four-Winged Dinosaur Discovered in China

A new four-winged dinosaur sheds light on evolution of birds.
Man-Sized Dinosaur Was a Tiny T. Rex

A miniature Tyrannosaurus rex of sorts walked the Earth 125 million years ago.
Velociraptor Claws Made for Climbing

The tip of the claw functioned as the puncturing and gripping element, study shows.
Life in the Dark: How Organisms Survived Asteroid Impacts

New studies of mixotrophic algae have shown how such organisms could survive the darkened skies that follow a major asteroid impact.
Ancient Bird's Feathers Had Iridescent Glow

Microstructures in feather fossils show evidence feathers were iridescent.
Prehistoric 'Runway' Used by Flying Reptile

Prehistoric tracks suggest that pterosaurs preferred beach landings.
T. Rex Link to Birds Holds Up

A new group has restudied soft tissue data and linking T. rex to chickens.
A Space Rock Hunter Picks Top 10 Asteroid Facts

Learn why asteroids are a whole lot more than space debris.
Before Dinosaurs, the First Tree-Climber Revealed

Before dinosaurs arrived, trees were the ultimate refuge from predators
Could Extinct Animals Be Resurrected from Frozen Samples?

Extinct animals could be cloned from DNA found in frozen tissue samples and maybe the reconstructed genomes of ancient species.
Pot-Bellied Dinosaur Skeleton Found in Utah

Remains of a pot-bellied dinosaur shed light on evolution of paleo veggie diets.
How Dinosaurs Got So Big

A new study could explain how dinosaurs got to be so large
Study Hints at What and How Dinosaurs Ate

Tiny scratches on fossilized dinosaur teeth suggest the animal ate low-lying grasses.
Huge Dinosaur Tooth Found in Spain

An allosaurid tooth as long as a tall man's finger has been found in Spain, making it the largest tooth of a carnivorous dinosaur ever found there.
Giant Dinosaurs Get Downsized

Dinosaurs didn't weigh nearly as much as previously thought, a new study suggests.

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LiveScience Topics: Dinosaurs

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