Articles for author: Lovely Aquino

A reconstruction of Moros intrepidus walking through a floodplain.

Dr. Lindsay Zanno and the Hunt for New Cretaceous Predators

The Cretaceous Period, spanning approximately 145 to 66 million years ago, remains one of the most fascinating chapters in Earth’s prehistoric narrative. Within this ancient world roamed some of the most fearsome predators ever to walk the planet. Dr. Lindsay Zanno, a renowned paleontologist and head of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural ...

Dr. Jack Horner - TEDx Vancouver 2010

Jack Horner: The Paleontologist Who Inspired Jurassic Park

Jack Horner stands as one of the most influential figures in modern paleontology, whose revolutionary discoveries and unconventional theories transformed our understanding of dinosaurs. Beyond his scientific contributions, Horner gained widespread fame as the technical advisor for the Jurassic Park film franchise and served as the primary inspiration for the character of Dr. Alan Grant. ...

When Pangaea began to break apart, it unleashed the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province—an enormous volcanic event around 201 million years ago that rocked the planet at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary.

Earthquakes, Eruptions, and Extinction Events in the Age of Dinosaurs

The Mesozoic Era, spanning from approximately 252 to 66 million years ago, was a dynamic period of Earth’s history dominated by dinosaurs. Beyond the fascinating creatures that roamed the planet, this era was characterized by tremendous geological activity that shaped continents, transformed ecosystems, and ultimately contributed to one of the most significant mass extinctions in ...

Talampaya

Fossil Hotspots: The Most Productive Dinosaur Sites on Earth

The Earth’s geological record serves as a time capsule, preserving the remnants of prehistoric life that once dominated our planet. Among these ancient creatures, dinosaurs captivate our imagination like no other. Across the globe, certain regions have yielded extraordinary concentrations of dinosaur fossils, providing paleontologists with unprecedented glimpses into the Mesozoic Era. These fossil hotspots ...

Gorgosaurus chasing Corythosaurus

Why Dinosaurs Thrived in the Hot, Humid Cretaceous

The Cretaceous period, spanning from 145 to 66 million years ago, represented the final chapter in the Age of Dinosaurs—a time when these magnificent creatures reached their evolutionary peak in both diversity and specialization. While dinosaurs had already dominated Earth for over 100 million years by this point, the Cretaceous offered a unique combination of ...

Aldabra giant tortoise (aldabrachelys gigantea), the only recent representative of the Seychelles giant tortoise genus, at Krefeld Zoo, Germany

Turtles: Ancient Survivors Older Than Most Dinosaurs

When we think of ancient creatures that have witnessed Earth’s dramatic changes, dinosaurs often come to mind first. However, hiding in their prehistoric shadows are even more remarkable survivors – turtles. These armored reptiles first appeared on our planet approximately 230 million years ago during the Late Triassic period, predating many dinosaur species that would ...

Stretching the limits sauropods like Mamenchisaurus wielded necks longer than a school bus, redefining the possible in prehistoric proportions.

10 Strange Traits That Helped Dinosaurs Survive

Dinosaurs dominated Earth for over 165 million years, an astounding reign that speaks to their remarkable adaptability and evolutionary success. While their eventual extinction came from an asteroid impact too catastrophic to overcome, these magnificent creatures developed an array of surprising and sometimes bizarre adaptations that allowed them to thrive across every continent. From specialized ...

Nautilus pompilius

Horseshoe Crabs and Nautiluses: Living Fossils From the Dino Era

Ancient survivors from a bygone era, horseshoe crabs and nautiluses stand as remarkable living connections to Earth’s distant past. While dinosaurs vanished 65 million years ago, these extraordinary creatures endured, maintaining their prehistoric forms through countless geological upheavals. Their remarkable resilience and evolutionary stability have earned them the moniker “living fossils” – organisms that appear ...

Julia Clarke talking in Texas about dinosaur colour

Dr. Julia Clarke and the Origins of the Dinosaur Voice

Deep within the annals of paleontology, few mysteries have captured the imagination quite like the sounds that once echoed from the throats of dinosaurs. For decades, these ancient vocalizations remained lost to time, confined to creative speculation in films and popular media. Enter Dr. Julia Clarke, a groundbreaking paleontologist whose revolutionary research has fundamentally transformed ...