Articles for author: Saman Zehra

A close up of two alligators with their mouths open

10 Times TV and Movies Got Paleontologists Totally Wrong

Paleontology, the study of prehistoric life through fossils, is a complex scientific discipline requiring years of specialized education and fieldwork. However, when Hollywood gets its hands on dinosaurs and ancient creatures, scientific accuracy often takes a backseat to spectacle. While movies and TV shows have ignited public interest in paleontology, they’ve also perpetuated numerous misconceptions ...

brown leaf on brown soil

Fossil Feuds: When Museums Disagree on Who Owns the Bones

In the world of paleontology, the discovery of ancient fossils represents more than just scientific advancement—it often ignites passionate disputes over ownership, cultural heritage, and academic prestige. These “fossil feuds” have shaped museum collections worldwide and continue to influence how we preserve and display our planet’s prehistoric past. From multimillion-dollar dinosaur skeletons to ancient human ...

A skeleton of a dinosaur on display in a museum

Historic Digs and Giant Skeletons at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh stands as one of America’s premier institutions for paleontological research and exhibition. Since its founding in 1896 by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, this museum has been at the forefront of dinosaur discoveries and fossil exhibition. The museum’s expeditions have unearthed some of the most significant paleontological findings in ...

a close up of a rock with a bird perched on top of it

Inside the Alberta Badlands: What Makes It a Fossil Goldmine?

The Alberta Badlands stand as one of North America’s most remarkable geological treasures, a landscape where time itself seems carved into the earth. Stretching across southeastern Alberta, Canada, this otherworldly terrain of hoodoos, coulees, and stratified cliffs has yielded some of the most significant paleontological discoveries in history. The region’s unique combination of ancient sedimentary ...

animal skeleton

Could Dinosaurs Coexist Peacefully With Other Species?

The question of whether dinosaurs could coexist peacefully with other species invites us to explore a fascinating intersection of paleontology, ecology, and evolutionary biology. For over 165 million years, dinosaurs dominated Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems, living alongside countless other species including early mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and various invertebrates. While Hollywood often portrays dinosaurs as relentless predators ...

A close up of a pink flower on a table

Richardoestesia: The Enigma with Razor Teeth from the Western States

Deep within the ancient rock layers of North America’s western states lies a paleontological mystery that continues to intrigue scientists and dinosaur enthusiasts alike. Richardoestesia, known primarily from its distinctive razor-sharp teeth, represents one of the most enigmatic theropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous period. Despite being discovered decades ago, this genus remains shrouded in ...

a woman laying on a rock next to a fake dinosaur

What Dinosaurs Ate During Different Seasons

Dinosaurs, like modern animals, faced seasonal changes that affected their food availability. From the lush abundance of spring to the scarcity of winter, these magnificent creatures adapted their diets to survive through changing conditions. Recent paleontological discoveries have revealed fascinating insights into how dinosaur feeding patterns shifted with the seasons, providing a more complete picture ...