Articles for category: Fossils & Fieldwork

Awais Khan

Fossils & Fieldwork
Dinosaur hatchlings emerge from their eggs in a sandy nest

What Can We Learn from Fossilized Dinosaur Eggs?

Fossilized dinosaur eggs represent remarkable time capsules from Earth’s distant past, offering paleontologists and researchers unique insights that skeletal remains alone cannot provide. These prehistoric treasures, sometimes preserved with embryos inside, reveal intimate details about dinosaur reproduction, parenting behaviors, and evolutionary connections that have profound implications for our understanding of both extinct and modern species. ...

Awais Khan

Fossils & Fieldwork
Imprints Inside Dinosaur Bones

What Early Paleontologists Got Wrong About Dinosaurs

Paleontology, like all sciences, has evolved dramatically over time. Our understanding of dinosaurs today bears little resemblance to the initial interpretations made by early fossil hunters. The journey from the first dinosaur discoveries to our current knowledge represents one of science’s most fascinating evolutions of thought. Early paleontologists, working without modern technology and within the ...

Awais Khan

Fossils & Fieldwork
Fossil of a bird-like dinosaur, with outstretched wings and visible skeletal details, preserved in beige rock, conveying a sense of ancient history.

How Do Paleontologists Study Dinosaur Behavior from Fossils?

Unlocking the secrets of dinosaur behavior is like assembling a complex puzzle with many missing pieces. Paleontologists face the remarkable challenge of understanding how creatures behaved millions of years ago, with only their fossilized remains as evidence. Despite these limitations, scientific ingenuity and advancing technology have enabled researchers to develop sophisticated techniques for interpreting dinosaur ...

Lovely Aquino

Fossils & Fieldwork
Plaster Dinosaur Jackets to protect the fossils for transport

How Fossils Travel: From Discovery Site to Museum Display

Fossils, the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, serve as precious time capsules that provide insights into Earth’s biological history. The journey of a fossil from its initial discovery in the field to its final showcase in a museum involves numerous intricate steps, specialized expertise, and careful handling. This fascinating process combines elements of ...

Awais Khan

Fossils & Fieldwork
Dinosaur skeletons in a museum exhibit, featuring a prominent T. rex skull with jaws open. The setting is spacious with high ceilings and wooden displays.

When Museums Buy Stolen Fossils: Who’s Responsible?

The discovery of a significant fossil, whether it’s a T. rex skull or an ancient hominid, represents a crucial piece of our planet’s history. However, the journey these specimens take from ground to museum display often travels through murky ethical waters. When prestigious institutions purchase fossils with questionable provenance, it raises profound questions about accountability, ...

Lovely Aquino

Fossils & Fieldwork
A rare gem from the past: Barb Beasley’s discovery of a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth during a 2012 Passport in Time excavation in the iconic Hell Creek Formation.

Fossil Forensics: What a Single Tooth Can Tell Us About the Past

A single ancient tooth, sometimes no larger than a thumbnail, can unlock extraordinary secrets about life on Earth millions of years ago. In the skilled hands of paleontologists and researchers, these seemingly modest remains transform into powerful storytelling devices that illuminate extinct species, ancient ecosystems, and even evolutionary turning points. Fossil teeth serve as time ...

Lovely Aquino

Fossils & Fieldwork
Ediacaran biota

The Mystery of the Missing Fossils: When Science Follows the Trail

Paleontology, the study of ancient life through fossils, faces a curious paradox: despite Earth’s 4.5 billion-year history teeming with life for much of that time, the fossil record remains surprisingly incomplete. This scientific mystery, often called “the missing fossils problem,” has puzzled researchers since Darwin’s era and continues to challenge our understanding of evolutionary history. ...

Lovely Aquino

Fossils & Fieldwork
Big Al Allosaurus

Dinosaur Detectives: How Clues in Bones Rewrite History

Dinosaurs have captivated human imagination since the first fossilized remains were scientifically recognized in the early 19th century. Yet our understanding of these magnificent creatures continues to evolve dramatically with each new discovery. Modern paleontology has transformed from simply collecting bones to a sophisticated multidisciplinary science that combines geology, biology, chemistry, and advanced imaging technologies. ...

Lovely Aquino

Fossils & Fieldwork
Reproduction of Darwinius masillae holotype fossil (specimen PMO 214.214)

Solving Prehistoric Puzzles: Famous Fossil Finds Decoded

Throughout history, paleontologists have unearthed remarkable fossils that have dramatically reshaped our understanding of prehistoric life on Earth. These fossilized remains—bones, teeth, impressions, and even preserved soft tissues—serve as time capsules, offering glimpses into worlds long vanished. The discovery and interpretation of these ancient relics require meticulous scientific detective work, combining geology, biology, chemistry, and ...