Articles for category: Scientist Spotlight

Awais Khan

Scientist Spotlight
Therizinosaurus

Dr. Emily Rayfield: How Digital Modeling Is Revolutionizing Dinosaur Research

Paleontology has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent decades, moving from a discipline primarily focused on fossil collection and anatomical description to one that increasingly employs sophisticated computational techniques to answer complex questions about extinct organisms. At the forefront of this revolution stands Dr. Emily Rayfield, a pioneering paleontologist whose groundbreaking work with digital modeling ...

Lovely Aquino

Scientist Spotlight
Photograph of a stone statue comemmorating William Buckland

William Buckland: The Clergyman Who Tried to Reconcile God and Dinosaurs

William Buckland stands as one of the most fascinating figures in the early history of paleontology and geology. As both an ordained Anglican priest and a pioneering scientist, Buckland navigated the challenging intellectual waters of early 19th century England where new scientific discoveries increasingly challenged traditional biblical interpretations. His remarkable career reflected a determined effort ...

Awais Khan

Scientist Spotlight
Kristina Curry Rogers

How Dr. Kristi Curry Rogers Uncovered the Secrets of Tiny Titanosaurs

In the world of paleontology, where massive dinosaur fossils often capture the spotlight, Dr. Kristi Curry Rogers has turned her attention to something much smaller but equally significant—baby dinosaurs. As a pioneering paleontologist specializing in titanosaurs, Dr. Rogers has revolutionized our understanding of how these massive creatures grew from tiny hatchlings into the largest animals ...

Lovely Aquino

Scientist Spotlight
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 ...

Awais Khan

Scientist Spotlight
Peter Larson

Dr. Peter Larson and the Epic Battle Over Sue the T-Rex

In the summer of 1990, a discovery in the badlands of South Dakota would ignite one of the most contentious legal battles in paleontological history. The unearthing of “Sue,” the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found, marked the beginning of a decade-long saga that would forever change the landscape of fossil collection ...

Lovely Aquino

Scientist Spotlight
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 ...

Lovely Aquino

Scientist Spotlight
Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum exterior

Meet Dr. Philip Currie: The Real-Life Raptor Expert

Dr. Philip Currie stands as one of paleontology’s most distinguished figures, whose groundbreaking work with dinosaurs—particularly theropods like Velociraptors—has revolutionized our understanding of these prehistoric creatures. With a career spanning over five decades, Currie has excavated fossils across the globe, from the badlands of Alberta to the Gobi Desert. His meticulous research has helped establish ...

Awais Khan

Scientist Spotlight
Peter Larson

Peter Larson: The Controversial Figure Behind the Most Complete T. Rex Skeleton Ever Found

Peter Larson’s life dramatically changed on a hot summer day in 1990 when he unearthed what would become one of paleontology’s most significant discoveries: a nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton later named “Sue.” This remarkable find catapulted the self-taught fossil hunter from South Dakota’s Black Hills into scientific stardom, but simultaneously embroiled him in a ...

Awais Khan

Scientist Spotlight
Dr. Thomas Holtz & Team

Dr. Thomas Holtz: How a T-Rex Expert Changed Public Perception

Dr. Thomas Holtz Jr. stands as one of paleontology’s most influential figures, particularly in transforming how the public views Tyrannosaurus rex and other theropod dinosaurs. As a Principal Lecturer at the University of Maryland’s Department of Geology, Holtz has dedicated his career to unveiling the mysteries of prehistoric predators while simultaneously making paleontological science accessible ...