paleontology

Nov 21, 2016

Keratin and Melanosomes Preserved in 130-Million-Year-Old Bird Fossil

Researchers have found evidence of original keratin and melanosome preservation in a 130-million-year-old Eoconfuciusornis specimen. 

Nov 8, 2016

Original Dinosaur Claw Sheath Proteins Preserved for 75 Million Years

Researchers find original proteins in a 75 million-year-old dinosaur's claw sheath. 

Sep 27, 2016

Outrageous Heads Led to Outrageously Large Dinosaurs

Bling and big bods: theropod dinosaurs with bony crests, horns and knobs on their heads got bigger faster than their unornamented brethren. 

Mar 23, 2016

What Do We Really Know About Dino DNA?

Paleontologist Mary Schweitzer explains what we really know about dinosaur DNA. 

Mar 15, 2016

Pregnant T. Rex Could Aid in Dino Sex-Typing

Pregnant T. rex could help paleontologists figure out gender of other meat-eating dinos 

Dec 1, 2015

Researchers Confirm Original Blood Vessels in 80 Million-Year-Old Fossil

Researchers confirm that blood vessel-like structures in an 80 million-year-old hadrosaur fossil are original blood vessels, not biofilms or other contaminants. 

Oct 5, 2015

True Colors: Using Molecular Analysis to Clarify Dino Color Claims

Paleontologist Mary Schweitzer wants to see colleagues use of molecular analysis and other technologically advanced tools to confirm claims about dino color. 

Aug 31, 2015

Tail as Old as Time: How Ankylosaur Tail Evolved

How did the ankylosaur get its tail club? Researchers traced the evolution of the ankylosaur’s distinctive tail, finding that the handle arrived first on the scene, and the knot at the end of the tail followed. 

Jul 15, 2014

Cretaceous Cold Case No. 5: When Evidence Dries Up

This is the fifth post in a series called “Cretaceous Cold Cases” in which the science of taphonomy, or prehistoric forensics, is explained by fascinating cases from the files of Terry “Bucky” Gates, a research scientist with NC State and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. South Africa, 250 million years ago. The United States,145… 

May 8, 2014

This Is What Science Looks Like at NC State: Alison Moyer

Editor’s note: This post comes from Alison Moyer, a Ph.D. student in paleontology at NC State. The post is part of an ongoing series that we hope will highlight the diversity of researchers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The series is inspired by the This Is What A Scientist Looks Like site. I’m Alison Moyer,… 

Mar 5, 2014

Pigment or Bacteria? Researchers Re-examine the Idea of ‘Color’ in Fossil Feathers

Paleontologists studying fossilized feathers have proposed that the shapes of certain microscopic structures inside the feathers can tell us the color of ancient birds. But new research from North Carolina State University demonstrates that it is not yet possible to tell if these structures – thought to be melanosomes – are what they seem, or… 

Nov 26, 2013

Iron Preserves, Hides Ancient Tissues in Fossilized Remains

New research from North Carolina State University shows that iron may play a role in preserving ancient tissues within dinosaur fossils, but also may hide them from detection. The finding could open the door to the recovery of more ancient tissues from within fossils. Mary Schweitzer, an NC State paleontologist with a joint appointment at the… 

Nov 22, 2013

Dinosaur Discovery

NC State paleontologist Lindsay Zanno and her team have unearthed a colossal carnivore: Siats Meekerorum, the third-largest meat-eating dinosaur ever discovered in North America. 

Jun 17, 2013

Cretaceous Cold Case No. 4: Graveyard Shift

This is the fourth post in a series called “Cretaceous Cold Cases” in which the science of taphonomy, or prehistoric forensics, is explained by fascinating cases from the files of Terry “Bucky” Gates, a research scientist with a joint appointment at NC State and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The graveyard shift in Madagascar… 

May 16, 2013

Cretaceous Cold Cases No. 3: Duck(bill) Amuck

This is the third post in a series called “Cretaceous Cold Cases” in which the science of taphonomy, or prehistoric forensics, is explained by fascinating cases from the files of Terry “Bucky” Gates, a research scientist with a joint appointment at NC State and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. One brisk fall day in…