Rare T-rex blood vessels found in fossil show how dinosaurs healed injuries
A study published recently in the journal Scientific Reports analyses structures found inside a rib bone from Scotty, the world's largest known Tyrannosaurus rex unearthed in Saskatchewan, Canada, in the 1990s.
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Irish Independent
09-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Rare T-rex blood vessels found in fossil show how dinosaurs healed injuries
Blood vessel structures found preserved in a T-rex fossil are helping scientists understand how dinosaurs healed from injuries. A study published recently in the journal Scientific Reports analyses structures found inside a rib bone from Scotty, the world's largest known Tyrannosaurus rex unearthed in Saskatchewan, Canada, in the 1990s.
RTÉ News
28-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Dino-mite! Why Jurassic films keep roaring back
More than 30 years after Jurassic Park first stunned audiences, the franchise is still going strong. With Jurassic World: Rebirth set to land in cinemas on 2 July, we take a look back at why these prehistoric thrillers are still a big hit at the box office. The one that started it all When Jurassic Park opened in 1993, it redefined what a blockbuster could be. Steven Spielberg directed the adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel, casting Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum as scientists lured to a dinosaur theme park that quickly spirals into disaster. The film broke ground with its mix of animatronics and CGI, and was anchored by John Williams' unforgettable score. Spielberg balanced awe and tension to perfection, crafting moments that still resonate today, from the glass of water rippling before the T-Rex attack to the raptors stalking through the kitchen. It earned over $912 million on initial release and passed $1.1 billion after later re-releases, firmly establishing itself as a cinematic landmark. Losing the spark The Lost World: Jurassic Park followed in 1997 with Jeff Goldblum's Ian Malcolm taking the lead. It took the story to a second island where dinosaurs roam free, but despite some memorable set pieces, it failed to recapture the magic. It brought in around $619 million worldwide. Jurassic Park III, released in 2001, saw the return of Sam Neill's Dr Alan Grant. The film focused on a rescue mission gone wrong on Isla Sorna and introduced the Spinosaurus, a new apex predator. However, with a shorter runtime and limited emotional depth, it earned just over $369 million, making it the lowest-grossing film in the series. A big comeback In 2015, Jurassic World revived the franchise for a new generation. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard starred in a story set in a fully operational dinosaur park, which falls apart when the genetically engineered Indominus Rex escapes. The film explored themes of scientific overreach and commercial greed, while delivering nostalgia for long-time fans. Audiences responded in droves. The film earned around $1.67 billion worldwide, becoming the franchise's highest-grossing instalment. The 2018 sequel, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, shifted the story to a rescue mission as a volcanic eruption threatens the dinosaurs on Isla Nublar. The second half of the film explored cloning, ethics and genetic manipulation, with dinosaurs eventually released into the world. Though critical response was mixed, it still earned over $1.31 billion worldwide. In 2022, Jurassic World Dominion brought back Neill, Dern and Goldblum alongside the newer leads. It promised a grand finale but split its focus between dinosaur survival and a bizarre subplot involving genetically engineered locusts. The film proved divisive, but still brought over $1 billion at the global box office. Why do we keep coming back? At the heart of it all are the dinosaurs. They fascinate because they're just real enough to be terrifying. For children, they ignite the imagination. For adults, they raise deeper questions about science, control and nature's unpredictability. Watch: That hide-behind-your-hands scene from Jurassic Park But it's not just the dinosaurs. These films have always pushed the limits of special effects, from the animatronics of the early 90s to today's seamless CGI. The franchise also lives well beyond the cinema, with global success in toys, LEGO sets, video games and theme park attractions. The characters play a part too. The original trio are still much loved, while Chris Pratt's arrival gave the rebooted trilogy an energetic new face. Whether it's a raptor hunting in a hallway or a T-Rex roaring across a ruined landscape, there's a familiarity in the chaos that audiences continue to enjoy. The next chapter Jurassic World: Rebirth opens in Irish cinemas on 2 July. Directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp, the film introduces a fresh storyline and a brand new cast, including Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, Rupert Friend and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. Set several years after Dominion, the story centres on a covert mission to a remote island previously used by InGen. A pharmaceutical company is attempting to retrieve biomaterials from massive dinosaurs on land, sea and in the air, to develop a life-saving drug. Whether it reinvents the franchise or simply gives it a new direction, one thing is clear - the fascination with dinosaurs endures. More than three decades on, they still rule the box office.
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Mystery behind terrifying 85million-year-old sea monster with giant teeth that ‘crushed' prey solved after decades
SCIENTISTS have finally cracked the mystery behind a "very odd" long-necked sea monster found on the coast of Canada. The creature, which loosely resembles the infamous Loch Ness monster, measures 12 metres and has large, heavy teeth. 3 The bizarre elasmosaurus is actually one of North America's most famous fossils, becoming the official fossil emblem of British Columbia in 2023 Credit: The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre 3 Three specimens, all roughly 85-million-years old, were found along the Puntledge River on Vancouver Island in 1988 Credit: The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre These robust gnashers were ideal for crushing and feasting on ammonites - coiled-shelled cephalopods, according to researchers. The bizarre elasmosaurus is actually one of North America's most famous fossils, becoming the official fossil emblem of British Columbia, Canada in 2023. Three specimens, all roughly 85-million-years old, were found along the Puntledge River on Vancouver Island in 1988. Except one had a strange mix of primitive and derived traits unlike any other elasmosaurus, according to a new study, published in the READ MORE ON ARCHAEOLOGY The fossils were first described in a 2002 study, when experts were reluctant to create a new genus based solely on one adult elasmosaur fossil. One fossil had a "fascinating and long list of autapomorphic characters" - suggesting it had strong capabilities for downward swimming, researchers wrote. This set it apart from other plesiosaur - the umbrella species under which elasmosaurus fall. However, a new "excellently preserved" partial skeleton enabled this latest international team of scientists to shed new light on the creature, and declare it a new species: the Traskasaura sandrae. Most read in Science "Plesiosaur fossils have been known for decades in British Columbia," said lead author Professor F. Robin O'Keefe from Marshall University, in West Virginia, US. Stomping 50ft 'Mongolian giant' created 'biggest two-legged dinosaur footprints' ever found – and it even dwarfed T-Rex "However, the identity of the animal that left the fossils has remained a mystery, even as it was declared BC's provincial fossil in 2023. Our new research... finally solves this mystery. "The scientific confusion concerning this taxon is understandable. It has a very odd mix of primitive and derived traits. "The shoulder, in particular, is unlike any other plesiosaur I have ever seen, and I have seen a few." Researchers named the new type of plesiosaur Traskasaura, in honor of Michael and Heather Trask, who discovered the original specimen in 1988, and the Greek word sauros, meaning lizard. The species name sandrae was inspired by Sandra Lee O'Keefe (nee Markey) who was "a valiant warrior in the fight against breast cancer." "In loving memory," the team of authors write. "With the naming of Traskasaura sandrae, the Pacific Northwest finally has a Mesozoic reptile to call its own," Professor O'Keefe, an expert on marine reptiles from the age of dinosaurs, said. "Fittingly, a region known for its rich marine life today was host to strange and wonderful marine reptiles in the Age of Dinosaurs." He added: "The fossil record is full of surprises. It is always gratifying to discover something unexpected. "When I first saw the fossils and realized they represented a new taxon, I thought it might be related to other plesiosaurs from the Antarctic. "My Chilean colleague Rodrigo Otero thought differently, and he was right; Traskasaura is a strange, convergently evolved, fascinating beast." The first of the elasmosaurus fossils are currently on public display at The Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre in British Columbia. 3 Researchers named the new type of plesiosaur Traskasaura sandrae Credit: Robert O. Clark
