Latest news with #Archaeopteryx
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'When aren't fossils on your mind?': Joe Burrow amped-up over natural history museum visit
Among the most shared clips of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow from the new season of "Quarterback," the Netflix documentary featuring Burrow, Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins, features the Bengals' QB talking about how "sick" the fossils were at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, which he visited with teammates. The new season also features Burrow telling head coach Zac Taylor that the Bengals' effort in a win was "f------ embarrassing," and Burrow explaining that the burglary of his home in December 2024 forced him to cancel the purchase of a Batmobile and consider moving. "Somehow there's this one fossil that proved Darwin's theory of evolution," Burrow says during one episode. "It's called the Archaeopteryx. There's like 12 of them in the world. We got to see one of those, and we got to see the little old lady that freaking works on it. Grinding. We went to the natural history museum. They took us behind the scenes and showed us some really cool stuff. It's like a library of fossils that they don't show everybody else. It was like you go to the shoe store, and they're like, 'Maybe we have it in the back.' And it was like all the fossils back there. It was pretty sick. And they had the career like field guy that goes and finds them talking to us about it. It was pretty cool. … They did have some eggs. Why were fossils on my mind? I don't know. Because they're cool. When aren't fossils on your mind? They go back millions of years. That's sick." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Joe Burrow, fossil fan: Bengals QB geeks out over museum visit
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Mic'd up Joe Burrow loves fossils as much as Bengals love neglecting defense
Deep down, Joe Burrow is like all of us. He enjoys a fine cigar (after completing an undefeated season and winning a national championship). He considers buying the Batmobile. And, most importantly of all, the dude loves natural history. Burrow delved into his love of paleontology this offseason as Cincinnati Bengals team activities. Fortunately for us, Netflix cameras were there filming for the second season of the streamer's Quarterback reality show. There, he recounted a VIP trip to what appears to be the Museum of Natural History & Science at Cincinnati Museum Center with a handful of teammates. The group got to peek behind the curtains at a number of fossils detailing life on earth that stretches back eras. Burrow came away wildly impressed by the experience. "Somehow there's this one fossil that proved [Charles] Darwin's Theory of Evolution," Burrow told a team staffer this spring. "It's called the Archaeopteryx. There's like 12 of them in the world, we got to see one of those. "It's like a library of fossils they don't show everyone else. It was like you go to the shoe store and they're like 'maybe we have it in the back.' And it was like, all the fossils back there. It was pretty sick." Why were fossils on Burrow's mind for a random shorts-and-helmets spring practice? He summed it up perfectly. "When aren't fossils on my mind?"
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
What was the colour of the first feathers of ancient birds
It's interesting to imagine what the world looked like millions of years ago. Not just the massive-sized dinosaurs or the green, ancient landscapes, but all the colours that filled those scenes. Many inquisitive questions come to mind, such as: Were dinosaurs dull grey and brown, or did they have bright, eye-catching coats like modern birds? For a long time, this was left entirely to imagination. However, due to scientific advancements, some of these questions may now have answers. And one among these questions is, what colour were the first feathers? Scientists are using some of the world's most advanced technology to look deep into fossils to find out tiny clues that remain even after millions of years of decay. These clues are helping researchers reconstruct the colours and patterns that once adorned the earliest birds and their dinosaur ancestors. While we often think of fossils as just bones, there's a whole hidden world of chemical and microscopic details locked inside them. Though it is hard to believe, the story of the colours of birds' feathers is among the most interesting of all! What colour were the first feathers? Scientists have made exciting progress in discovering what colours feathered dinosaurs and early birds might have had. It all started with the discovery of melanosomes, tiny pigment structures that can survive in fossils. Their shape often tells about the colour, like the long and sausage-shaped ones usually mean black or grey, while round ones suggest reddish-brown tones. According to Jakob Vinther, a leading researcher in this field, 'Birds frequently have spectacularly coloured plumage… Understanding these organic remains in fossil feathers also demonstrates that melanin can resist decay for millions of years,' reports In a 2010 study , researchers used fossil evidence from Anchiornis huxleyi to reconstruct its plumage. They found it had a grey body, black-and-white patterned wings, and a reddish crest, which was similar to the appearance of a bird, more than what was ever imagined. Another early bird, Microraptor, was found to have glossy black, iridescent feathers similar to a crow. But colour isn't just about melanosomes. Chemical studies, like those using synchrotron particle accelerators, can detect elements such as copper, which is often linked to reddish hues. One study on Archaeopteryx revealed that its wing tips were darker, while the trailing feathers were possibly white Apart from that, scientists have found blue structural colours in fossil feathers. According to Frane Babarović, 'The top layer is structured in such a way that it refracts light in blue wavelength', as quoted by the Smithsonian magazine. These colours don't come from pigment but from the way feather layers bend light, just like in some modern birds. Still, not every fossil preserves these clues perfectly. Studies show that heat and pressure during fossilization can distort melanosome shapes. So while reconstructions are incredibly detailed, they come with some uncertainty. Scientists also use ultraviolet (UV) light to look for hidden details in fossils like feathers, scales, and even muscles that are invisible in normal light. This helps identify the best samples to study with high-tech tools. However, the studies suggest that the first feathers weren't boring at all. They also had a long range of hues from deep blacks to vibrant reds and even shimmering blues, and the ancient birds and feathered dinosaurs may have been just as colourful as today's peacocks and parrots.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
10 birds from the time of dinosaurs and how they looked like
The article explores the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and modern birds, highlighting various bird-like creatures from the Mesozoic Era. Fossils reveal a mix of reptilian and avian traits in these early birds, showcasing the gradual development of flight. These ancient species, though now extinct, provide crucial insights into avian evolution and the origins of modern birds. When we think of dinosaurs, massive creatures like Tyrannosaurus rex or Triceratops come to mind. But what many don't realize is that modern birds are direct descendants of dinosaurs. In fact, some bird-like creatures lived alongside the giant reptiles of the Mesozoic Era. These early birds were part of an interesting evolutionary journey, gradually shifting from reptilian ancestors to the feathered friends we know today. Fossils from millions of years ago reveal that bird-like dinosaurs and early birds coexisted, with many of them showing a mix of traits, like feathers, wings, claws, and teeth. Some could glide, others may have just flapped, and most of those avian ancestors looked far more bizarre than any bird we see now. Though they're extinct, these ancient birds left behind clues that have helped scientists understand how flight evolved and how birds became what they are today. Here are 10 bird species from the age of dinosaurs Archaeopteryx Archaeopteryx lived around 150 million years ago and is often called the first true bird. It had feathered wings like modern birds but also sharp teeth, claws on its wings, and a long, bony tail, clear signs of being dinosaur ancestors. Confuciusornis Confuciusornis appeared around 125 million years ago in China. It had a beak with no teeth and long tail feathers, probably for display. Though it resembled modern birds, it still had clawed fingers and likely wasn't a strong flier. Ichthyornis Living about 90 million years ago, Ichthyornis looked a lot like today's seabirds but with one key difference that it had sharp teeth. Its strong wings and sleek body suggest it was a skilled flier, likely hunting fish by diving into waters from the air. Hesperornis Hesperornis lived in the Late Cretaceous and was more like a prehistoric penguin. It couldn't fly but was an excellent swimmer, using its strong legs and teeth-filled jaws to catch fish in the seas of ancient North America. Jeholornis Jeholornis, from around 120 million years ago, had a long, feathered tail and teeth in its beak. Though it had wings, it probably didn't fly well. It may have used its feathers more for gliding or display than for a stable flight. Rahonavis Rahonavis was a small, feathered creature from Madagascar that lived about 70 million years ago. Though it was tiny, it had strong legs and arms with claws, suggesting it may have been flexible and comfortable in trees and possibly capable of powered flight. Sapeornis Sapeornis lived about 125 million years ago and had a mix of bird and dinosaur traits. It had long wings and could glide or fly short distances. With claws on its wings and a primitive tail, it looked like a bird in making. Enantiornithes This entire group of birds survived during the Cretaceous period but went extinct with the dinosaurs. They had teeth, clawed wings, and varied in size and shape. They were widespread and successful, but no direct descendants survive today. Anchiornis Anchiornis had feathers and wings but wasn't quite a bird. It lived about 160 million years ago and had four feathered limbs both arms and legs, which could be a hint at an early stage in the evolution of flight. It likely glided more than flew. Patagopteryx Patagopteryx lived around 80 million years ago and was completely flightless. About the size of a chicken, it had strong legs for running and small wings that couldn't support flight. It's one of the earliest examples of a bird that adapted to life on the ground.
Observer
03-06-2025
- General
- Observer
This Dinosaur Had Feathers and Probably Flew Like a Chicken
In 1861, scientists discovered Archaeopteryx, a dinosaur with feathers, in 150 million-year-old limestones in Solnhofen, Germany. They didn't know it at the time, but that fossilized skeleton — and the several that followed — provided a key piece of evidence for the theory of evolution, as well as for the fact that birds were actually dinosaurs. Since then, researchers have pored over every detail of available specimens, trying to puzzle out how birds came to fly. So you might expect that such a well-studied fossil species wouldn't be capable of surprises. But in a new paper, a team led by Jingmai O'Connor, a paleontologist at the Field Museum in Chicago, revealed previously unrecorded soft tissues and skeletal details from a new specimen, known as the Chicago Archaeopteryx. What they found also helps explain why some feathered dinosaurs got off the ground, if only for short-haul flights. Many Archaeopteryx specimens are too flattened by geology to discern important skeletal details. The latest specimen, acquired by the Field Museum in 2022, let O'Connor's team address some of the anatomical uncertainties. Unlike other specimens, the bones of the Chicago Archaeopteryx were preserved in three dimensions, allowing the researchers to better evaluate the skull's palate. That showed the earliest signs of an evolutionary trajectory toward the skulls of modern birds. In another accident of fossilization, the carcass's wings were separated from the body, leaving them 'pristinely preserved.' The team confirmed that rather than having two layers of wing feathers, Archaeopteryx actually had three. In modern birds, that third layer helps link the shorter forearm to the body to create a continuous lift surface, which allows for sustained flight. — ASHER ELBEIN / NYT
