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Scotsman
20 hours ago
- Science
- Scotsman
Earth's 'giants': The new exhibition of prehistoric animals, including woolly mammoth, coming to Scotland
The Edinburgh exhibition will feature giant creatures from 66 million years ago to the present day. Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... An 'immersive' exhibition of giant creatures over the past 66 million years is to open to the public in Edinburgh. Giants is to go on show at the National Museum of Scotland in January, featuring life-sized 3D models and nearly complete skeletons on a journey through time. The exhibitions will span from 66 million years ago to the present day, with visitors to encounter the enormous creatures that roamed the Earth after the extinction of the dinosaurs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The exhibition, developed by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and toured by Nomad Exhibitions, features life-sized 3D models and nearly complete skeletons. Models to go on display include the formidable Otodus megalodon, the mightiest shark of all time, the Mammuthus primigenius or woolly mammoth, weighing in at between six and eight tons with long thick fur and imposing tusks, and Gigantopithecus blacki, an Asian primate comparable in size to three orangutans. This life-sized 3D model of a mammoth is to feature in the new Giants exhibition. | NMS Dr Nick Fraser, keeper of natural sciences at National Museums Scotland (NMS), said: 'We're really looking forward to bringing Giants to Scotland next year. Popular attention on prehistoric life tends to focus either on dinosaurs or on our own earliest human ancestors, which leaves a relatively neglected gap of around 60 million years of natural history. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Giants is a striking invitation to us all to think about that period, to see how nature adapts over time, and also to reflect on the ways in which current human activity is denying that time to today's endangered giants.' Interactive elements allow visitors of all ages to step into the shoes of palaeontologists and biologists, engaging with the scientific processes behind fossil discovery and reconstruction. Meanwhile, immersive projections transport audiences into the natural habitats of these colossal beings, providing context to their existence and eventual extinction. Life-sized 3D model of a megalodon. | NMS New giants have emerged since the age of the dinosaurs, such as elephants, rhinoceroses and whales, but experts have warned they are now too under threat of extinction. NMS said the exhibition also serves as a poignant reminder of nature's fragility and the urgent need to protect these animals for future generations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The models featured in the exhibition were created by company Fisheye, which used polygonal shapes to create a 3D effect. The inner steel structure is finished with a recycled felt plane onto which prints and audio-visual screens were integrated. The tour will also include Birmingham Museum, where it will open in August. Zak Mensah and Sara Wajid, co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, said: 'This inspiring installation not only captures the imagination with its monumental scale, but also delivers a vital message about sustainability and our shared responsibility to protect the planet.'
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Shocking! A 240 million-year-old dragon's fossil discovered in China-- All about it
Image credit: Instagram/serpenillus In a stunning revelation, researchers have discovered a 240-million-year-old fossil of a Dinocephalosaurus orientalis . The ancient fossil was discovered in Guizhou province, Southern China. This astonishing discovery bridges the realm of science and mythology. This 16-foot-long creature's elongated, serpentine neck and limbs evoke the image of a legendary Chinese dragon, offering a rare glimpse into prehistoric marine life. Dinocephalosaurus orientalis (Terrible-headed reptile) has always intrigued scientists due to its differentiated anatomy. The latest specimen that was excavated revealed an extraordinarily long neck comprising 32 vertebrae, which is shocking because it is more than any known marine reptile. Researchers during their hypothesis concluded that its flexible neck allowed it to stealthily capture prey in crevices and narrow water spaces. With the collaborative efforts of scientists from China, Germany, Scotland, and the United States, this unique discovery has come to light, and it is the result of over a decade of international collaboration. Image credit: Instagram/planetdinosaurs by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The boy meets a dog on the street - no one expected what happened next. Women's Method Learn More Undo The fossil was being studied meticulously at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, Part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. Nick Fraser, of the National Museum of Scotland, described this rare find as 'one of the most remarkable' from the Triassic deposits of the Guizhou Province. This finding will enable scientists to learn about the evolution of the marine reptiles, which spans decades. This fossil find not only adds to the scientific world but also strikes a cultural chord with the Chinese people. Its dragon-like shape is consistent with Chinese mythology, where the dragon is highly significant as a symbol of power and wisdom. The intersection of Earth's early history and the cultures of storytelling humans is highlighted by the intersection of paleontology and culture. The Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Earth and Environmental Science has published the comprehensive findings of the research, which offer valuable new information about the diversity and adaptability of marine reptiles in the Triassic. As researchers continue to examine it, they expect this Triassic "dragon" to uncover even deeper secrets of life during the Triassic—a time of radical change and evolutionary experimentation following Earth's most severe mass extinction. The fossil is not just a likeness of an ancient animal but also a time capsule that might rewrite our understanding of early marine ecosystems. It is more than just a fossil; It tells a tale that spans over centuries and civilisations.
