paleontology

Feb 21, 2019

New Species of Tiny Tyrannosaur Foreshadows Rise of T. Rex

A team led by an NC State paleontologist discovered a new tiny tyrannosaur that paved the way for T. rex to rule. 

Jan 28, 2019

Molecular Analysis of Anchiornis Feather Gives Clues to Origin of Flight

Molecular analysis of a fossil feather could help scientists understand when dinosaur feathers developed capacity for flight. 

Jan 22, 2019

Ancient Carpet Shark Discovered With ‘Spaceship-Shaped’ Teeth

A newly discovered small, prehistoric shark with spaceship-shaped teeth takes its name from the video game Galaga. 

Dec 5, 2018

Soft Tissue Shows Jurassic Ichthyosaur Was Warm-Blooded, Had Blubber and Camouflage

Research published in Nature describes what soft-tissue analysis reveals about an ancient, dolphin-like marine reptile. 

Mar 29, 2018

Paleontologists Make an Egg-cellent Discovery

High on a rocky cliff in central Utah, paleontologists Lindsay Zanno and Bucky Gates found something rare — a large clutch of fossilized dinosaur eggs. 

Jan 17, 2018

Why Don’t Turtles Still Have Tail Spikes? Researchers Explain Why Tail Weaponry Is Rare

A new study explains how the evolution of tail weaponry in dinosaurs required a perfect storm of traits not seen in living animals today. 

Oct 17, 2017

Keratin, Pigment, Proteins From 54 Million-Year-Old Sea Turtle Show Survival Trait Evolution

Fossil tissues show that a pigment-based survival trait common to modern sea turtles evolved at least 54 million years ago. 

Oct 10, 2017

Mass Extinctions Led to Low Species Diversity, Dinosaur Rule

An NC State biology researcher found patterns after two of the Earth's mass extinction events. 

Sep 13, 2017

Dino Pioneer

Mary Schweitzer, a pioneer in the field of molecular paleontology, learns about dinosaurs by studying original molecules preserved inside fossils for millions of years. 

Sep 13, 2017

Quiz: Do You Know Your Dinos?

Is your dinosaur IQ extinct or dino-mite? Test yourself with our NC State-themed quiz.