Rita Douglas

Most of us know that humans and dinosaurs did not coexist. So when did people first know about dinosaurs? 2024 marks 200 years since the first dinosaur was described. That sounds kind of late given how long our species has been around. Why were dinosaurs discovered so late? Dinosaurs were first scientifically recognized in the early 19th century. William Buckland … Continue Reading

The fossilization process is a remarkable phenomenon. It allows us to study the forms of life that inhabited our planet millions, and even billions, of years ago. From the smallest microorganisms to the mightiest dinosaurs, fossils offer an unparalleled glimpse into the past, preserving the intricate details of ancient creatures and ecosystems. The oldest fossils are around 4 billion years … Continue Reading

Which came first, the dinosaur or the egg? The answer is, of course, the egg. The hard-shelled eggs we know today first evolved around 312 million years ago! Did dinosaurs lay eggs? Dinosaurs did not first appear until 230-240 million years ago. How do we know that dinosaurs laid eggs? How could something so big take care of something so … Continue Reading

In the movie Pacific Rim, massive monsters called kaiju are completely different from any animals on Earth. One scientist studying these monsters describes them by saying, “The kaiju are so large they need two brains to move around, like a dinosaur.” Say what? You may have heard this dinosaur ‘fact’ before in books or movies. Did dinosaurs have two brains? … Continue Reading

Amateur and professional paleontologists alike are bound to own a fossil or two in their lifetime. Some people stop there while others create huge collections.  Some fossils in private collections might be personally collected by the owner, but a lot of the time these fossils were bought and sold. Who decides who can sell fossils and how much they should … Continue Reading

When reading about paleontology or fossils, you are sure to stumble across the words ‘index fossil’ at some point. But what is an index fossil, and why do we have them?  Why are some fossils given this title but not others? There are a few factors that decide whether a fossil can be used as an index fossil or not. … Continue Reading

The geologic time scale, sometimes called the GTS, is a standard representation of time. It goes back to the earliest evidence of Earth’s creation and describes up to the modern day.  It is divided into smaller units of time called eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages. These stack inside each other to form the entire scale.  Why do we have … Continue Reading