All about dinosaurs, fossils and prehistoric animals by Everything Dinosaur team members.
1 12, 2009

Life on Mars? New study into Martian Meteorite “Fossil”

By |2023-03-04T14:26:25+00:00December 1st, 2009|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|1 Comment

Life on Mars – Research adds weight to Theory of Organic Compounds in Antarctic Meteorite

The debate as to whether our neighbour Mars was once capable of supporting life, indeed whether life still exists on the red planet has been given a high profile once more after the results of new research into a Martian meteorite were published.

Martian meteorite

In a continuation of research started by NASA thirteen years ago, a new paper published in the scientific journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, the journal of the Geochemical and Meteoritic Society, details the results of high resolution electron microscope analysis that indicates the presence of fossilised ancient microbial life on a meteorite from Mars.  The original NASA team that studied evidence of fossils on the small meteorite, feel vindicated by this new research.  Their claims of evidence of life on Mars was acclaimed when it was first announced, even President Clinton was compelled to make a speech about it.  However, doubts were raised over the validity of the team’s claims.

With the use of high resolution electron microscopy, a technique not available to the original team when they carried out their initial studies, their conclusions have become more valid as this new paper suggests the strange, microscopic structures found on the meteorite were not caused as a result of inorganic processes.

A Remarkable Story

How a piece of Mars came to land on Earth is a remarkable story.  A piece of rock that was part of the original 4 billion year old crust on Mars, was blasted into space when a large ex-terrestrial body impacted with the planet at an oblique angle.  This collision forced material (called ejecta), to be blasted off the surface and into space.  This rock began its journey to Earth and landed in Antarctica some 13,000 years ago, it having formed part of a meteor shower.

In 1984, a US Government scientist picked it up as part of an Antarctic survey looking for meteorites.  The rock was named 84001, as it was the first specimen to be picked up on the expedition.  The Allen Hills Meteorite as it is known, is believed to have carried strong evidence of life on Mars, evidence that is increasingly standing up to scientific scrutiny as new techniques and methods are used to examine the specimen.

High Resolution Microscopy

The high resolution microscopy techniques has enabled scientists to gain more detailed data on carbonate discs and associated, minute magnetic crystals which are present inside this small piece of Martian rock.  The information obtained using this new method supports the idea that these structures are organic in origin and not caused as a result of the thermal shock attributed to the specimen as it was ejected from Mars and entered the Earth’s atmosphere.

Commentators have already indicated that this rock could be the “smoking gun” providing evidence that Mars did once support primitive microscopic life, either on the surface or in subsurface tepid pools of water.

These new findings are expected to be reported upon by NASA in a public statement, this evidence may be involved in helping to shape NASA’s plans for future missions as the answer to the question is there life on other planets? is asked.

The authors of this new study, Kathie Thomas-Keprta, Simon Clement, David McKay (who led the original team in the 1990s), Everett Gibson and Susan Wentworth, all of the Johnson Space Centre are confident that their new data will help colour the debate regarding life on Mars.

The new research involves a close examination of the so-called magnetic bacteria, that on Earth, and perhaps also on Mars, leave distinct “fossil fingerprints” in the rock.  The new data supports the theory that these strange traces were made as a result of organic activity and not by inorganic geological processes.

Strange Objects in the Allen Hills Meteorite

The scanning electron microscope has found strange objects in the Allen Hills meteorite.  Could these by micro-fossils of bacteria?  Evidence from America indicates that these structures, as they contain magnetite crystals could be organic in origin.

Dr Dennis Bazylinski, one of the peer reviewers of the new research is confident that this new data will persuade the scientific establishment of the likelihood of there having been bacteria formed on Mars.  He has reproduced similar structures in laboratory tests at the University of Nevada (Las Vegas).

Discussing the new published research, Dr Bazylinski stated:

“I think the paper is really excellent.  I have no trouble with the paper.”

He went on to add:

“I work on magnetic bacteria, and one indication there was life on ancient Mars are these particular magnetite crystals in the meteorite that look like they came out of magnetic bacteria.  At first [when the data was reported in 1996], I thought there might have been an error.  I have no doubt about that now.  I know there is no error.”

The debate may move on to centre around the reliability of megeto fossils as biomarkers (evidence of organic life forms).

From what we see on our own planet, life is remarkable, able to survive and thrive in the most hostile of places.  Scientists have speculated for generations about life on other planets, Mars could well prove to be the site of the first proof that Earth is not alone in having sustained life in some form or other.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website, it is easy to visit than the planet Mars.

Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

30 11, 2009

Sir Roderick Murchison – A Scottish Pioneer in Geology

By |2022-12-31T20:58:27+00:00November 30th, 2009|Famous Figures, Main Page|0 Comments

Sir Roderick Murchison – A Scottish Pioneer in Geology

On this day, November the 30th, St., Andrews day, the patron saint of Scotland, it is worth remembering the great contribution to science made by Scots.  One person in particular springs to mind – Sir Roderick Murchison (1792 – 1871).

Sir Roderick Murchison

Born into a wealthy Scottish family, at Tarradale House, on the shores of the river Beauly in the region of the Scottish Highlands called Easter Ross, the young Roderick Murchison was destined for a career in the British military.  He attended military college and fought in the Napoleonic wars.  However, when he married he was introduced to the joys of fossil collecting by his wife and his high status in Scottish society led him to be influenced by the many distinguished scientists that he met.  He became an active member of the Geological Society of London, helped to form the British Association for the Advancement of Science and the Geographical Society, becoming this Society’s President.

He is perhaps best remembered for his work on the dating of geological strata.  Working with the Reverend Adam Sedgewick, a professor at the University of Cambridge, Murchison mapped the strata of Wales.  He was truly a pioneer of geology and his study of Palaeozoic rocks helped define our understanding of deep geological time.

He identified rock strata younger than the Cambrian, in his study of Wales and his analysis of fossil arthropods, brachiopods and mollusca enabled him to help develop an understanding of biostratigraphy.  He named the Silurian period in 1835 and together with Adam Sedgewick named the Devonian System of strata in 1839.  He also helped to establish the Permian System in 1841.

He was knighted in 1846 and is regarded today as one of the early pioneers of Earth Sciences.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website to find models and replicas of iconic animals from the fossil record: Models of Fossil Animals.

29 11, 2009

Lyuba Makes Her Terrestrial Television Debut

By |2022-12-31T20:55:31+00:00November 29th, 2009|Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page, TV Reviews|0 Comments

Secrets of a Baby Mammoth

The discovery of a perfectly preserved baby Woolly Mammoth by a nomadic reindeer herder in the north-western part of the huge Siberian tundra, sent shock waves rippling across the scientific world.  Baby Woolly Mammoths had been found before, but they had been weak and sickly animals, Lyuba (as that was the name given to the carcase), was different.  Here was a young Mammoth that had drowned and by all accounts was a strong calf.  Her body was to provide an insight into the fauna and flora of an Ice Age world some 40,000 years ago.

Baby Mammoth

To read an article on Lyuba: New Baby Mammoth Found.

The story of the research and the study of this amazing well preserved fossil has been made into a ninety minute documentary.  It has been shown on satellite television channels before, but it is being shown on terrestrial television for the first time this Friday.

To view a model of a baby Woolly Mammoth, other Ice Age figures and replicas, plus of course, dinosaur models: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

A Model of a Baby Mammoth

baby mammoth

A baby Mammoth on the move.

The picture (above) shows the juvenile Woolly Mammoth model from Papo.  To view the Papo range of prehistoric animal models and figures in stock at Everything Dinosaur: Papo Prehistoric Animal Figures.

This programme is being shown on Channel 4 at 9pm on Friday December 4th.  It should be fascinating.

28 11, 2009

More Dinosaurs Up for Auction

By |2023-03-04T14:27:26+00:00November 28th, 2009|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Dinosaurs and other Fossils Up for Sale

With all the difficulties in finding a buyer prepared to pay the agreed price for “Samson” the Tyrannosaurus rex mounted skeleton that went up for auction last month, you would think that auctioneers might lay off the dinosaur lots for a while.  Sadly this is not the case as another range of prehistoric artefacts go under the hammer in Paris at the beginning of next month.

To read what happened to the T. rex called “Samson”: “Samson” going to a Museum.

Dinosaurs Sold at Auction

The evolution themed auction being held on the 1st and 2nd of December features a whole host of prehistoric animals, from trilobites, and fossilised dragonflies, plus prehistoric mammals such as a mounted Sabre-toothed cat exhibit.  The star attraction is going to be an 8 metre-long mounted skeleton of the fierce predator Spinosaurus, complete with spines and huge teeth-lined jaws.

A Size Comparison between Spinosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

The human figure in the drawing is dwarfed by the two meat-eating dinosaurs.  The sail-backed Spinosaurus has been claimed by some scientists to be the largest predatory dinosaur known in the fossil record, with estimates of a length in excess of 16 metres.

To view a model of a Spinosaurus and other dinosaur models including Tyrannosaurus rex and Sabre-toothed cats (Smilodon), we suggest that readers take a look at the models section of our website: Dinosaur, Pterosaur, Smilodon and Other Prehistoric Animal Models.

To view the extensive range of dinosaur and prehistoric animal themed gifts and toys available from Everything Dinosaur’s award-winning website: Visit Everything Dinosaur.

Spinosaurid fossils, like most large theropod fossils are extremely rare.  The mounted Spinosaurus exhibit is actually a composite (most exhibits are like this), consisting of the remains of several individuals put together to create one display.  The missing bones are either replicas of bones from other specimens “gap fillers” as we call them, reconstructions to represent the fossilised bone that has never been found.  This particular exhibit, is made up from Moroccan finds.  It has been suggested that this specimen could fetch as much as $750,000 USD at the auction.

The sale is to take place at the Drouot-Montaigne auction house, Paris.  The organisers claim that there is something for every-body’s budget and every-body’s taste.  As well as the prehistoric animals, items from the Russian space programme are also up for sale, including bright green, cloth nappies made for Russian cosmonauts.

We hope that the fossils and other rare exhibits are purchased by public bodies or private collectors who are willing to let them go on public display and are happy to let scientists study them if required.

27 11, 2009

Quetzalcoatlus – From the Feathered Serpent God of the Aztecs

By |2022-12-31T20:48:16+00:00November 27th, 2009|Dinosaur Fans, Main Page|0 Comments

Quetzalcoatlus northropi

The biggest pterosaurs known are those of the family Azhdarchidae, the largest of them all (at least the one scientifically named and described), is Quetzalcoatlus northropi.  The first fossils of this huge flying reptile were found in Texas in 1971.  Unusually for a large pterosaur, the fossils were not found in marine strata, but in sediment laid down inland.  Named after the feathered serpent deity of the Aztecs, this huge creature is estimated to have had a wingspan in excess of 11 metres.  It is regarded by scientists as being the largest flying animal ever.

An Illustration of Quetzalcoatlus

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

Quetzalcoatlus was one of the last pterosaurs (flying reptiles), not a dinosaur but closely related to the Dinosauria sharing a common ancestor with them from the archosaurs.  Although huge, it has been estimated that these animals weighed less than 100 kilogrammes.  Pterosaurs like Quetzalcoatlus had evolved a number of weight saving devices to assist flight, such as a lack of teeth in the jaws and a skull so thin and light it has been described to us by scientists as resembling expanded polystyrene.  The bones had a lot of air spaces in them, and although strong, the bones were exceptionally light.  Few bones such as these survive the fossilisation process, so even after nearly 40 years after its first discovery few fossils of Quetzalcoatlus have been found.

To view a scale model of Quetzalcoatlus and other flying reptile models available from Everything Dinosaur: Dinosaur, Pterosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

The extinction of the pterosaurs at the end of the Mesozoic was not a sudden event.  The fossil record indicates that these amazing and magnificent animals were decreasing in their diversity in Late Cretaceous times.  Only a few types of pterosaur survived into the Maastrichtian faunal stage, it seems that these creatures were already declining before the mass extinction event the marked the end of the Cretaceous.

26 11, 2009

Muttering like a Muttaburrasaurus

By |2022-12-31T20:46:32+00:00November 26th, 2009|Main Page, Press Releases|0 Comments

Strange Phrases in the Office

Muttering like a Muttaburrasaurus – colloquialisms at work.

I suppose it had to happen sooner or later, after all we are just like any other group of people working together in an office/warehouse environment, we have developed our own special terms, a sort of modified language.

Over the years as we have worked on all sorts of prehistoric animal projects, a kind of vernacular or short-hand develops to describe certain prehistoric animals.  Models and merchandise related to Diplodocus are known as “Dips” amongst us.  In a similar fashion Triceratops has been shortened to “Trys”.

With some dinosaur genus names exceeding twenty letters or more I suppose abbreviations were inevitable, however, we have noticed that certain expressions have now crept in, ones that are probably unique to Everything Dinosaur and our kind of business.

Muttaburrasaurus

For example, when somebody does something well, we say that they have got “the big Iguanodon thumbs up”, a reference to the massive defensive spike on the first digit of this type of dinosaur.  Indeed, it is the iguanodontids that seem to have inspired a number of terms and expressions.  “Muttering like a Muttaburrasaurus” is quite popular in the office at the moment, especially as we have so much to do at the moment, what with packing Christmas orders and other projects that are rolling out into 2010.  Muttaburrasaurus may have been a very vocal dinosaur, the bony bump on the snout may have been an adaptation to allow these large herbivores to vocalise loudly, however, scientists cannot be certain.  This dinosaur was not named in recognition of a perception that it was noisy, the genus is named after Muttaburra Station the site of the first fossils found.  The species name Muttaburrasaurus langdoni honours rancher Doug Langdon who found the first specimen back in 1963.

Muttaburrasaurus Scale Drawing

Muttering like a Muttaburrasaurus.

Muttaburrasaurus scale drawing. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

To view models of Muttaburrasaurus and other ornithischian dinosaurs: CollectA Prehistoric Life Models.

25 11, 2009

Girl Finds Dinosaur Bone Dating from the Cretaceous

By |2022-12-31T20:40:28+00:00November 25th, 2009|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|3 Comments

Girl Finds Dinosaur Bone

When team members at Everything Dinosaur go into a school to do some dinosaur themed teaching or some other event such as a school talk, we demonstrate how young people are better at finding fossils than us “oldies”.

Children have two major advantages over adults when it comes to hunting for fossils.  Firstly, their eyesight is normally much more acute.  They can distinguish between different items on the ground and this can help them find unusual objects such as fossils.  Secondly, your average seven year-old tends to be shorter than a grown up.  This means that they are nearer the ground, and since fossils are found on the ground they are a lot nearer the action.  It is worth remembering that more fossils are found by children than are dug up by palaeontologists – and one nine year-old girl from Virginia (USA) has just found her first dinosaur bone, as if to prove our point.

For Gabrielle Block a trip to Laurel Dinosaur Park in Maryland proved to be a day to remember when she found a small piece of dinosaur bone, believed to have been from a small, meat-eating dinosaur (theropod).  This site had only recently been opened to the public to allow visitors to dig for fossils, visitors are allowed to go on their very own fossil hunting expeditions on the first and third Saturdays of every month.   This new visitor attraction has certainly been put on the map thanks to Gabrielle’s discovery.  The piece of 100 million-year-old dinosaur bone has been tentatively described as a tail bone (caudal vertebrae), this find has been sent to the experts at the Smithsonian Institute for further analysis.

Dinosaur Bone

The fragment of bone measures less than 3 cm long, and although it is too small to permit scientists to identify the dinosaur species, more fossilised bones and teeth may be found which might give scientists more help in working out the type of dinosaur this was.

The fossil was found amongst debris in a scree slope.  When asked to reveal how she actually found the bone, on what was her first trip to the Maryland site, Gabrielle stated:

“I looked on top [of the dirt], got a handful and sorted through it”.

When mum Karin was shown the little fossil, she immediately thought her daughter had picked up something very unusual.  For fourth grader, Gabrielle, she seems to have taken all the publicity generated in her stride, although she did admit to being “very excited” when she was told that she had found something so special.

It is younger sister Rachael (7 years) who is the budding palaeontologist of the Block family, when asked about her sister’s find she said she wished she had found the fossil herself but she was very happy for her big sister.  Perhaps Rachael will get the chance to find her own dinosaur bone in the near future, as the family intend to return to the Dinosaur park before Christmas.

For experienced, amateur palaeontologist David Hacker, such a find is an amazing discovery and just the sort of good PR the park needs.

He stated:

“It’s a big deal in that this little girl, who has never hunted for fossils before, found something.  I didn’t find my first vertebra out there for several years.  How important it is to science is yet to be determined.”

A Dinosaur Bone

Dinosaur fossil bone close-up (how do fossils form?)

A dinosaur fossil bone.  Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

If more elements of the fossil can be discovered, then the experts at the Smithsonian might be able to identify it as a new dinosaur species.  How about naming the new dinosaur “Gabriellosaurus” in honour of this observant young girl from Virginia.

For models of American dinosaurs but sadly, no “Gabriellosaurus” at present: Dinosaur Models and Toys.

24 11, 2009

Christmas – Last Safe Posting Dates – Update

By |2022-12-31T18:28:35+00:00November 24th, 2009|Everything Dinosaur News and Updates, Main Page|0 Comments

Christmas – Last Safe Posting Dates 2009

With Christmas fast approaching it is worth remembering the last safe posting dates for the sending of mail from the UK overseas.  The last safe posting dates for postal items going by Airmail service for South and Central America, the Caribbean, Middle East, Far East plus New Zealand and Australia is looming.  The last recommended posting date for parcels going to those parts of the world listed above is Friday 4th December.

Safe Posting Dates

A Table Summarising UK Key Postal Dates for Christmas 2009

Table credit: Everything Dinosaur

To read the article listing all the information on posting dates for Christmas 2009: Christmas 2009 – Posting Dates Information.

With so much hectic activity coming up in the next few weeks as everyone builds up to the big day, it is worth noting these important dates.  We at Everything Dinosaur, do everything we can to ensure a swift despatch, but with a busy Christmas post, the earlier items are mailed out the greater the chance of the parcel making it to the recipient in time.

Visit Everything Dinosaur’s website: Everything Dinosaur.

23 11, 2009

Safari Product News – 2010 Releases

By |2023-03-04T14:28:42+00:00November 23rd, 2009|Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Dinosaur Fans, Everything Dinosaur Products, Main Page|0 Comments

New Prehistoric Animal Models from Safari Ltd

Although all the team members at Everything Dinosaur are busy sorting out Christmas orders, we are still preparing for new products and working on new exciting projects ready for next year.  There are going to be some exciting additions to our product ranges and we are hoping to introduce the latest models from our dear friends at Safari Ltd in the Spring.

Safari Wild Dinos

The Safari Wild Dinos series is being extended to include some wonderful models, a revised Brachiosaurus and Apatosaurus for example.  The stegosaurs are represented by a lovely model of Kentrosaurus, a distinct improvement on a much smaller version of this armoured dinosaur produced under the direction of scientists at the Natural History Museum.  The focus seems to be on marine prehistoric creatures with an updated mosasaur (Mosasaurus) plus the long awaited Liopleurodon from the American designers.  Our favourite is the Coelacanth model which looks fantastic and it would be great to get this model into our range.

A Taste of Things to Come – New Models from Safari

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur/Safari

Finally, for now, one other new model has come to our attention, there is going to be a new pterosaur introduced, a long-tailed pterosaur Rhamphorhynchus model, a personal favourite of ours since two model rhamphorhynchoids were included in the Jungle Swamp kit from Aurora.

A Drawing of the Wild Safari Dinos Rhamphorhynchus Model

Rhamphorhynchus illustration

Flying low over the water – vulnerable to attack from below. An illustration of the Wild Safari Dinos Rhamphorhynchus model. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view our existing range of Safari Ltd prehistoric animal replicas and figures: Safari Ltd. Wild Safari Prehistoric World Models.

22 11, 2009

Bikini Clad Girls Photographed on top of a Crocodile Trap

By |2022-12-31T18:21:05+00:00November 22nd, 2009|Animal News Stories, Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal News Stories, Main Page|0 Comments

Girls in Bikinis Dance on Top of Crocodile Trap

Austrialian authorities express concerns after two girls were photographed dancing on top of a crocodile trap.

It was not Darwin who coined the phrase “Survival of the Fittest” but a contemporary of his Herbert Spencer, a philosopher born in the English city of Derby in 1820.  We wonder what Darwin and Spencer would make of the antics of two bikini clad girls as they dance away using the top of a crocodile trap as their stage.

Drinking Champagne

The girls were photographed drinking champagne and using the bottles as microphones as they danced on top of a crocodile trap that had been set close to the coastal town of Manigrida in Australia’s Northern Territory.  As the rain poured down, the girls seemingly unaware of any danger or simply oblivious to it, danced on top of the croc trap, that had been placed there to catch a deadly Saltwater crocodile, the largest reptile on Earth.

The image was taken last weekend, and has been published just a day after a picture of two male tourists tempting fate by doing a similar thing at the Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu National Park.

The image, taken at the weekend, surfaced a day after the paper published a picture of two male tourists tempting fate by doing a similar thing at Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu National Park, also in the Northern Territory.

Crocodile Trap

The Saltwater or Estuarine crocodile is known to be a man-eater, or in this case a bikini clad girl-eater.  Growing to lengths in excess of 8 metres long in the remote Australian outback.  Large males can weigh over a tonne and they are the apex predators in the area.

Recently, there have been calls from local residents to curb the crocodile population by having a cull, after a number of people and domestic animals were attacked by these fearsome, prehistoric reptiles.

To read an article on the problems with the growing Saltwater crocodile population in Australia: Invasion of the Crocodiles.

Commenting on the actions of these men, park ranger and crocodile expert Garry Lindner said this sort of behaviour was “absurd”.

He went on to add:

“Crocs are attracted to the bait in the traps, so it is extremely dangerous to fool around like this.”

These Aussie “Sheilas” are perhaps trying to prove Herbert Spencer’s phrase “Survival of the Fittest” as you would certainly have to question their common sense in choosing a crocodile trap as a dance floor.  Let’s hope the only “snaps” they encounter are the photos taken by the photographer.

Even the Saltwater crocodile would be dwarfed by the giant crocs of the Mesozoic, for example Sarcosuchus (the name means “flesh crocodile”) was over 12 metres long and palaeontologists estimate it would have weighed as much as two Indian elephants.

Sarcosuchus Scale Drawing

Sarcosaurus scale drawing

Everything Dinosaur’s scale drawing of Sarcosuchus.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view a model of Sarcosuchus and other prehistoric crocodiles, we suggest you take a look at the models section of the Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models.

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