• Klear@quokk.au
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    28
    ·
    edit-2
    1 day ago

    They found preserved melanosomes. It was previously thought these were the remains of bacteria.

    You can find details here, but I highly recommend reading Dinosaurs: New Visions of a Lost World by Michael J. Benton, who was one of the ones doing the research. The book is very fun to read (he’s got that typical dry british humour), does a great job of describing the history and current status of paleontology (which is apparently exploding in new discoveries right now) and it has absolutely lovely illustrations, including the one I linked above. And also this anurognathus that is the cutest thing ever:

    • khannie@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 day ago

      That’s cool. We’re going to look back at present views of dinosaurs with laughter it sounds like. Thanks for the answer. I’ll check out the book.

      • FatVegan@leminal.space
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        12
        ·
        1 day ago

        I just ordered it. I had a girlfriend a few years ago and she was cleaning out some stuff. She found her old dinosaur stuff and asked me if i wanted it for my nephew. I asked her how outdated the things were. She looked at me pretty shocked and said: they are millions of years old, nothing has changed. I found that pretty funny