Dinosaur Discovery
A Brief History of T. Rex
How do we know what we know about T. Rex? Here's a timeline of the pertinent fossil discoveries.
The Most Important Dinosaur Bones
Most dinosaurs are "diagnosed" by paleontologists based not on complete skeletons, or even near-complete skeletons, but scattered, disconnected bones like skulls, vertebrae and femurs. Here's a list of the most important dinosaur bones, and what they have to tell us about the creatures that left them.
The 10 Top Dinosaur Discoveries of 2010
The year 2010 witnessed more than its share of amazing dinosaur and prehistoric life discoveries, ranging from humped, feathered theropods to...
New Dinosaur Discoveries
New dinosaurs are being discovered and named by paleontologists virtually week. Here are the latest developments pertaining to new dinosaurs.
The 10 Most Influential Paleontologists and Dinosaur Hunters
If it weren't for the efforts of thousands of paleontologists, evolutionary biologists and geologists, we wouldn't know nearly as much about dinosaurs as we do today. Here's a list of 10 dinosaur hunters who have contributed more to our knowledge of these ancient reptiles than anyone else in the field.
Official State Fossils
Most states in the U.S. have designated an official state fossil--including dinosaurs, prehistoric mammals, and even the occasional coral or squid. Here's a list of official fossils by state, with links to more information.
10 Fossil Discoveries that Changed Dinosaur History
Not every fossil dug up on a distant lakebed or arid mountain plain has had an equally profound effect on the course of dinosaur science. Here are 10 notable discoveries that changed, sharpened, or completely altered the views of working scientists (and the general public) about these long-extinct reptiles.
The 10 Strangest Dinosaur Names
After long, weary months collecting bones out in the field, cleaning them in the lab with tiny toothpicks, and laboriously piecing them together for display or further study, paleontologists can be forgiven for occasionally bestowing strange names on the objects of their research. Here are the 10 dinosaurs with the weirdest, funniest, and (in...
Walking (Literally) with Dinosaurs: Dinosaur Footprints and Trackmarks
A dinosaur could only fossilize once--but it could leave behind millions of footprints in its lifetime. Here's how fossil footprints are investigated by paleontologists, and what they can tell us about how dinosaurs lived (and died).
Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries
A recent exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History featured new fossil discoveries, many of them from China. Here are some pictures from that popular show.
The 10 Biggest Dinosaur Blunders
When you make a living studying 100-million-year-old dinosaurs, you're bound to get a few facts muddled now and then. Here's a list of the 10 most notable mistakes (and misunderstandings, and out-and-out frauds) in the history of paleontology, ranging from the early days of the discipline in the early 19th century to our supposedly more...
How Dinosaurs Are Named
Why do some dinosaurs have such goofy names, while others are christened after people or places? Here's a brief explanation.
The Bone Wars
In the late 19th century, Othniel C. Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope dug up thousands of dinosaur bones in the American west. They also hurled countless insults, accusations and libels at each other, a lifelong rivalry that has been immortalized as the "Bone Wars." Here's how this famous feud started, how it ended, and how it continues to impact American paleontology to the present day.
Make the Most of Your Fossil Discovery
Every now and then, ordinary people unearth dinosaur fossils in the most unlikely places--a rock outcropping, a river bed, even their own backyards. Here's what to do if you stumble across some very old bones.
American Museum of Natural History - The World's Largest Dinosaurs
What goes on behind the scenes weeks and months before a major dinosaur exhibit? Here's a peek at the planning stages of the American Museum of Natural History's new installation, The World's Largest Dinosaurs.
The 10 Best Dinosaur Names
Some dinosaurs have better names than others--mostly because some paleontologists have more imagination than others. Here's a list of the 10 most impressive dinosaur names, ranging from Achillobator to Vulcanodon.
Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals by State
A map of the most notable dinosaurs and prehistoric animals discovered in each of the 50 United States.
The 10 Worst Dinosaur Names
Not all dinosaurs have lucked out in the name department: some are blessed with cool, sleek, sports-car worthy names, while others are saddled with names that are virtually unpronounceable. Here are the 10 worst dinosaur names, ranging from Becklespinax to Uberabatitan.
Have I Found a Dinosaur Egg?
Virtually every day, someone in the world discovers what appears to be a clutch of fossilized dinosaur eggs. Unfortunately, though, the odds that these artifacts were really laid by dinosaurs are extremely slim.
Dinosaur Names
The dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era didn't walk around wearing name tags--but that hasn't prevented paleontologists from bestowing some very distinctive names on these prehistoric beasts. Here's everything you need to know about the best, worst, and strangest dinosaur names, as well as a primer on the Greek roots used in dinosaur names.
How Was Triceratops Discovered?
Thanks to its huge, easily preserved skull and close kinship to other horned, frilled dinosaurs, Triceratops has an unusually tangled fossil history. Here's the story of the discovery, and naming, of Triceratops.
How Was Apatosaurus Discovered?
Apatosaurus used be known as Brontosaurus--which is evidence in itself that this dinosaur has had a complicated fossil history, as detailed in this article.
How Was Archaeopteryx Discovered?
In the early 1860's, the discovery of a series of small, birdlike, feathered fossils in a German quarry created an international sensation. Here's the story of the discovery, and naming, of Archaeopteryx.
How Was Allosaurus Discovered?
In a way, Allosaurus was discovered not once, but three or four times--thanks to some overeager 19th-century paleontologists who didn't finish their homework. Here's a look at the discovery, and naming, of this famous dinosaur.
How Was Brachiosaurus Discovered?
For such an enormous dinosaur, Brachiosaurus has been reconstructed from surprisingly scanty fossil evidence. Here's a look at the discovery, and naming, of Brachiosaurus.
How Was Stegosaurus Discovered?
Like many dinosaurs of the American west, Stegosaurus was discovered, and named, multiple times during the late 19th century. Here's a brief fossil history of the world's most famous spiked, plated dinosaur.
How Was Velociraptor Discovered?
One of the most famous dinosaurs ever to be discovered outside the U.S., Velociraptor lived in what is now present-day Mongolia during the late Cretaceous period. Here's the story of the discovery, and naming, of Velociraptor.
How Was Spinosaurus Discovered?
Spinosaurus is the most famous dinosaur for which the "type fossil" no longer exists, having been destroyed during World War II. Here's the story of the discovery, and naming, of this formidable predator.
How Was Dilophosaurus Discovered?
Thanks to its cameo in the first Jurassic Park movie, Dilophosaurus is an immensely popular dinosaur. Here's the story of the discovery, and naming, of this Jurassic meat-eater.
How Was Troodon Discovered?
For a dinosaur that was diagnosed on the basis of a single tooth, Troodon has an unusually complicated fossil history. Here's everything you need to know about the discovery, and naming, of Troodon.