Dinosaurs Rediscovered
The Scientific Revolution in Paleontology
by Michael Benton
Published By: Thames & Hudson, 2019
Genre: Nonfiction | History & Culture
Page Count: 366 (Paperback)
Audiobook Length: 6 hours and 52 minutes
Audiobook Narrator: Matthew Waterson
ISBN: 9780500295533
Publisher’s Description
Startling new fossil finds are the lifeblood of modern palaeobiology. Giant sauropod dinosaur skeletons from Patagonia, dinosaurs with feathers from China, and even a tiny dinosaur tail in Burmese amber – complete down to every detail of its filament-like feathers, skin, bones, and mummified tail muscles – inspire awe in a global audience enthralled by the idea of these great creatures walking the earth. Dinosaurs are of perennial interest to all ages, as illustrated by the huge range of dino-themed films, books, and live attractions, from the enduring popularity of the Jurassic Park franchise to the success of London’s immersive ‘Dinosaurs in the Wild’ experience.
In the past twenty years, dinosaur study has changed from natural history to testable science. New technologies have revealed secrets locked in the bones in a way nobody predicted – we can now work out the color of dinosaurs, their bite forces, speeds, and parental care as well as how they came to die out. This groundbreaking book illustrates how science has replaced speculation and how our understanding of dinosaurs and their world has completely changed. The subject has never been so vigorous, has never changed so fast, and has never been so attractive to so many.
About the Author
Michael Benton is a paleontologist who has made major contributions to understanding how biodiversity changes over time. He has pioneered new methods for integrating data from living and fossil organisms to generate phylogenies, which has revolutionized our understanding of major questions in paleontology. He has also written extensively on dinosaurs and paleontology for both children and adults.