5 Fascinating Dinosaur Discoveries

One of the more interesting discoveries is that many dinosaurs had feathers! This finding changed how we think dinosaurs looked and behaved. Fossils from dinosaurs like the Velociraptor and Archaeopteryx show they had feathers, which might have been used for warmth or attracting mates. 

Scientists have found fossilized nests and eggs, giving us clues about how dinosaurs raised their babies. Some dinosaurs took care of their young, showing they had complex social behaviors and were attentive parents. The Maiasaura was a large herbivorous dinosaur that specifically showed parental behavior – its name even means “good mother lizard.” 

Did you know birds are direct descendants of dinosaurs? Many fossils show that theropod dinosaurs, like T. rex, are closely related to modern birds. Next time you look at a chicken, see what comparisons you can make to other dinosaurs. Discoveries like Archaeopteryx, a dinosaur with feathers, help us understand this connection. 

Thanks to new technology, scientists can now figure out the colors of some dinosaur feathers. By studying tiny structures in fossils, they’ve found that dinosaurs like Sinosauropteryx had colorful feathers, making the ancient world a bit more vibrant! 

The Chicxulub asteroid is believed to have caused the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The impact left a massive crater in the Yucatán Peninsula and drastically changed the Earth’s climate, causing an “impact winter” that lasted for 15 years, leading to the end of the dinosaur era. 

These discoveries are just the beginning. At Thanksgiving Point’s Uncharted Worlds summer event, you can explore life-sized dinosaur models and interactive displays to learn even more about these amazing creatures. It’s a great way to imagine what dinosaurs and other creatures would’ve looked like right here in Utah when they were alive. 

The Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point also has one of the largest collections of dinosaur skeletons in the world. Here, you can see the latest paleontology findings and enjoy hands-on exhibits that make learning fun.