恐龙化石的秘密

  • RobertBakker PeterL.Larson MarkThompson DavidTrexler
  • 52分钟
  • SecretsoftheDinosaurMummyconcerns“Leonardo,”aremar… SecretsoftheDinosaurMummyconcerns“Leonardo,”aremarkablywell-preservedjuvenileBrachylophosaurusthatlived77millionyearsago,duringthelateCretaceousperiod.DiscoveredinMontanain2000,Leonardoisprettymuchintact,althoughtheprocessofpetrificationhasamplifiedhispresumedweightof2,000poundsintoafullsixtons.  SecretshastheusualCGIinterludesofroamingherdsofBrachylophosauruses,butitsmainfocusisonthetechniquesusedtoexploreLeonardo’sviscera.Sincetherewasnoquestionofcrackingthefossilopentorevealitsinsides,theresearchteam–ledbyroguepaleontologistRobertBakker–hadtorelyonincreasinglypowerfulimagingtechniques.  It’samusingtoseetheheavyarmamentthat’swheeledin:first,high-intensityX-rays,thenevenmorepowerfulgammarays,thenablastofcobaltradiationatNASA’sJohnsonSpaceCenter.Sowhatdothesescansaccomplish?Well,it’snotgivinganythingawaytorevealthat,yes,scientistshavebeenabletoobserveanatomicaldetailsinLeonardo’smummythathavenotyetbeenseeninanyotherdinosaurfossils.ItseemsthatLeonardohadabird-likecropinitsneck,amoreextensivebeakthanpreviouslyrealized,andanintricatearrayofdifferent-sizedscalesonitshead,back,underbellyandlegs.  TheresearchteamwasalsoabletodeterminehowLeonardodied,andwhatheateinthelastfewdaysbeforehemethisdemise.Infact,thislastnuggetofinformationmaybethemostimportantofall,sincethepollenandleavesfoundinLeonardo’sgutprovidevaluableinformationabouttheecosystemofthewesternUnitedStatesinthelateCretaceous.

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