Events & Courses

Earth scientists wrestle with the limits of what is knowable. For years, dinosaur experts have had to say, ruefully, ‘We’ll never know the colours of dinosaurs or the noises they made’. Then, in January 2010, we were able to announce the first objective evidence for colour in a dinosaur. Using ultrastructural studies of fossil feathers, we identified melanosomes for the first time in dinosaur feathers, and these demonstrated that Sinosauropteryx had ginger and white rings down its tail. Studies of other dinosaurs identified patterns of black, white, grey, brown, and ginger.


The story began in China, and collaborations and fieldwork are extending our knowledge of this previously speculative theme.

Time

The talk will start at 6.30pm

Speaker

Professor Michael J. Benton, University of Bristol