New dinosaur discovery solves evolutionary bird puzzle

A newly discovered fossil has shed light on why a group of dinosaurs looks like birds, say scientists.

Link, Via: Neatorama

Giant-clawed dinosaur unearthed in Utah

A multi-institutional team of scientists this week reports the discovery of a giant new dinosaur in Utah, Nothronychus graffami, which stood 13 feet tall and had nine-inch-long hand claws that looked like scythes.

Its skeleton, described in the current issue of Proceedings of the Royal Society B, represents the most complete remains ever excavated of a therizinosaur, meaning "reaper lizard." It is one of only three such dinosaurs ever found in North America. LINK

Green Sahara Photos by Mike Hettwer

Photo: Mike Hettwer

Alan Taylor of the Big Picture Blog over at Boston Globe has a(nother) neat post - this time of fantastic photos of Mike Hettwer of a dinosaur fossil excavation in the Sahara Desert:

About 9,000 years ago, a very wet climate prevailed in parts of the Sahara Desert called the Neolithic Subpluvial period. Lasting several thousand years, this Green Sahara was home to many grassland and woodland animals as well as humans. While on an expedition for dinosaur fossils with paleontologist Paul Sereno in Niger in 2000, Hettwer discovered a burial area containing hundreds of skeletons from two distinct cultures, each thousands of years old - the Kiffian and Tenerian. Also found in the dry and desolate site were hunting tools, pottery, and bones of large land animals and fish.

Link | Many more excellent photos at Mike’s website: Link, Via: Neatorama

Itty Bitty Dinosaur Puzzle

Kelly Ferrell uses a laser to cut these adorable mammoths, there are also t-rexes, butterflies and more. They seem quite hard to put together once you get them, but the result is quite worth it and is certain to attract attention from anyone who sees them.

Link: Via; Boing Boing, Via: Neatorama