Christopher McKitterick

Just when you thought it was safe to travel back to Jurassic Park, scientists (from the University of Kansas, no less!) discover Sinornithosaurus, a poisonous Velociraptor:


Click the image to see the Pitch story.

Because Velociraptor wasn't scary enough.


Click the image to see the Science Daily story.

I'm sure this will greatly comfort Randall Munroe.


Click the image to see the XKCD comic.

Just when you thought you were safe from zombies.
Chris

Paleontologists have identified a 125-million-year-old T. Rex relative. A dude digging in northern China discovered it and turned it over to science when he realized it was something important. It's only nine feet long but is built just like its descendant:

Click the image to see the NPR story.

This throws scientists for a loop, because the prevailing theory is that the big T. Rex's huge head, short arms, long legs, and other features evolved over time as it grew bigger. But this little guy has those features, too. Huh!

"Raptor Rex" (as it's being called) is truly tiny - about the weight of a human, only longer because of the tail. The T. Rex we all know and love was 100 times as massive.

Welcome, Raptor Rex!

Chris

Three seconds before I had to spear that damned Allosaurus. Click to see my Nebula Awards 2007 photo gallery with more dinos.

Speaking of the past coming to life, this weekend is....

1) The opening of the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, possibly the best one you'll ever experience. This is opening weekend, when they have 2-for-1 admission with 5 containers of non-perishable food (bring five items and it's buy one, get one free at the gate)! Not sure if I'm going this weekend, what with just having recovered from Teh Pig Death and planning to attend 2), but going soon and often. Runs seven weeks:

Click the image to see their site.

2) Greaserama, the KC-area Hot Rods and Punk Rods show, with live music and classic movies. I'll be lobbying so that I can show my '66 hot-rod Newport next year (it's a year too new *sigh*). I'm going Saturday with charmed_art and razorart!


Click the image to see the show's site.

What're you up to this weekend?

Chris

Tyler Lyson - a teen at the time - found this "mummified" fossil of a hadrosaur in 1999 on his family's ranch in North Dakota. It's called "mummified" because the fossil contains parts like skin, organs, ligaments, and other soft tissues not normally preserved in the fossilization process.

"The fossilized duckbilled hadrosaur is so well preserved that scientists have been able to calculate its muscle mass and learn that it was more muscular than thought, probably giving it the ability to outrun predators such as T. rex."

Click the image to see the story.

Scientists are studying "Dakota," as it is now called, using the world's largest CT scanner, usually reserved for analyzing space shuttle engines and other large objects. Check out the skin detail:

Click the image to see the story.

Chris