Uncovering the secrets of the Jurassic Mile
In short: While the Morrison Formation has yielded giants like Stegosaurus since the 1890s, a massive new international project is turning its focus to the unexplored northern reaches to solve ancient biological mysteries.
The $27.5 million 'Mission Jurassic' project brings together over 100 paleontologists to excavate a square mile of the Morrison Formation. Led by the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, alongside partners from London and Leiden, the team is targeting the 'Jurassic Mile' near Yellowstone National Park. While previous expeditions focused on large animals, modern researchers are searching for overlooked species and ancient flora, such as cycads and ferns.
By studying these plant fossils, scientists hope to understand a fundamental biological riddle: how massive herbivores like the 80-foot-long Brachiosaur managed to grow to such enormous sizes while consuming a nutrient-poor diet.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Paleontologists dig for Jurassic dinosaur fossils
- Also: International Expedition Will Excavate the Dino-Rich 'Jurassic Mile'
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-paleontologists-dig-for-jurassic-dinosaur-fossils.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
