New Mexico Fossils Reveal Dinosaurs Were Thriving Before the Asteroid's Fury
A groundbreaking study on fossils from New Mexico has uncovered a long-held secret: non-avian dinosaurs were alive and kicking just before the asteroid that brought about their mass extinction event. The research, published in the journal Science, suggests that these creatures were not only still thriving but also diverse, with various species roaming the region.
The fossil site in question is the Naashoibito Member in New Mexico, which once housed a rich ecosystem teeming with dinosaurs such as Alamosaurus, tyrannosaurs, horned dinosaurs, and duck-billed dinosaurs. The study's lead author, Andrew Flynn, notes that at least before the mass extinction event, these dinosaurs "appear to be thriving." The researchers used two independent dating methods – radioactive decay in argon isotopes and magnetic fields – to determine the age of the rocks, placing them between 66.4 million and 66 million years ago.
This finding contradicts previous research that suggested a decline in dinosaur diversity during the Maastrichtian age, leading up to the asteroid strike. However, this study indicates that New Mexico's dinosaurs were unique and distinct from those found elsewhere, with western North America having pockets of dinosaur diversity. The researchers propose that these creatures may have been more resilient than previously thought, with some species still roaming the Earth after the asteroid struck.
While this discovery provides new insights into the lives of non-avian dinosaurs before their mass extinction event, it also highlights the need for further research on localities across western North America during this critical period in Earth's history. As Flynn notes, "Just adding one new, well-dated dinosaur-bearing locality in western North America allows us to see this really interesting picture of dinosaurs." The study serves as a reminder that there is still much to be learned about these fascinating creatures and their place in the ancient world.
A groundbreaking study on fossils from New Mexico has uncovered a long-held secret: non-avian dinosaurs were alive and kicking just before the asteroid that brought about their mass extinction event. The research, published in the journal Science, suggests that these creatures were not only still thriving but also diverse, with various species roaming the region.
The fossil site in question is the Naashoibito Member in New Mexico, which once housed a rich ecosystem teeming with dinosaurs such as Alamosaurus, tyrannosaurs, horned dinosaurs, and duck-billed dinosaurs. The study's lead author, Andrew Flynn, notes that at least before the mass extinction event, these dinosaurs "appear to be thriving." The researchers used two independent dating methods – radioactive decay in argon isotopes and magnetic fields – to determine the age of the rocks, placing them between 66.4 million and 66 million years ago.
This finding contradicts previous research that suggested a decline in dinosaur diversity during the Maastrichtian age, leading up to the asteroid strike. However, this study indicates that New Mexico's dinosaurs were unique and distinct from those found elsewhere, with western North America having pockets of dinosaur diversity. The researchers propose that these creatures may have been more resilient than previously thought, with some species still roaming the Earth after the asteroid struck.
While this discovery provides new insights into the lives of non-avian dinosaurs before their mass extinction event, it also highlights the need for further research on localities across western North America during this critical period in Earth's history. As Flynn notes, "Just adding one new, well-dated dinosaur-bearing locality in western North America allows us to see this really interesting picture of dinosaurs." The study serves as a reminder that there is still much to be learned about these fascinating creatures and their place in the ancient world.
fact that non-avian dinosaurs were alive just before the asteroid hit. I mean, it's crazy to think that western North America was like a dinosaur hotspot back then! 
The idea that some species might have been more resilient than we thought is really interesting too. It makes you wonder what other secrets these fossils are hiding.
The researchers' excitement about adding more dinosaur-bearing localities is infectious too - I'm definitely down for learning more about these ancient creatures! 
. The fact that these creatures were diverse and had unique species in western North America is insane – it's like a whole new level of cool 
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And can you imagine stumbling upon one of these fossils in person? That would be LIFE.CHANGING 
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The fact that dinosaurs were thriving before the asteroid impact is mind-blowing! 
Just think about it, these massive creatures were roaming free, living their best lives, and then BAM! The asteroid comes along and changes everything. 
. it's crazy how much we still have to learn about our ancient friends, but at least now we know that there were some pretty awesome ones like Alamosaurus and tyrannosaurs 
. Like, they were just chillin' and thrivin' before it all went down 
. And it's crazy to think that we didn't know about this stuff till now... I mean, who knew New Mexico had so many awesome dinosaur friends? 
. That's a looong time ago! And get this - they're unique to western North America 
. Like, it's not just the usual suspects like T-Rex and Velociraptor... there are horned dinosaurs and duck-billed ones too 
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. And if we look at the timeline, it shows that these species were actually thriving before the asteroid impact... mind blown! 
. And did you know that this study uses two independent dating methods? 
. I mean, we always knew there was a lot we didn't know about dinosaurs, but this is on a whole other level! The fact that western North America had pockets of dinosaur diversity makes me wonder if they might have even survived for a bit after the extinction event 
, not just dying off like we thought. Can you even imagine those massive creatures roaming around?! 
! I'm all for more research on localities across western North America during that time period, it's like we're uncovering secrets of the past 
. I mean, we've always known they didn't go extinct all at once, but it's one thing to know it and another to have actual proof 
. Can we imagine what life was like during that time? 
The study's lead author, Andrew Flynn, is all about shedding new light on this topic 
! It's wild to think those Alamosaurus and tyrannosaurs were still rocking around 66 million yrs ago 
. The fact that they're distinct from other regions in the West is mind-blowing, like we're uncovering a whole new chapter in their history 
, I mean it's crazy that they were livin' in new mexico, Alamosaurus and all 
. this discovery is def cool, but also kinda mind-blowing that they mighta been more resilient than we thought 
. It's like they had some secret superpower 
. A bunch of scientists just found out that dinosaurs were alive and thriving before they all got wiped out by a giant asteroid. I guess it's not like this was something that would've been hard to figure out with modern technology and everything 
. Anyway, now we know that our ancestors were all about that dinosaur life and not just the ones in Jurassic Park 
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) in this study.
it's not that hard to see the parallels here - we need more research on localities across western North America (or in this case, western societies) before we can truly understand what's going on. 