By Mike|2024-01-17T14:12:07+00:00March 8th, 2020|General Teaching|Comments Off on Celebrating the Important Role of Women in Science on International Women’s Day 2020
Celebrating the Role of Women in Science on International Women’s Day
Today, (March 8th 2020), is International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is an annual event, which has its origins in the early part of the 20th century. This day provides us with an opportunity to highlight the enormous contribution to science and scientific enquiry made by women.
Everything Dinosaur took a photo of an appropriate poster on display at a school. The school was Ilderton Primary. Everything Dinosaur team members were visiting the school to conduct a fossil workshop. The poster highlighted the role of women in science.
Recognising and Celebrating the Contribution of Women in Science
Celebrating the role of women in science. A poster celebrating the role of women in science. The photograph was taken on a visit to Ilderton Primary. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
On a visit to a school in London (Ilderton Primary), to deliver a series of dinosaur and fossil themed workshops, an Everything Dinosaur team member spotted a wonderful display highlighting the role of women in science.
It is great to see women in science celebrated in this way, we hope that the display helps to motivate and enthuse the next generation of women scientists.
The user-friendly and award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Everything Dinosaur.
Today, we celebrate the birthday of renowned Chinese palaeoartist Zhao Chuang, one of the leading lights behind scientific illustrations in Chinese scientific literature. Fans of dinosaur and prehistoric animal models will also be aware of his work through the PNSO product line and their range of museum quality figures.
Celebrating the Contribution to Scientific Illustration of Zhao Chuang
A beautiful feathered Compsognathus catches its lunch (artwork by Zhao Chuang).
This palaeoartist has been tasked with illustrating a number of scientific papers and press releases. Interpreting scientific data and helping to depict a long extinct animal, place it within the context of the fossil discovery and in essence, to bring the animal back to life. The picture (above), illustrates a Compsognathus. It is shown as a brightly coloured, feathered dinosaur. The artist is helping to promote the idea that far from being slow, sluggish animals, many dinosaurs were very bird-like.
Illustrating Ancient Landscapes and Ecosystems
Northern China in the Late Cretaceous. A dromaeosaurid (left) takes evasive action as a herd of hadrosaurs approach the waterhole. An armoured dinosaur (Pinacosaurus grangeri), has nothing to fear from the duck-billed dinosaurs or the small theropod but decides it is time to leave as well.
Picture credit: Zhao Chuang
It was Zhao Chuang who created all the spectacular prehistoric artwork that was put on display as part of the “Dinosaurs of China – Ground Shakers to Feathered Flyers” exhibition in Nottingham (England). As a palaeoartist at the Peking Natural Science-Art Organisation (PNSO), Zhao Chuang has worked with numerous members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and he has also collaborated with dozens of leading scientists from other research institutions around the world. His work has been published in many academic publications.
The Wild Past Protoceratops andrewsi (1:35) is in Stock
The Wild Past 1:35 scale Protoceratops andrewsi dinosaur model is now in stock at Everything Dinosaur. Dinosaur fans and model collectors can now acquire the first of this exciting new range of prehistoric animal figures from Everything Dinosaur.
The Wild Past Protoceratops Dinosaur Model Complete with a Nest of Dinosaur Eggs
The Wild Past 1/35th scale Protoceratops andrewsi dinosaur model. This figure is now in stock at Everything Dinosaur.
Protoceratops andrewsi
Protoceratops andrewsi is one of two species assigned to the Protoceratops genus. It was formally named and scientifically described nearly a hundred years ago (1923). A second, slightly larger species was described in 2001 (Protoceratops hellenikorhinus). It remains one of the most intensely studied of all the Dinosauria and it’s discovery (the first fossil specimen was found in 1922), has helped palaeontologists to better understand two crucial aspects of dinosaur biology.
Firstly, dinosaur nests and eggs were found in association with the ubiquitous fossil remains. This was the conclusive proof that scientists had been searching for that demonstrated that at least some of the Dinosauria laid eggs. In addition, the hundreds of fossil specimens, many with cranial material, has enabled palaeontologists to piece together how these animals changed as they got older and matured. As a result, the ontogeny of this dinosaur is quite well understood (ontogenesis – how an organism develops anatomically as it grows).
Palaeontologists have examples of embryos, recently hatched individuals, juveniles as well as fully mature adults to study.
A Protoceratops on Display at the Naturmuseum Senckenberg (Frankfurt)
A Protoceratops exhibit on display at The Naturmuseum Senckenberg (Frankfurt, Germany). The skull is to the right of the photograph.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Commenting on the addition of the Wild Past Protoceratops model to Everything Dinosaur’s portfolio of prehistoric animal figures and replicas, a spokesperson for the UK-based company stated:
“We are delighted to be able to add the Wild Past range to our ever-going stock of dinosaur and prehistoric animal figures. We have already received a number of enquiries about this new replica, many collectors have been concerned that they might not be able to get hold of the Protoceratops, especially as the first production run has been quite small. Now dinosaur fans and model collectors can acquire this 1:35 scale dinosaur model from Everything Dinosaur.”
In Stock at Everything Dinosaur – The Wild Past Protoceratops Dinosaur Model (1/35th Scale)
Everything Dinosaur is now stocking the new for 2020 Wild Past Protoceratops dinosaur model.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
New for 2020 Mojo Fun Prehistoric Animal Models Delayed Until at Least June 2020
The impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the disruption to the Chinese economy is beginning to affect production plans and proposed delivery schedules for new for 2020 prehistoric animal models. In Everything Dinosaur’s statement released earlier this week, we explained that this virus outbreak has global implications that will affect producers, retailers and importers across a vast spectrum of goods, not only goods sourced from Asia. Our statement also conveyed our thoughts and sympathies to all those people affected by COVID-19. Our full statement of earlier this week can be found here: Everything Dinosaur COVID-19 Information.
New Mojo Fun Prehistoric Animal Models Delayed
As part of our own plans to help mitigate the impact of the virus, we have been working closely with our distribution chain partners and we can now confirm that the eagerly awaited new for 2020 Mojo Fun prehistoric animal models are likely to be delayed until at least June 2020. Further delays cannot be ruled out at this stage.
New for 2020 Mojo Fun Prehistoric Animal Models Delayed Until at Least June 2020
The new for 2020 Mojo Fun prehistoric animal models are likely to be delayed until at least June 2020.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Mojo Fun Prehistoric Animal Models
There are plans to introduce more than ten new dinosaur models along with colour variants of existing models. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 has curtailed the original plans to have these figures available in March 2020. The latest information received by Everything Dinosaur suggests that the new for 2020 prehistoric animals are likely to be delayed until at least June 2020. The new Tyrannosaurus rex Deluxe model with an articulated jaw (seen on the right of the picture above), is one of the new figures affected.
“Bully” for Mojo Fun Brontosaurus But Not Until June 2020
The new for 2020 Mojo Fun Brontosaurus dinosaur model is delayed.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
The Mojo Fun Brontosaurus Deluxe model, regarded as an impressive sauropod replica by those lucky enough to have had the chance to view the prototype and pre-production samples, is also affected. This twenty-three centimetre long Brontosaurus had been expected in early March but it is not likely to be available now until the early summer.
Everything Dinosaur Comments
A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur commented:
“We are grateful to Mojo Fun for their swift action. By informing Everything Dinosaur we can build in contingency plans to help to bring in new models from this range as quickly as possible. This is a fast moving story, we will do all we can to keep our customers informed about new model availability. Fortunately, we have managed to build up buffer stocks of the popular Mojo Fun prehistoric and extinct model range and we should be able to support sales of existing models for some time to come.”
The Impressive Mojo Fun Brachiosaurus Dinosaur Model is Also Delayed
The new for 2020 Mojo Fun prehistoric animal models including the new Deluxe Brachiosaurus are likely to be delayed until at least June 2020.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Keeping Our Customers Informed
Everything Dinosaur will do all it can to ensure that our customers are kept informed about model availability and other developments.
A Review of “Fossil Collecting on the South Dorset Coast”
The revered UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Jurassic Coast” has far more to offer fossil enthusiasts than just the congested beaches associated with Lyme Regis and Charmouth. Head east towards Weymouth, travelling forward in deep geological time through the Jurassic and into the Cretaceous and the visitor to such places as Redcliffe Point, Bowleaze Cove and West Weare Cliff can be rewarded with some fantastic fossil discoveries. In addition, intrepid explorers can enjoy some of the most spectacular and picturesque parts of the coast of southern England.
Providing a guide to this beautiful part of the world, is a new book written by dedicated fossil collectors Steve Snowball and Craig Chivers. Entitled “A Guide to Fossil Collecting on the South Dorset Coast”, this is one book that does exactly what it claims to do in the title and what an excellent read it is too!
Fossil Hunting Guide with a Focus on the South Dorset Coast
Fossil Collecting on the South Dorset Coast by Steve Snowball and Craig Chivers. The front cover features a theropod dinosaur, a pliosaur Pliosaurus kevani and an example of an ammonite fossil.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
Aimed at amateur fossil collectors as well as general visitors to the Dorset coast, this, the second volume in the series, takes the reader eastwards along the Dorset coast heading in the direction of Weymouth, the Isle of Portland and beyond. The western part of the Dorset coast, covered in the first book, dealt with the fossils that can be found in the marine deposits associated with Lyme Regis, Seatown and the coastline eastwards towards Burton Bradstock.
In this guide, the reader is given the opportunity to explore different ancient environments as the rocks along the shoreline provide clues to ancient lagoons, dinosaur dominated floodplains as well as ancient seas populated by ammonites, corals, dense beds of oysters and exotic sea urchins.
An Example of a Sea Urchin (Holaster spp.) from the Cretaceous Upper Greensand Exposures of Ringstead Bay
A beautifully preserved sea urchin (Holaster spp.) from the Cretaceous Upper Greensand of Ringstead Bay.
Picture credit: Snowball and Chivers
Fossil Collecting on the “Jurassic Coast”
Following a general introduction section, outlining the importance of the “Jurassic Coast”, the reader is provided with information regarding the fossil collecting code and then schooled in the geology of the region. The brief guide to the geology and landscapes of south Dorset then leads onto a series of chapters that provide details on excursions that can be undertaken to prospect for fossils. Each location is beautifully illustrated with stunning photographs of the fossils that can be found and the ancient prehistoric landscapes are brought to life by Andreas Kurpisz, from a shallow sea with an oyster reef to a herd of brachiosaurs wandering across what would eventually become part of the Purbeck Formation.
A View of Bowleaze Cove from Redcliff Point
The rugged and beautiful Bowleaze Cove (south Dorset). The book provides details of numerous excursions to some of the more secluded areas of the “Jurassic Coast”.
Picture credit: Snowball and Chivers
Detailed Information About Fossil Collecting on the Isle of Portland is Provided
West Weare Cliff at the end of Chesil Beach in Dorset. The Kimmeridge Clay exposures can provide a wealth of fossils including ichthyosaur and plesiosaur remains.
Picture credit: Snowball and Chivers
“A Guide to Fossil Collecting on the South Dorset Coast” provides a comprehensive overview on fossil collecting opportunities along the coast of southern Dorset, it is essential reading for fossil collectors and for those wishing to explore eastwards along the “Jurassic Coast” from Burton Bradstock.
Published by Siri Scientific Press, “A Guide to Fossil Collecting on the South Dorset Coast” can be found here: Purchase the Book Here.
Cartilage, Proteins, Potential DNA Preserved in Juvenile Duck-billed Dinosaur
Whisper it quietly, but the debate about how long organic materials such as DNA can remain preserved with fossils without complete destruction and decay is about to be reignited. An international team of researchers have identified possible evidence of fossilised cell nuclei, chromosomes with indications of DNA within the preserved, calcified cartilage of a baby duck-billed dinosaur that roamed Montana around 75 million years ago.
This discovery does not take us one step nearer to a “Jurassic Park” scenario, but it does challenge current thinking about how long delicate organic material such as DNA can persist.
A View of the Skull Bone (Supraoccipital) of the Juvenile Hypacrosaurus
An isolated supraoccipital (So) of Hypacrosaurus in dorsal view. Note the scale bar equals 2 cm.
Picture credit: A. Bailleul et al (National Science Review)
Dinosaur DNA
Writing in the journal “National Science Review”, researchers from the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology (Chinese Academy of Sciences), report their findings in collaboration with Mary Schweitzer of North Carolina State University, a pioneer in dinosaur soft tissue research.
The fossil material was collected in 1988 by American palaeontologist Jack (John) Horner. It heralds from the Two Medicine Formation (Campanian faunal stage of the Late Cretaceous), in north-western Montana. The fossilised bone comes from a genus of the lambeosaurine hadrosaur Hypacrosaurus (H. stebingeri).
The scientists conducted a microscopic analysis of fragmentary skull bones (supraoccipital bone – located towards the back of the skull), associated with very young animals (skull length about 20 cm and total body length less than 2 metres). Corresponding author of the scientific paper, Alida Bailleul (Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology), noticed a handful of beautifully preserved cell-like structures within the calcified cartilage on the edges of the skull bone. Two cartilage cells were still linked together by an intercellular bridge, morphologically consistent with the end of cell division.
Hypacrosaurus DNA Study
Caudal view of a juvenile emu skull (∼8–10 months old) showing the So and exoccipitals (Exo) in articulation. (F, G) Ground section (stained with Toluidine blue) of calcified cartilage from this emu skull showing cell doublets (pink arrows) with remnants of nuclei (white arrows) and others without intracellular content (green arrow).
Picture credit: A. Bailleul et al (National Science Review)
Dark Elongated Structures Within the Cells
Inside the cells, dark material resembling the cell nucleus was identified. One cartilage cell preserved dark, elongated thread-like structures morphologically consistent with chromosomes.
Bailleul and Schweitzer, in collaboration with Zheng Wenxia (North Carolina State University), then set out to determine whether original molecules were also preserved in the dinosaur cartilage. The researchers performed immunological and histochemical analyses on the skull of another nestling Hypacrosaurus from the same nesting ground. The immunological test supports the presence of remnants of original cartilaginous proteins in this dinosaur.
The researchers also isolated individual Hypacrosaurusstebingeri cartilage cells and applied two DNA stains, DAPI and PI. These bind specifically to DNA fragments in extant material and some of the isolated dinosaur cells showed internal, positive binding in the same pattern seen in modern cells. In essence, the fragments reacted positively to the staining suggesting some original dinosaur DNA may be preserved.
Commenting on the significance of this study, Alida Bailleul stated:
“These new, exciting results add to growing evidence that cells and some of their biomolecules can persist for a long time. They suggest DNA can be preserved for tens of millions of years and we hope this study will encourage scientists working on ancient DNA to push current limits and use new methodology in order to reveal all the unknown molecular secrets that ancient tissues have.”
Can DNA Survive for Millions of Years?
This research is likely to court controversy. The possibility that DNA can survive for seventy-five million years is not widely accepted by the scientific community. It is generally believed that the half-life of DNA is around five hundred years and that it does not persist in any form after several hundred thousand years.
For example, in 2013, Everything Dinosaur reported upon the discovery of a DNA sequence preserved in the fossil leg bone of an ancient horse that roamed Canada around 700,000 years ago. To read more about this research: Ancient Fossil Helps to Decode Horse Evolution.
If these results can be replicated and the data verified, then this would indicate that DNA, in some form, although highly degraded, might persist in the fossil record for tens of millions of years. It might be possible to recover and sequence other samples of DNA from long extinct creatures.
A Life Reconstruction of the Hypacrosaurus stebingeri Nursery
A life reconstruction of the Hypacrosaurus nesting site. A young dinosaur has died and is lying in a pool, whilst the mother investigates the corpse.
Picture credit: Michael Rothman/Science China Press
No “Jurassic Park”
However, this study does not mean that a dinosaur-themed safari park as depicted in the “Jurassic Park” franchise is just around the corner.
Bailleul explained:
“Here we have probably fossilised remnants, very minute amounts of fossilised dinosaur DNA, but that is a hypothesis at this stage. The original dinosaur DNA might be transformed chemically during fossilisation. No one really understands what happens to DNA in material so old, but our study encourages more research in ancient DNA to understand the processes of DNA fossilisation. Our data suggest some DNA may still be preserved in these dinosaur cells, but it will never be possible to recreate a dinosaur. Once a species goes extinct, it’s extinct forever.”
The research team conclude that the identification of chemical markers of DNA in Hypacrosaurus suggest DNA may preserve much longer than originally proposed. Even though it is clear that contamination does exist in fossil material and complicates identifications of original organic molecules, it can be accounted for with proper controls.
This research does not suggest that dinosaurs can be resurrected and brought back from extinction, but this study might represent a significant landmark in how ancient DNA could be identified and used to trace the evolution of life.
Everything Dinosaur acknowledges the assistance of a media release from North Carolina State University in the compilation of this article.
The scientific paper: “Evidence of proteins, chromosomes and chemical markers of DNA in exceptionally preserved dinosaur cartilage” by Alida M Bailleul, Wenxia Zheng, John R Horner, Brian K Hall, Casey M Holliday and Mary H Schweitzer published in National Science Review.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information from Everything Dinosaur
The continuing spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in recent weeks has caused concern across our planet. In view of this widespread anxiety and in response to a number of emails and other enquiries received, Everything Dinosaur has issued the following statement.
The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak and its continuing spread has global implications and affects producers, retailers and importers across a vast spectrum of goods and services, not just from China and other parts of Asia. It is extremely serious for those involved and we would like to convey our thoughts and sympathies to all those people who have been affected by this virus.
Everything Dinosaur Issues a Statement in Regard to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Outbreak
New Models Coming into Stock at Everything Dinosaur
We are aware that production plans and schedules for a number of new for 2020 prehistoric animals and figures that were due to come into Everything Dinosaur have already been interrupted. Delays in manufacture and subsequent shipping are an inevitable consequence of the current global situation. Our team members remain in constant dialogue with our supply partners, a dialogue that commenced several weeks ago, as part of our forward planning and our objective to mitigate the impact of the outbreak and spread of COVID-19 on our business.
As soon as we have definite information with regards to the expected arrival of new for 2020 models, then we shall share this by publishing such information on our social media platforms. However, at this stage it is still too early to tell what the effects of the virus might be but we remain optimistic that all reasonable measures are in place to minimise disruption.
Existing Stock of Dinosaur and Prehistoric Animal Models
With regards to stock of existing models, Everything Dinosaur has built up a substantial inventory as part of its plans to take all reasonable measures to minimise the consequences of this outbreak. Stock levels were built up towards the end of 2019 and in January 2020 in part, as a precaution against any problems that might have emerged in the global logistics chain.
We remain confident that we have enough inventory to support the needs of our customer base. Although, some disruption to postal and other delivery systems may occur, which may result in some delay in receipt of orders. Our team members are doing all they can to maintain our excellent record of swift dispatch and we are liaising with our postal and courier partners to assess what is, understandably, a fluid situation.
We are committed to continuing our award-winning business as usual, the recent Feefo accolade of the “Platinum Trusted Service Award”, the highest award possible from this independent rating company, demonstrates that Everything Dinosaur does all it can to support its customers.
Can I Catch COVID-19 from a Parcel or the Contents of a Parcel?
At Everything Dinosaur, we have received a number of queries concerning whether it is safe to receive a parcel which might contain an item that was originally manufactured in Asia. It is important to point out, that as Everything Dinosaur has built up extensive stocks, the vast majority of items in our inventory were manufactured and moved out of Asia long before the virus outbreak occurred.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), has issued guidance in regard to the receipt of parcels from China, we would suggest that the advice relating to the parcel itself would also apply to the contents of this parcel, in this case a prehistoric animal figure or replica.
The WHO states that it is safe to receive packages, you are not at risk of contracting COVID-19 (coronavirus). From previous analysis, coronaviruses do not survive long on objects such as packages, nor do they survive long on other surfaces such as the surfaces of our products.
Yes, It is Safe to Receive Items from China
It is safe to receive a prehistoric animal model from Everything Dinosaur – the virus does not survive long on surfaces.
Picture credit: WHO (World Health Organisation)
We will issue an update if and when the situation substantively changes.
In celebration of St David’s Day (St David being the patron saint of Wales, a country with a red dragon on its national flag), Everything Dinosaur team members explored their huge weblog database to see how many of our thousands of articles mention the word “dragon”, a term regarded by many as synonymous with the Dinosauria.
To our surprise, we discovered 155 articles that are associated with “dragon”. The number of posts has increased recently with the naming of several new, Chinese dinosaur discoveries which tend to use the word “long” rather than “saurus” in their scientific name. The term “long” means dragon in Chinese, a suffix frequently used to name Chinese dinosaurs whereas the Greek term “saurus” is preferred in the West.
Dragons and the Dinosauria
For example, earlier this year we put together a blog post about the newly named microraptorine Wulong bohaiensis, the genus name translates as “dancing dragon”, a reference to the posture of the preserved specimen.
A Little Dragon for St David’s Day
The beautifully preserved and almost complete W. bohaiensis fossil specimen. The genus name translates from the Chinese as “dancing dragon” – a reference to the preserved posture of the fossil specimen. A red dragon is a heraldic symbol used on the national flag of Wales.
Picture credit: Ashley W. Poust (University of California)
Another reason why the Everything Dinosaur blog may have a lot of references to dragons is that back in the autumn of 2019, the eagerly awaited Rebor GrabNGo 1:6 scale Komodo dragon replica came into stock. This was the first model in the Rebor GrabNGo line and the first commercial model of an extant (not extinct) animal that Rebor had produced. Measuring nearly half a metre in length, this super-sized replica of a super-sized lizard earned rave reviews from model collectors.
Rebor Komodo Dragon (1:6 Scale Replica)
Komodo dragon or Megalania? You decide. Many collectors used the Komodo dragon replica to represent the extinct Australian Megalania.Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.
This popular Rebor figure not only occupies space on our blog, we get lots of emails about this model too. For instance, an email was received last week from a model maker who wanted to use this figure in a diorama. Everything Dinosaur was contacted after the purchase was made and we were asked for our advice on how best to depict the figure and what sort of prey items were suitable for including in the intended diorama.
To purchase the Rebor Komodo dragon and the rest of the replicas in the Rebor range: Rebor Dinosaurs and Models.
With the very strong possibility of more Chinese dinosaurs being scientifically described in 2020 and with the ever increasing popularity of Rebor models, team members at Everything Dinosaur are likely to be writing about “dragons” for some time to come.
