The BBC reports on some research that suggests Dinosaurs might have survived the asteroid impact if it hadn't been for a combination of other factors.
The study brought together 11 leading dinosaur experts from the UK, US and Canada to assess the latest research on the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago. There is evidence that some species of dinosaur were dying off shortly before an asteroid hit the Earth. One of the key questions was whether this gradual decline would have led to the extinction of these animals even if the asteroid had not hit.
Dr Steve Brusatte, of Edinburgh University, said sea level rises and volcanic activity had made many species more susceptible to extinction. They might have survived if the asteroid had hit the Earth a few million years later or earlier, he said, calling it "colossal bad luck."
The experts concluded that although some species of plant eaters in North America were dying out in the period leading up to the asteroid impact there was no evidence of a long-term decline. However, the experts believe that rises in sea level and increased volcanic activity made many species more susceptible to extinction just at the point that the asteroid struck.
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The BBC is reporting on research about the evolution of dinosaurs into birds:
Huge meat-eating, land-living dinosaurs evolved into birds by constantly shrinking for over 50 million years, scientists have revealed.
Theropods shrunk 12 times from 163kg (360lb) to 0.8kg (1.8lb), before becoming modern birds.
The researchers found theropods were the only dinosaurs to get continuously smaller.
Their skeletons also changed four times faster than other dinosaurs, helping them to survive. These bird ancestors also evolved new adaptations, including feathers, wishbones and wings, four times faster than other dinosaurs.
The researchers concluded that the evolution of the branch of dinosaurs leading to birds was more innovative than other dinosaur lineages.
See also: Four-Winged Dinosaur is 'Biggest Ever' and Dinosaurs 'Neither Warm nor Cold Blooded'.
(Score: 3, Funny) by frojack on Monday July 28 2014, @10:18PM
You have to admire the subtlety...
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Thexalon on Monday July 28 2014, @10:26PM
They would have done something about the asteroid problem, but the Asteroid Subcommittee spent its entire budget of 3 million deciduous leaves on a public relations video announcing the mission statement they developed during a 4-week team building exercise.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 3, Funny) by DECbot on Tuesday July 29 2014, @12:09AM
Appalled by the Subcommittee's budgeting, the leader of the Opposition Party had the following to say:
cats~$ sudo chown -R us /home/base
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 29 2014, @12:56AM
So did birds... which are dinosaurs.
(Score: 1) by Horse With Stripes on Tuesday July 29 2014, @01:12AM
Why, yes, it was colossal bad luck to be wiped out by a giant asteroid. The fact that they were already being stressed by earth taking shots at them via rising sea levels and increased volcanic activity was bad luck too.
Let's face it, when every day could be a torturous battle to the death, the planet is warming, the seas are rising, volcanos are spewing forth toxic gasses to steal your breath and then a giant asteroid crashes into you at such velocity that not even a spec of your flesh remains, your luck could not get worse.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 29 2014, @07:41AM
I bet one of them said it that very morning "Damn why even get up, when every day could be a torturous battle to the death, the planet is warming, the seas are rising, volcanos are spewing forth toxic gasses to steal your breath. Atleast it can't get any worse, the only way is up."
(Score: 1) by My Silly Name on Tuesday July 29 2014, @08:14AM
(Score: 1) by sudo rm -rf on Tuesday July 29 2014, @09:29AM
(Score: 1) by My Silly Name on Tuesday July 29 2014, @01:47PM
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Tuesday July 29 2014, @02:22AM
That several factors colluded to kill of the dinosaurs makes you wonder if it were really by the shit-happens factor.
(otoh, the current state of the planet may indicate a new species shift)
(Score: 2) by mcgrew on Tuesday July 29 2014, @02:37AM
I thought the most interesting thing was that if the asteroid had happened at another time, dinosaurs would still rule and we would not exist. We owe our existence as a species to that asteroid and the volcanoes and all the other stresses that killed them off.
mcgrewbooks.com mcgrew.info nooze.org
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 29 2014, @05:32AM
Hmm ...and thus with such facts clearly established arose the Cult of the Doomstones in ancient Aotakark. They worship the divine stones that wiped out all Knifurcates, leaving behind the lesser plants, all before the rise of the new races and gods. The Cult of the Doomstones whose holy artifact our party has been hired to return...
Too much Dungeons & Dragons? :P
(Score: 2) by hoochiecoochieman on Wednesday July 30 2014, @01:46PM
You're wrong, I had dinosaur for dinner yesterday.
(Score: 1) by pkrasimirov on Tuesday July 29 2014, @06:42AM
In other news: