Most of the time when we think of dinosaurs the first thing that pops into our mind is a giant T-Rex or a triceratops which might be kin to the horniest dinosaur.
Well, imagine a feathered dinosaur from 80 million years ago, give or take a million. Fossilized proof of feathers has been found before, but a large collection of ancient amber has revealed the actual feathers. Scientists were first peering into the golden resin to study insects trapped there when they noticed the plumage held within.
Whether scientist could extract DNA from the feathers and begin the plot to Jurassic Park is still in doubt. However it is still interesting to learn more about the dinos and their plumage. It seems the feathers may have been used to regulate the body temperature instead of for flight. I don’t know exactly where the hunchbacked dinosaur fits in now as a possible missing link between dinos and birds. I’m also not sure if this explains the world’s ugliest featherless bird.
Wired Magazine’s site has a great rundown of the Canadian amber collection and what has been learned from studying it.