April, 2000
This month we go to Science Now to learn about the extraordinary discovery of a 75 million year old early-bird fossil. The fossil, called Bambiraptor feinbergi, was found by a family in Montana several years ago. Scientists are excited by the discovery because it is an almost complete skeleton of "the most birdlike dinosaur yet discovered", making it an important find for the study of dinosaur and bird evolutionary relationships.
Related Web Sites
Museum unveils bird-like dinosaur that may hold evolutionary key: CNN covers the story with additional information about where and how Bambiraptor feinbergi was discovered, and its significance for research.
Vertebrate Flight Exhibit: Learn about the different types of flight and the forces that are involved. You can learn about the physics of flight, the evolution and origin of flight, and three alternative solutions to flight in different organisms.
Aves Fossil Record: Learn about some of the early bird fossils, including Archaeopteryx and Protoaves. This page also includes links to information about life and ecology, systematics, and morphology of Aves.
Related Classroom Activities
Learning From the Fossil Record: Visit a collection of hands-on lessons that teach students about fossils, and how to use fossils to interprete life in the past.
Science News Write-Up: Write a report on this article for your class! Here is a suggested outline to help you organize the report.
News Archive
Earth Science News Archive: We are building an archive of these news features. Feel free to browse earlier articles and resources!