so today I’m going to be talking about some developments in the world of
some developments in the world of
some developments in the world of dinosaurs and share with you some my
dinosaurs and share with you some my
dinosaurs and share with you some my journeys back in time so dinosaurs are
journeys back in time so dinosaurs are
journeys back in time so dinosaurs are one of the jewels in evolutions crown
one of the jewels in evolutions crown
one of the jewels in evolutions crown animals so amazing that is almost kind
animals so amazing that is almost kind
animals so amazing that is almost kind of beyond belief some of the longest
of beyond belief some of the longest
of beyond belief some of the longest heaviest tallest animals that ever walk
heaviest tallest animals that ever walk
heaviest tallest animals that ever walk the earth
the earth
the earth giants that had razor-sharp smiles and
giants that had razor-sharp smiles and
giants that had razor-sharp smiles and armored dinosaurs that wielded bone
armored dinosaurs that wielded bone
armored dinosaurs that wielded bone crushing tail weapons dinosaur fossils
crushing tail weapons dinosaur fossils
crushing tail weapons dinosaur fossils themselves are really a privilege to
themselves are really a privilege to
themselves are really a privilege to study but to know that in their final
study but to know that in their final
study but to know that in their final encore they took to the air well frankly
encore they took to the air well frankly
encore they took to the air well frankly it’s unbelievable over the last 200
it’s unbelievable over the last 200
it’s unbelievable over the last 200 years paleontologists have traveled the
years paleontologists have traveled the
years paleontologists have traveled the world in search of dinosaur skeletons
world in search of dinosaur skeletons
world in search of dinosaur skeletons pretty much to most pockets of it from
pretty much to most pockets of it from
pretty much to most pockets of it from the coldest depths to the hottest
the coldest depths to the hottest
the coldest depths to the hottest infernos and this is continuing
infernos and this is continuing
infernos and this is continuing generation after generation
generation after generation
generation after generation so sometimes very occasionally
so sometimes very occasionally
so sometimes very occasionally paleontologists they’re basically
paleontologists they’re basically
paleontologists they’re basically confronted with the exceptional fossils
confronted with the exceptional fossils
confronted with the exceptional fossils like this where you actually have the
like this where you actually have the
like this where you actually have the preserved stomach contents fossils that
preserved stomach contents fossils that
preserved stomach contents fossils that preserve soft tissues and even fossils
preserve soft tissues and even fossils
preserve soft tissues and even fossils that preserve feathers birds are a type
that preserve feathers birds are a type
that preserve feathers birds are a type of dinosaur a 200 year old theory that
of dinosaur a 200 year old theory that
of dinosaur a 200 year old theory that exceptional fossils back up and support
theories well-supported it’s kind of
theories well-supported it’s kind of like gravity
like gravity
like gravity that’s such the support that we have so
that’s such the support that we have so
that’s such the support that we have so how about with having you know all the
how about with having you know all the
how about with having you know all the dinosaurs around and knowing that the
dinosaurs around and knowing that the
dinosaurs around and knowing that the stuff that’s absent and realizing that
stuff that’s absent and realizing that
stuff that’s absent and realizing that what you had in front of you really was
what you had in front of you really was
what you had in front of you really was there all along so having a beautiful
there all along so having a beautiful
there all along so having a beautiful fossil like this and realizing that what
fossil like this and realizing that what
fossil like this and realizing that what you had is that so what is this sorcery
you had is that so what is this sorcery
you had is that so what is this sorcery how could you get something so different
how could you get something so different
how could you get something so different well this has to do with laser
well this has to do with laser
well this has to do with laser stimulated fluorescence or LSF for short
stimulated fluorescence or LSF for short
stimulated fluorescence or LSF for short using high-powered lasers and shining
using high-powered lasers and shining
using high-powered lasers and shining them at fossils to make the fossils glow
them at fossils to make the fossils glow
them at fossils to make the fossils glow in the dark so what happens is that the
in the dark so what happens is that the
in the dark so what happens is that the laser light you shine a violet laser in
laser light you shine a violet laser in
laser light you shine a violet laser in a dark room and it causes the fossils to
a dark room and it causes the fossils to
a dark room and it causes the fossils to glow specifically the soft tissues
glow specifically the soft tissues
glow specifically the soft tissues around the bones and when that happens
around the bones and when that happens
around the bones and when that happens you get amazing details and this
you get amazing details and this
you get amazing details and this technique has been developed by my
technique has been developed by my
technique has been developed by my collaborator Tom Kay of the foundation
collaborator Tom Kay of the foundation
collaborator Tom Kay of the foundation for scientific advancement and we’ve
for scientific advancement and we’ve
for scientific advancement and we’ve I’ve been traveling with Tom around the
I’ve been traveling with Tom around the
I’ve been traveling with Tom around the world
world
world scanning specimens with lasers to try
scanning specimens with lasers to try
scanning specimens with lasers to try and reveal amazing things so in the last
and reveal amazing things so in the last
and reveal amazing things so in the last 20 years in actually our part of the
20 years in actually our part of the
20 years in actually our part of the world in northeast China they’ve been
world in northeast China they’ve been
world in northeast China they’ve been wonderful fossils that have been found
wonderful fossils that have been found
wonderful fossils that have been found fossils such as this one
fossils such as this one
fossils such as this one which preserve feather and us bone and
which preserve feather and us bone and
which preserve feather and us bone and soft tissue data that has allowed us to
soft tissue data that has allowed us to
soft tissue data that has allowed us to reconstruct the evolution of birds from
reconstruct the evolution of birds from
reconstruct the evolution of birds from an ancestor shared with bird-like
an ancestor shared with bird-like
an ancestor shared with bird-like dinosaurs like the Raptors and it’s even
dinosaurs like the Raptors and it’s even
dinosaurs like the Raptors and it’s even allowed us to reconstruct how feathers
allowed us to reconstruct how feathers
allowed us to reconstruct how feathers evolved from very primitive filament
evolved from very primitive filament
evolved from very primitive filament like structures as well as these fossils
like structures as well as these fossils
like structures as well as these fossils others from different dinosaurs have
others from different dinosaurs have
others from different dinosaurs have been revealed to be early
been revealed to be early
been revealed to be early representatives
representatives
representatives different dinosaur groups are really
different dinosaur groups are really
different dinosaur groups are really filling in gaps in the early history of
filling in gaps in the early history of
filling in gaps in the early history of those groups and one of those includes
those groups and one of those includes
those groups and one of those includes this example so this is an early
this example so this is an early
this example so this is an early Triceratops relative called setec
Triceratops relative called setec
Triceratops relative called setec asaurus and it lived a hundred and
asaurus and it lived a hundred and
asaurus and it lived a hundred and twenty million years ago in northeast
twenty million years ago in northeast
twenty million years ago in northeast china so this animal we will be using
china so this animal we will be using
china so this animal we will be using with LSF to reveal the most detailed
with LSF to reveal the most detailed
with LSF to reveal the most detailed reconstruction of color in any dinosaur
reconstruction of color in any dinosaur
reconstruction of color in any dinosaur ever so the reason this worked is
ever so the reason this worked is
ever so the reason this worked is because the laser causes the skin of the
because the laser causes the skin of the
because the laser causes the skin of the fossil to fluoresce really brightly
fossil to fluoresce really brightly
fossil to fluoresce really brightly revealing details that you can’t see
revealing details that you can’t see
revealing details that you can’t see otherwise so what we were able to do is
otherwise so what we were able to do is
otherwise so what we were able to do is use all this information from from the
use all this information from from the
use all this information from from the laser and the actual muscles themselves
laser and the actual muscles themselves
laser and the actual muscles themselves to create pretty much the most detailed
to create pretty much the most detailed
to create pretty much the most detailed reconstruction of an animal a dinosaur
reconstruction of an animal a dinosaur
reconstruction of an animal a dinosaur ever you know from its actual you know
ever you know from its actual you know
ever you know from its actual you know physique to the actual skin patterns
physique to the actual skin patterns
physique to the actual skin patterns themselves and what you’ll notice is
themselves and what you’ll notice is
themselves and what you’ll notice is that the top of the animal is rather
that the top of the animal is rather
that the top of the animal is rather dark and the underside is lighter so we
dark and the underside is lighter so we
dark and the underside is lighter so we interpreted this as being an example 120
interpreted this as being an example 120
interpreted this as being an example 120 million year old example of
million year old example of
million year old example of countershading so this is a very common
countershading so this is a very common
countershading so this is a very common phenomenon in the world today whereby
phenomenon in the world today whereby
phenomenon in the world today whereby animals have different colors across
animals have different colors across
animals have different colors across their body and the way it works is in
their body and the way it works is in
their body and the way it works is in this example here with this mammal the
this example here with this mammal the
this example here with this mammal the sun shines down onto it and with a
sun shines down onto it and with a
sun shines down onto it and with a darker top the sunlight lights it up
darker top the sunlight lights it up
darker top the sunlight lights it up with the sun casting a shadow over the
with the sun casting a shadow over the
with the sun casting a shadow over the body this lighter part then comes in
body this lighter part then comes in
body this lighter part then comes in shadow so the idea is you have a kind of
shadow so the idea is you have a kind of
shadow so the idea is you have a kind of canceling out effect that ends up
canceling out effect that ends up
canceling out effect that ends up camouflaging the 3d shape of an animal
camouflaging the 3d shape of an animal
camouflaging the 3d shape of an animal so if you imagine if there was a lion
so if you imagine if there was a lion
so if you imagine if there was a lion somewhere in the courtyard over there it
somewhere in the courtyard over there it
somewhere in the courtyard over there it would have a more difficult time of
would have a more difficult time of
would have a more difficult time of spotting this animal if it did not have
spotting this animal if it did not have
spotting this animal if it did not have if it’s a basically didn’t have this so
if it’s a basically didn’t have this so
if it’s a basically didn’t have this so that’s what we think we have into tack
that’s what we think we have into tack
that’s what we think we have into tack asaurus but the thing that was even more
asaurus but the thing that was even more
asaurus but the thing that was even more interesting is
interesting is
interesting is the position of this coloration so it’s
the position of this coloration so it’s
the position of this coloration so it’s very low on the body and we scratched
very low on the body and we scratched
very low on the body and we scratched our head and had that Eureka moment when
our head and had that Eureka moment when
our head and had that Eureka moment when we found that this is exactly the same
we found that this is exactly the same
we found that this is exactly the same thing we see in animals that live in
thing we see in animals that live in
thing we see in animals that live in environments where you don’t have as
environments where you don’t have as
environments where you don’t have as much direct sunlight diffuse light
much direct sunlight diffuse light
much direct sunlight diffuse light animals that live in forests so in this
animals that live in forests so in this
animals that live in forests so in this deer for example the boundary between
deer for example the boundary between
deer for example the boundary between the dark and light is positioned low on
the dark and light is positioned low on
the dark and light is positioned low on the body so what we were able to do is
the body so what we were able to do is
the body so what we were able to do is take that you know beautiful 3d
take that you know beautiful 3d
take that you know beautiful 3d reconstruction two experiments to
reconstruction two experiments to
reconstruction two experiments to simulate we know where will that line
simulate we know where will that line
simulate we know where will that line fall if you had a light source shining
fall if you had a light source shining
fall if you had a light source shining on the model and it matched the fossil
on the model and it matched the fossil
on the model and it matched the fossil so you know it was isn’t 120 million
so you know it was isn’t 120 million
so you know it was isn’t 120 million years ago dinosaurs were doing these
years ago dinosaurs were doing these
years ago dinosaurs were doing these things that we can see you know if we go
things that we can see you know if we go
things that we can see you know if we go into the hills behind us to see the
into the hills behind us to see the
into the hills behind us to see the local deer that we have in Hong Kong
local deer that we have in Hong Kong
local deer that we have in Hong Kong with small species so yeah that was
with small species so yeah that was
with small species so yeah that was pretty fantastic so the other thing
pretty fantastic so the other thing
pretty fantastic so the other thing you’ll notice about this critter all
you’ll notice about this critter all
you’ll notice about this critter all this stuff is soft tissue and it’s scaly
this stuff is soft tissue and it’s scaly
this stuff is soft tissue and it’s scaly you know most dinosaurs are mostly
you know most dinosaurs are mostly
you know most dinosaurs are mostly covered in scales you notice the tail
covered in scales you notice the tail
covered in scales you notice the tail though there’s something come broom
though there’s something come broom
though there’s something come broom thing going on there it’s got these
thing going on there it’s got these
thing going on there it’s got these bristle like structures now from what I
bristle like structures now from what I
bristle like structures now from what I was seeing before you know birds are a
was seeing before you know birds are a
was seeing before you know birds are a type of dinosaur and the bird-like
type of dinosaur and the bird-like
type of dinosaur and the bird-like dinosaur also had feathers so t-rex
dinosaur also had feathers so t-rex
dinosaur also had feathers so t-rex believe it or not we have examples of
believe it or not we have examples of
believe it or not we have examples of their early relatives with feathers as
their early relatives with feathers as
their early relatives with feathers as well so t-rex was a feathered animals so
well so t-rex was a feathered animals so
well so t-rex was a feathered animals so but these guys are all over here and
but these guys are all over here and
but these guys are all over here and this evolutionary tree some of dinosaurs
this evolutionary tree some of dinosaurs
this evolutionary tree some of dinosaurs is as such with Triceratops being a
is as such with Triceratops being a
is as such with Triceratops being a relative of psittacosaurus so if those
relative of psittacosaurus so if those
relative of psittacosaurus so if those peculiar structures you know what are
peculiar structures you know what are
peculiar structures you know what are they are they a kind of primitive
they are they a kind of primitive
they are they a kind of primitive filament like feather and that would
filament like feather and that would
filament like feather and that would suggest that you know feathers evolved
suggest that you know feathers evolved
suggest that you know feathers evolved right at the beginning of dinosaurs in
right at the beginning of dinosaurs in
right at the beginning of dinosaurs in the first dinosaurs are these something
the first dinosaurs are these something
the first dinosaurs are these something different is it actually something
different is it actually something
different is it actually something independent of those feathers so that’s
independent of those feathers so that’s
independent of those feathers so that’s kind of a really important question that
kind of a really important question that
kind of a really important question that we wanted to use the laser to shed some
we wanted to use the laser to shed some
we wanted to use the laser to shed some light on and so we’re able to create
light on and so we’re able to create
light on and so we’re able to create images like this
images like this
images like this which the laser is actually able to
which the laser is actually able to
which the laser is actually able to distill out chemical information so you
distill out chemical information so you
distill out chemical information so you notice that this is orange the original
notice that this is orange the original
notice that this is orange the original color is has since been gone mostly gone
color is has since been gone mostly gone
color is has since been gone mostly gone from the specimen so this is reflecting
from the specimen so this is reflecting
from the specimen so this is reflecting a chemical signature and you’ll notice
a chemical signature and you’ll notice
a chemical signature and you’ll notice that it’s similar to this orange here
that it’s similar to this orange here
that it’s similar to this orange here now this is actually the boundary of the
now this is actually the boundary of the
now this is actually the boundary of the skin and I said that most color
skin and I said that most color
skin and I said that most color disappears and that’s because these
disappears and that’s because these
disappears and that’s because these black dots are remnants of melanin the
black dots are remnants of melanin the
black dots are remnants of melanin the same pigment that gives your eyes and
same pigment that gives your eyes and
same pigment that gives your eyes and your hair their color so the fact that
your hair their color so the fact that
your hair their color so the fact that these bristles match the unpigmented
these bristles match the unpigmented
these bristles match the unpigmented skin suggest that they probably have a
skin suggest that they probably have a
skin suggest that they probably have a similar origin they probably have are
similar origin they probably have are
similar origin they probably have are related to keratin now we did lots of
related to keratin now we did lots of
related to keratin now we did lots of comparisons with these structures we
comparisons with these structures we
comparisons with these structures we were keen to find out what they were
were keen to find out what they were
were keen to find out what they were like and in the bird like dinosaurs you
like and in the bird like dinosaurs you
like and in the bird like dinosaurs you get these primitive filament like
get these primitive filament like
get these primitive filament like structures and these structures we found
structures and these structures we found
structures and these structures we found were very similar to them but they
were very similar to them but they
were very similar to them but they weren’t absolutely the same what we did
weren’t absolutely the same what we did
weren’t absolutely the same what we did is actually look at very peculiar
is actually look at very peculiar
is actually look at very peculiar structures that you find in modern birds
structures that you find in modern birds
structures that you find in modern birds this is a horn screaming and you can see
this is a horn screaming and you can see
this is a horn screaming and you can see why it might have got that name from its
why it might have got that name from its
why it might have got that name from its expression they have this really strange
expression they have this really strange
expression they have this really strange spine on their head which is very very
spine on their head which is very very
spine on their head which is very very very rare amongst birds and this is not
very rare amongst birds and this is not
very rare amongst birds and this is not a feather everything else on its body is
a feather everything else on its body is
a feather everything else on its body is apart from the scales on its feet but
apart from the scales on its feet but
apart from the scales on its feet but this very strange structure here and we
this very strange structure here and we
this very strange structure here and we found that those things on the attacker
found that those things on the attacker
found that those things on the attacker sources tail were very similar to it so
sources tail were very similar to it so
sources tail were very similar to it so we kind of were like wow okay well that
we kind of were like wow okay well that
we kind of were like wow okay well that kind of a bit puzzling if this is not
kind of a bit puzzling if this is not
kind of a bit puzzling if this is not relevant what is it so it kind of really
relevant what is it so it kind of really
relevant what is it so it kind of really threw a spanner in the works and even
threw a spanner in the works and even
threw a spanner in the works and even the laser revealing these new insights
the laser revealing these new insights
the laser revealing these new insights what it showed is that really we need to
what it showed is that really we need to
what it showed is that really we need to be finding more clues to finally resolve
be finding more clues to finally resolve
be finding more clues to finally resolve this debate so you know the laser at the
this debate so you know the laser at the
this debate so you know the laser at the moment is you know at the cutting edge
moment is you know at the cutting edge
moment is you know at the cutting edge of resolving the actual physical
of resolving the actual physical
of resolving the actual physical appearance of dinosaurs so one of the
appearance of dinosaurs so one of the
appearance of dinosaurs so one of the bottlenecks that we have in paleontology
bottlenecks that we have in paleontology
bottlenecks that we have in paleontology is comment to all
is comment to all
is comment to all all sciences is actually finding
all sciences is actually finding
all sciences is actually finding dinosaurs so I spend my summers in the
dinosaurs so I spend my summers in the
dinosaurs so I spend my summers in the Gobi Desert in China when it’s rather
Gobi Desert in China when it’s rather
Gobi Desert in China when it’s rather hot and spend weeks and weeks kind of
hot and spend weeks and weeks kind of
hot and spend weeks and weeks kind of looking at the ground it’s difficult to
looking at the ground it’s difficult to
looking at the ground it’s difficult to find dinosaur fossils it’s even more
find dinosaur fossils it’s even more
find dinosaur fossils it’s even more difficult to find tiny little animals
difficult to find tiny little animals
difficult to find tiny little animals such as little mammals so in the time of
such as little mammals so in the time of
such as little mammals so in the time of dinosaurs the mammals were all pretty
dinosaurs the mammals were all pretty
dinosaurs the mammals were all pretty small no bigger than a cat or a dog and
small no bigger than a cat or a dog and
small no bigger than a cat or a dog and so that was one of the things so as a
so that was one of the things so as a
so that was one of the things so as a dinosaur time mem ologist of Mesozoic
dinosaur time mem ologist of Mesozoic
dinosaur time mem ologist of Mesozoic mammalogists you’re kind of resigned to
mammalogists you’re kind of resigned to
mammalogists you’re kind of resigned to the fact that living through tons and
the fact that living through tons and
the fact that living through tons and tons of material and siming it is kind
tons of material and siming it is kind
tons of material and siming it is kind of part of the job
of part of the job
of part of the job so that was just what you know what
so that was just what you know what
so that was just what you know what people expected and you know after
people expected and you know after
people expected and you know after you’ve sift it you spend a lot of time
you’ve sift it you spend a lot of time
you’ve sift it you spend a lot of time under a microscope picking through and
under a microscope picking through and
under a microscope picking through and trying to see if you might get a fossil
trying to see if you might get a fossil
trying to see if you might get a fossil tooth or bone but you know
tooth or bone but you know
tooth or bone but you know paleontologists are easily imagined t’v
paleontologists are easily imagined t’v
paleontologists are easily imagined t’v and quite early on they came up with
and quite early on they came up with
and quite early on they came up with this really neat trick and that’s that
this really neat trick and that’s that
this really neat trick and that’s that in areas where you have ants in the
in areas where you have ants in the
in areas where you have ants in the fossil at locality you can actually pick
fossil at locality you can actually pick
fossil at locality you can actually pick up the debris formed around an anthill
up the debris formed around an anthill
up the debris formed around an anthill and look there for fossils and the
and look there for fossils and the
and look there for fossils and the reason is that ants they pick together
reason is that ants they pick together
reason is that ants they pick together or some species and at least they pick
or some species and at least they pick
or some species and at least they pick together particles of rock are about the
together particles of rock are about the
together particles of rock are about the same size so they’re basically the snap
same size so they’re basically the snap
same size so they’re basically the snap having a natural way of concentrating
having a natural way of concentrating
having a natural way of concentrating these fossils so paleontologists prima
these fossils so paleontologists prima
these fossils so paleontologists prima knowledge is for a long time would
knowledge is for a long time would
knowledge is for a long time would basically basically be wrecking and
basically basically be wrecking and
basically basically be wrecking and hills around the world but you know we
hills around the world but you know we
hills around the world but you know we thought we could maybe do better and so
thought we could maybe do better and so
thought we could maybe do better and so we kind of put our heads together and
we kind of put our heads together and
we kind of put our heads together and this thought that well we can probably
this thought that well we can probably
this thought that well we can probably use the laser fluorescent properties of
use the laser fluorescent properties of
use the laser fluorescent properties of the fossils to make you know this kind
the fossils to make you know this kind
the fossils to make you know this kind of process less cumbersome more
of process less cumbersome more
of process less cumbersome more efficient so in this slide here you can
efficient so in this slide here you can
efficient so in this slide here you can see that this part is fluorescing really
see that this part is fluorescing really
see that this part is fluorescing really well under the laser and you know some
well under the laser and you know some
well under the laser and you know some other bones don’t pharrell different
other bones don’t pharrell different
other bones don’t pharrell different parts of the bones for us with different
parts of the bones for us with different
parts of the bones for us with different properties you know the actual matrix
properties you know the actual matrix
properties you know the actual matrix holding the bone it can have different
holding the bone it can have different
holding the bone it can have different fluorescent properties so the idea is
fluorescent properties so the idea is
fluorescent properties so the idea is the fact that things fluoresce
the fact that things fluoresce
the fact that things fluoresce or glow with different colors we use
or glow with different colors we use
or glow with different colors we use that to try and find fossils so we
that to try and find fossils so we
that to try and find fossils so we developed this sorting machine oh and
developed this sorting machine oh and
developed this sorting machine oh and when you show it to various colleagues
when you show it to various colleagues
when you show it to various colleagues they kind of well they didn’t think but
they kind of well they didn’t think but
they kind of well they didn’t think but it was kind of close to that they were
it was kind of close to that they were
it was kind of close to that they were kind of we were managed to sort through
kind of we were managed to sort through
kind of we were managed to sort through fossils that maybe take a hundred let me
fossils that maybe take a hundred let me
fossils that maybe take a hundred let me perhaps even a thousand times faster
perhaps even a thousand times faster
perhaps even a thousand times faster using this method so it was really kind
using this method so it was really kind
using this method so it was really kind of a nice step forward so that’s
of a nice step forward so that’s
of a nice step forward so that’s something that we’re we’re hoping will
something that we’re we’re hoping will
something that we’re we’re hoping will help with the rate of discovery in the
help with the rate of discovery in the
help with the rate of discovery in the field another bottleneck is actually
field another bottleneck is actually
field another bottleneck is actually preparing fossils so I’ve had experience
preparing fossils so I’ve had experience
preparing fossils so I’ve had experience preparing fossils myself but you really
preparing fossils myself but you really
preparing fossils myself but you really need to be extremely patient and into a
need to be extremely patient and into a
need to be extremely patient and into a skill to take them out and you know
skill to take them out and you know
skill to take them out and you know preparing a fossil can actually take
preparing a fossil can actually take
preparing a fossil can actually take years and years to do um that’s a big
years and years to do um that’s a big
years and years to do um that’s a big problem if you’re trying to kind of find
problem if you’re trying to kind of find
problem if you’re trying to kind of find something and want to work on it like
something and want to work on it like
something and want to work on it like how ones are gonna be ready you know so
how ones are gonna be ready you know so
how ones are gonna be ready you know so we also managed to finds ways of using
we also managed to finds ways of using
we also managed to finds ways of using the laser to help with that and the
the laser to help with that and the
the laser to help with that and the specific property is as follows so this
specific property is as follows so this
specific property is as follows so this is a proportion that isn’t fluorescing
is a proportion that isn’t fluorescing
is a proportion that isn’t fluorescing and with the laser you can see that what
and with the laser you can see that what
and with the laser you can see that what the laser can do in certain types of
the laser can do in certain types of
the laser can do in certain types of fossils is actually bring out the detail
fossils is actually bring out the detail
fossils is actually bring out the detail much more clearly but more importantly
much more clearly but more importantly
much more clearly but more importantly can actually look a few millimeters into
can actually look a few millimeters into
can actually look a few millimeters into the rock so it’s kind of like a very
the rock so it’s kind of like a very
the rock so it’s kind of like a very shallow x-ray so the implications for
shallow x-ray so the implications for
shallow x-ray so the implications for that is that normally when you prepare
that is that normally when you prepare
that is that normally when you prepare the preparator has to basically rely on
the preparator has to basically rely on
the preparator has to basically rely on the tiny bits of bone they can see to
the tiny bits of bone they can see to
the tiny bits of bone they can see to know when to continue and not so it’s
know when to continue and not so it’s
know when to continue and not so it’s why it’s such a skilled job so with the
why it’s such a skilled job so with the
why it’s such a skilled job so with the laser you have a way of kind of knowing
laser you have a way of kind of knowing
laser you have a way of kind of knowing if you’re going to hit bone a bit kind
if you’re going to hit bone a bit kind
if you’re going to hit bone a bit kind of earlier than you would so that should
of earlier than you would so that should
of earlier than you would so that should improve the rate at which we get
improve the rate at which we get
improve the rate at which we get prepared the fossils out for study so
prepared the fossils out for study so
prepared the fossils out for study so really with the LSF not only is it a way
really with the LSF not only is it a way
really with the LSF not only is it a way of kind of dealing with solving old
of kind of dealing with solving old
of kind of dealing with solving old puzzles in the field you know the origin
puzzles in the field you know the origin
puzzles in the field you know the origin of birds the the actual appearance and
of birds the the actual appearance and
of birds the the actual appearance and evolution appearance and dinosaurs but
evolution appearance and dinosaurs but
evolution appearance and dinosaurs but actually as a way of eliminating or
actually as a way of eliminating or
actually as a way of eliminating or narrow widening the bottlenecks that
narrow widening the bottlenecks that
narrow widening the bottlenecks that limit the rate of discovery in the field
limit the rate of discovery in the field
limit the rate of discovery in the field so I’ve hope you enjoy my talking
so I’ve hope you enjoy my talking
so I’ve hope you enjoy my talking and thanks very much
and thanks very much
and thanks very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment