Laser Simulated Fluorescence in Paleontology | Dr Michael Pittman | TEDxLingnanUniversity

so today I’m going to be talking about

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]