Paleontologists find insufficient evidence that the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex should be reclassified. A bold assertion made earlier this year that fossils identified as belonging to the dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex really represent three distinct species is debunked by new research. The rebuttal fin
An illustration of a T. rex feeding. Credit: © Mark Witton 2022
In the new paper, scientists revisited the data presented in the earlier study and also added data points from 112 species of living dinosaurs—birds—and from four non-avian theropod dinosaurs. According to their findings, the multiple species argument was based on a limited comparative sample, non-comparable measurements, and improper statistical techniques.
Variation in the size of the second tooth in the lower jaw, in addition to robustness of the femur, indicated the presence of multiple species according to the original paper. However, the authors of the new study could not replicate the tooth findings, and they recovered different results from their own measurements of the same specimens. Additionally, the scientists on the new study took issue with how the “breakpoints” for each species using these traits were statistically determined.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Bold theory' that Tyrannosaurus rex is 3 species gets stomped to piecesLaura is an editor at Live Science. She edits Life's Little Mysteries and reports on general science, including archaeology and animals. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Scholastic, Popular Science and Spectrum, a site on autism research. She has won multiple awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association for her reporting at a weekly newspaper near Seattle. Laura holds a bachelor's degree in English literature and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in science writing from NYU.
Read more »
India's Bold Tax Reforms 5 Years on: Why It May Be Too Soon to CelebrateIndia — the world’s fifth largest economy with more than $3 trillion in GDP — has managed to double its tax base since the introduction of GST in July 2017.
Read more »
Benjamin Sisko returns as a god to begin IDW's bold new era of 'Star Trek' comicsJeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two loyal English Setters.
Read more »
Allegations of fabricated research undermine key Alzheimer’s theoryA six-month investigation by Science magazine uncovered evidence that images in the much-cited study, published 16 years ago in the journal Nature, may have been doctored.
Read more »
Disco-ball satellite will put Einstein's theory to strictest test yetScientists hope a laser-reflecting sphere will produce the most accurate measure so far of how Earth’s rotation warps space.
Read more »
Op-Ed: What game theory can tell us about the war in UkrainePutin needs to be persuaded now that he has no hope of victory in the months ahead.
Read more »