Scientists Rebuilt The Brain Of A 200-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur, A Jurassic Park To Appear Soon?

In a recent leap in science, new technologies have helped scientists to learn more about dinosaurs living millions of years ago. Specifically, a new study involved digitally reconstructing the brain of one of the earliest dinosaurs living 200 million years ago, shedding new light on how they ate and moved.

The team from the University of Bristol have created a digital build of the Thecodontosaurus’s brain, which led them to discover information previously unseen in the fossil, according to the press release.

Also known as the Bristol dinosaur, the Thecodontosaurus was as small as a dog, living in the Late Triassic age. In the 1800s, its fossils were found in Bristol.

For a long time, the dinosaur was assumed to have walked on all four limbs and eaten plants only. Two hundred years later, scientists were able to obtain new information from its fossil using imaging software.

They relied on advanced imaging as well as 3D modeling technique by using 3D models created through CT scans. The study’s lead author, Antonio Ballell, said:

“Even though the actual brain is long gone, the software allows us to recreate brain and inner ear shape via the dimensions of the cavities left behind.”

He added:

“Our analysis showed parts of the brain associated with keeping the head stable and eyes and gaze steady during movement were well-developed. This could also mean Thecodontosaurus could occasionally catch prey, although its tooth morphology suggests plants were the main component of its diet.”

Through the reconstruction of the inner ears, the research team could estimate the dinosaur’s hearing ability. It turns out that the maximum hearing frequency of Thecodontosaurus was quite high, allowing it to recognize different honks and squeaks from various animals.

All of these findings were achieved thanks to new technologies, how cool that is!

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