Month: March 2012
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Paleo Dream Job – Paleoartist, Tyler Keillor
Via Scientific American a fascinating interview: Tyler Keillor (pronounced “KEEL-er”) is a soft-spoken, understated paleoartist whose work is anything but. He works at the University of Chicago as a paleoartist, reconstructing creatures that paleontologist Paul Sereno excavates on his expeditions around the world… … Do you have a favorite project you’ve worked on? (pics, please!!) The…
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Fossil Hunting on the Shores of Lake Erie
From Magma Cum Laude via geology.com – How to collect fossils on the shores of Lake Erie – corals, trilobites, brachiopods… The weather has been freakishly nice for March in Buffalo, so yesterday I decided to chuck any ideas of getting work done and went fossiling with a friend instead. The area where I live…
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Torosaurus Discussion in MSM
Interesting letter written for NYTimes in response to article “Triceratops’ Quiet Cousin, the Torosaurus, Gains New Legitimacy” (March 6) … The study by Nicholas Longrich and Daniel Fields falls short because cranial fusion cannot be confirmed by simple observation. High-resolution computer tomography and comparative cranial histology are required. Dr. Longrich and Mr. Field leave out skulls…
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Horse Evolution
Article Via Geology.com from NSF: View a video showing how body size of mammals was affected by global warming. When Sifrhippus sandae, the earliest known horse, first appeared in the forests of North America more than 50 million years ago, it would not have been mistaken for a Clydesdale. It weighed in at around 12…
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Archaeology Field School – Kansas, June 2 – 17
Via the Topeka Capital Journal: The Kansas Historical Society and the Kansas Anthropological Association will hold the annual Kansas archeology training program field school June 2-17 at the Kansa site of Fool Chief’s Village on the north side of Topeka, according to a news release. The Kansa site was selected because of a road project at…
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34th Mid America Paleontology Society Show This Weekend!
Nice article about the MAPS Expo via the Canton Daily Ledger: The National MAPS Show returns to Western Illinois University-Macomb Friday-Sunday, March 30-April 1. This year’s theme is the Pennsylvanian Period. The expo, tagged the world’s largest fossil-only show, will be held in Western Hall from 8 a.m.-5p.m. Friday- Saturday, March 30-31 and from 8 a.m.-12 p.m.…
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Copper Mining in the News
Arizona Geology clues us into two recent articles about copper mining in Arizona. Image: Photos above by Lee Allison, Director of AZGS and Arizona State Geologist via the Arizona Geological Survey. The article with this photograph provides an interesting discussion about the geology of Arizona copper.
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AGI’s Earth Science Week Update Newsletter
Some highlights of the Earth Science Week Newsletter: Meg Town, a teacher at Redmond Junior High School in Redmond, Washington, has been named the 2012 recipient of the Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching. Town, who earned her master’s degree in education from the University of Washington, has spent…
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Geology of Asteroid Vesta
Via ScientificComputing: NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has revealed unexpected details on the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta. New images and data highlight the diversity of Vesta’s surface and reveal unusual geologic features, some of which were never previously seen on asteroids. These results were discussed on March 21, 2012, at the Lunar and Planetary Science…
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Explanation for Opisthotonus?
Via Discover Magazine: … Paleontologists have long wondered by so many fossilized dinosaurs have their necks contorted into painful-looking positions—the phenomenon even has a name: opisthotonus. Various hypotheses have suggested the dinosaurs died in pain, or that their unusual posture is from rigor mortis. Could be, though, it’s just what floppy necks do in water, according to a…
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New Archaeological Lab at McMaster University, Canada
From TheSpec (includes interesting video): … Thursday marked the official opening of McMaster’s Archaeological XRF Lab, or MAX Lab, for short. It’s the first research centre in Canada to use a special non-destructive technology to determine what ancient artifacts are made of. The centrepiece of the lab is a nearly $100,000 piece of equipment that uses…
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Our Long Last Ancestor?
After listening to Dr. Fred Smith, Illinois State University about homo sapiens neanderthalis at Burpee Museum’s Paleofest, This new article made much more sense! Via Scientific American: First of Our Kind: Could Australopithecus sediba Be Our Long Lost Ancestor?
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Looking Forward to Next Year’s Show
Thank you to all who volunteered time to help on the show – before, during or after – all in different ways! Members’ are what makes the show possible and extraordinary!
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2012 ESCONI Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show – March 17 & 18
Yea!!! It is time for the annual show!!! Articles in the Chicago Tribune. Come out to see new fossil and mineral finds being sold by vendors and at auction, one-of-a-kind hand-made jewelry, gorgeous and amazing mineral specimens and beads! Demonstrations of jewelry making and geode cracking and collections from private collectors as well as…
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Reminder: ESCONI Volunteers Needed This Weekend
Please volunteer your time to set up or take down the show – especially the end of the show! Your time will be greatly appreciated!
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Mammals and Dinosaurs: Update
Via Seattle Times (hat tip Floyd) New research by UW scientists says a group of mammals called “multis” flourished long before dinosaurs went extinct, contradicting previous theories about the rise of mammals… more
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New Species of Homo Sapiens?
From BBC via hat tip from Floyd Scientists say the specimens display features that are quite distinct from fully modern humans The remains of what may be a previously unknown human species have been identified in southern China. The bones, which represent at least five individuals, have been dated to between 11,500 and 14,500 years…
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Sneak Peek of Mazon Creek Fossils To Be Auctioned
Tully Monster 1: Tully Monster 2: Tully Monster 3: Cockroach: Bone:
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How Tiny Are These Horned Dinosaurs?
Via IO9 – hat tip from Floyd Two pint-sized relatives of the famous Triceratops have been discovered in Alberta, giving us our best understanding yet of how these horned dinosaurs expanded into North America. The best part? Neither was much more than a meter or so long. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is unveiling…
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Are You Going to Display Your Collection at This Year’s Show?
Want to display your collection at the show this weekend? Call John Good at 630-483-2363 to reserve a display case!
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Sneak Peek Of Some of the Minerals To Be Auctioned
Malachite: Calcite: Brochantite: Ruby: Apophylite: Fossils to be auctioned will be posted tomorrow!
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Ask Friends and Family to the 2012 ESCONI Show
We need your help in making this the best and biggest show ever! Let your friends and family know about this family-friendly, nature-oriented and fun show! You can download the Gem Show Flyer 2012 or click here to get directions.
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Sun Times Article on 2012 ESCONI Show
From the Chicago Sun Times an article about the ESCONI show this weekend: Kids seem fascinated by rocks and they’ll see plenty of them—many with surprises inside—at the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois’ Gem-Mineral-Fossil Show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 17, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 18, in Building…
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Lyme Disease Discussion
Anyone who collects fossils and minerals outside could be bitten by a tick and be infected by Lymes disease. So it is good to keep up to date on the subject matter. This informative radio show from Diane Rehm questions as to whether chronic Lyme disease exists, how to test for it, and how to treat…
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Iridescence Found In Fossil of Microraptor Feather
From NYTimes (hat tip – Floyd): … New research by American and Chinese scientists shows that the animal had a predominantly glossy iridescent sheen in hues of black and blue, like a crow. This is the earliest known evidence of iridescent color in feathers. The animal also had a striking pair of long, narrow tail…
