X-RAY’S SHINE NEW LIGHT ON BIRD-LIKE DINOSAUR

Scientists at ESRF Use Giant X-ray to Learn More About Possible Bird Ancestor

Scientists at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France have for the first time captured 3D images of Archaeopteryx, an ancient feathered dinosaur.

The mystery surrounding the pint-sized dinosaur’s place in the evolution of dinosaurs into birds, has fascinated scientists since Darwin’s time. It is hoped these new images, captured with a very powerful X-ray, will shed light on the Archaeopteryx enigma.

Researchers at the ESRF used a technique based on camera obscura, a device used by Leonardo da Vinci, to scan the fossilized dinosaur. During the process, an X-ray beam is fired at the sample, this creates a diffusion of X-rays, the subsequent diffusion pattern is detected via the camera obscura – a tiny hole in a piece of lead. The X-ray beam is only the thickness of a human hair but is immensely powerful.

Scientists are now investigating whether this technique will work with all fossilized samples. This could open up many new avenues of research.