But Even a Dinosaur Can Learn the Latest

When we learned about dinosaurs in grade school (for me it was sometime before second grade) whether through picture books or classroom learning, we beheld the majesty of T. Rex, Triceratops, Pteranodon, Stegosaurus, Brontosaurus and their fellow "thunder lizards" as if they represented the glorious end point of dino knowledge. We had no idea at the time that science would soon demonstrate the link between dinosaurs and modern-day birds, as well as the fact that some species sported feathers of many colors.
Paleontologist continue to discover distinct new dinosaurs all over the world, one most recently in Egypt. In this (late Cretaceous) case, Mansourasaurus shahinae (which resembles the more familiar brontosaurus) offers scientists a window on whether continental Africa offered land bridges or access to Eurasia. Over the millennia, did African dinos evolve on their own, much as what happened to creatures in Australia? Or did they traverse the continents, which gradually separated into today's distinct land masses.
Even when it comes to dinosaurs, what's old can be new again.
Paleontologists--in fact, all scientists--make it a point to question the fundamentals. In a 2017 article published in Nature magazine, the traditional dinosaur family tree may have gotten a good shake by a new analysis that debates the split between "reptile-hipped" and "bird-hipped" dinosaurs and how to understand their fossil traits.
Scientists deserve our support, whether unearthing fossils in the deserts of Western Africa or at the research bench, as they continue to share the awe-someness of our planet with us. That's why a portion of the proceeds of each Exquisite Eons brooch supports the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a nonprofit organization dedicated to science and engineering for the benefit of us all.
Dinosaurs, unite for science!