Which Ended First... The Dinosaur or the Egg?
We often imagine the end of the dinosaurs as a violent cataclysm limited to one fateful day; nearly all life on Earth wiped out by one massive asteroid impact. The truth is probably a bit more complex. The asteroid certainly brought about a lot of major changes to the planet which the dinosaurs were unable to adapt to, but new research from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences suggests that the dinosaurs were already beginning to die out before the Chicxulub impact.
The research relied on examining hundreds of fossilized dinosaur eggs, dated to the two million years before the Cretaceous-Paleogene impact. The results showed a lack of diversity in species, indicating a decline in the number of dinosaurs living and a lessening in their evolutionary adaptability.
The primary theory attributes this decline to volcanic activity along India’s Deccan Traps. Championed by paleontologist Gerta Keller, this theory suggests volcanic discharges and the resulting environmental impact curtailed the dinosaur population.
The Deccan Traps are a massive deposit of igneous rock in India, produced by magma overflows. Keller’s theory suggests that the Traps were active before the impact, but the disruption to the planet from the asteroid caused even more lava to gush to the surface, disrupting the environment and killing off the dinosaurs.
As it turns out, Dr. Keller is a friend of Mini Museum — for our Age of Dinosaurs collection, we had the chance to visit with her and get an explanation first hand. She even graciously donated some geologic material from the Deccan Traps for our collection, which you can find in the Age of Dinosaurs museum and as a standalone specimen!
Featured Product
SR-71 Blackbird Fragment
Latest News
-
Sep 11, 2025 Vader’s Lightsaber Becomes the Most Expensive Star Wars Collectible! Read More -
Aug 28, 2025 Learn About the Tiny Aircraft That Turn Sunlight Into Flight! Read More -
Aug 21, 2025 Learn About The Newly Discovered Species of Early Humans! Read More -
Aug 19, 2025 Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy Read More -
Aug 14, 2025 Learn About Iron Age Mummy Tattoos! Read More -
Jul 29, 2025 Scientists Discover First Ever Ancient Roman Trilobite! Read More
Cool Things!
Vader’s Lightsaber Becomes the Most Expensive Star Wars Collectible!
Last Thursday, an auction set a new record for Star Wars memorabilia, when a screen-used prop of Darth Vader’s lightsaber sold for over $3.6 million.
Learn About the Tiny Aircraft That Turn Sunlight Into Flight!
Of the five layers of Earth’s atmosphere, the mesosphere (the third layer from Earth’s surface) is a height at which traditional aircraft have, thus far, been unable to reach on their own power. Generally beginning about 154,000 feet above sea level, even the world record for highest aircraft altitude falls about 20,000 feet short. However, a newly developing technology may change this reality, and it involves aircraft that punch high above their weight.
Learn About The Newly Discovered Species of Early Humans!
In studying early human ancestors, known as “hominids,” anthropologists have historically found much wider variations from specimen to specimen than expected, particularly among other paleontological fields. A recent study argues that certain groups of hominid fossils previously thought to be an already discovered species constitute a new one entirely.
Specimen Deep Dives
Old Ironsides: The USS Constitution and the Start of the U.S. Navy
The Hollywood Sign: The Story of a City's Symbol Hollywoodland
Building Disneyland
Long Form Articles
The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.
Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.
Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!