News
10 items found
Celebrity chimp's life story revealed in pioneering study
A new study led by researchers at National Museums Scotland describes the first comprehensive osteobiography of a zoo animal, a cutting-edge scientific method that involves the analysis of bones and tissue. These techniques have been applied to reveal the in-depth story of the life of Choppers, star of the 1970s PG Tips advertising campaign, illustrating the changing role of zoos over the past 50 years.
Jurassic dinosaur from the Isle of Skye revealed
A fossil first spotted in Skye over 50 years ago has finally been extracted from the base of the cliff where it was found and, following analysis, formally identified as a Jurassic dinosaur.
Fossil discovery reveals mammals grew more slowly in the Jurassic than they do today
Two unique Jurassic fossil discoveries from the Isle of Skye have shown that mammals in the time of the dinosaurs grew more slowly and lived longer than mammals today.
Palaeontologists reveal a 240-million-year-old ‘Chinese Dragon’
An international team of scientists have described new fossils of Dinocephalosaurus orientalis - a five-metre-long aquatic reptile from the Triassic period of China, dating to around 240 million years old.
First recorded stranding of a short-finned pilot whale in the UK reported
A new study of a whale which stranded off the Pembrokeshire coast in 2012 has revealed it to be the first short-finned pilot whale ever to be found in British waters.
Triassic specimen found to be early relative of pterosaurs a century after its discovery
A new study of a tiny Triassic fossil reptile first discovered over 100 years ago in the north east of Scotland has revealed it to be a close relative of the species that would become pterosaurs – iconic flying reptiles of the age of the dinosaurs.
Fossil bird collection of international importance bequeathed to National Museums Scotland
Press images available here.
A collection of over 700 bird fossils has been bequeathed to National Museums Scotland. The fossils date from 54-56 million years ago, the beginning of the Eocene period, and represent the early stages in the evolution of modern birds. The collection is believed to contain many species which are new to science.
Transformed Adventure Planet gallery reopens with renewed environmental focus
Reopens Friday 8 April
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
Free
World’s largest Jurassic pterosaur unearthed on Scottish island
A spectacular fossil of a huge flying reptile known as a pterosaur, that was found on the Isle of Skye, is the largest of its kind ever discovered from the Jurassic period.
Audubon’s Birds of America
A new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland will examine the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and biggest books.