Wonders of Dinosaurs - March - Random Thoughts

[Prof. Tarma Amelia Black]

Whether you were 4 years old and given a toy triceratops to play with or if you have only just discovered Dinosaurs through Wonders of the World, you have now officially encountered the concept of Dinosaurs.

 

What are your thoughts/feelings about Dinosaurs, or have you had any before being asked here?

 

Have you 'always' known about them and been fascinated by them or is this something of relatively recent interest because of movies having been made which had 'dinosaur' as a huge part of the theme of the movie?

 

Are they of interest to you or not? When did you first hear of them, and how did you feel then (as compared to 'now')?

 

Is there a favorite dinosaur that you like?  Why?

 

There is no wrong answer here -- because, after all, some people like coffee   and others don't ... and prefer quite something else!     It's all a matter of taste and life might be rather flat and dull if we all liked the same thing.

 

Answer in here with at least 150 words, by the end of March, HOL time, and earn 25 Diamonds.

[River Fenwick]

Funny enough, I've just recently thought about dinosaurs, or more specifically, the asteroid impact that took out 75% of the world's animal population, including dinosaurs (Prof. Tarma, are you in my walls?!). I was only thinking of it because of the asteroid 2024 YR4 that scientists kept changing the likeliness of impacting Earth in 2032. It went from a 3.1% chance to 0.0004%, so thankfully, we won't likely be having a repeat of what the dinosaurs experienced anytime soon.

 

Dinosaurs have always been of interest to me, though the thought of them is way better than the reality. Realistically, dinosaurs would wipe out our species if we had existed simultaneously, so that's a (not so) comforting thought. It's always great to learn about our world's history, but I'm more than grateful I wasn't there to experience dinosaurs, especially the ones that can fly. The larger dinosaurs would be terrifying, but one swooping down and taking you off like some birds do to their prey? That's a hard nope from me!

[Luna Ravenlong]

My first memory dinosaurs is going to the natural history museum in London when I was about six. There used by be a giant model of a diplodocus called “Dippy” in the entrance hall, and I’m pretty sure that’s when I learned what dinosaurs were (and what extinction meant). Dinosaurs were never a massive interest of mine, but I did like learning about how the fossils were discovered, and scientists and palaeontologists put together what they must have looked like and their habits just from these bone fragments.

 

Dinosaur fossils have been found as far back as the 3rd century, but it was unknown at the time what they were. For example, in China, it was believed that they were dragon bones and used in traditional medicines. The 17th century was when scholars began describing what we would now recognise as dinosaur bones. A femur from a megalosaurus was found in Cornwall and was described as “too large to belong to any known species.” The study of the “Great Fossilised Lizards” really picked up in the mid 19th century, and the National History Museum was established in 1842 to display  retinas national collection of fossils. 

 

[Skylar Peyton]

I have always loved dinosaurs.  I could watch the Jurassic Park/Jurassic World movies over and over.  My aunt got me into dinosaurs at an early age.  She loves any kind of movie with dangerous creatures (whether it be sharks or dinosaurs). I couldn't care less about shark movies unless the shark is prehistoric like in The Meg (the first one is an amazing movie, the second one is ok.) 

Choosing a favorite is tough, but I think my favorite dinosaur are Velociraptors, also called just raptors.  The raptors that are featured in the Jurassic Park/Jurassic World movies is actually a bit different than what they actually look like.  The real Raptors were a bit smaller and looked more like birds with their feathers.  The word raptor even means "bird of prey", as is mentioned in the first Jurassic Park movie.  My second favorite dinosaur is the Brachiosaurus  which is a herbivore with its extra long neck so it can reach the leaves on the tallest trees.  

 

My love and knowledge of dinosaurs grew as I got older. 

 

[Scarlet Robloutain]

I've always been fascinated by ancient history, and dinosaurs have naturally been a big part of that interest. The idea of these massive creatures roaming the Earth millions of years ago is just mind-blowing. I first heard about dinosaurs as a kid, probably through books and toys, and I was instantly hooked. Watching movies like "Jurassic Park" realised the picture I had of them, bringing these ancient creatures to life in such a realistic way.

 

Now, my fascination with ancient times has changed but remains strong. I still find dinosaurs incredibly interesting, especially with all the new discoveries and scientific advancements that continue to shed light on their world. The sense of wonder is still there, but it's now paired with a deeper appreciation for the science and history behind these magnificent creatures.

 

If I had to pick a favourite, it would be the Triceratops. Its unique look with the three horns and large frill stands out to me. Plus, it seems like a gentle creature despite its formidable appearance.