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How the hidden lives of dinosaurs are being revealed by new technology

From migrating sauropods and semi-aquatic predators to doting parents, palaeontologists are finally uncovering the mysteries of the lifestyles of dinosaurs

By Colin Barras

10 September 2024

×îÐÂÂé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Paul Ryding/Joseph Woodhouse

Dinosaurs dominated the land for around 180 million years. Yet we have little idea what life was like for these prehistoric icons as interpreting fossils that are at least 65 million years old is fiendishly difficult. Finding out more had long seemed impossible. No longer.

In the past few decades, new technologies and new specimens have provided previously unimaginable windows into their behaviour and ecology. This, along with insights from living animals, is finally allowing palaeontologists to build a picture of dinosaur life ranging from parental care, migration and hunting styles to communication, sociality and combat.

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