Live preparation of a probable new species of Ichthyosaur
Dr Steve Etches, a familiar figure for Rockwatchers visiting Dorset or attending our residential fieldtrip, will be preparing a rare Ichthyosaur in his glass walled workshop at his museum. Visitors will be able to go along and watch him working on the fossil and also watch him from above via the live feed on a large television screen. It’s a rare chance to witness live the painstaking preparation of...
Oliver’s Fossil Find
Oliver recently discovered a fossil whilst exploring the Lea Quarry on the Wenlock Edge in Shropshire, which is a popular Rockwatch fieldtrip location and sent this fabulous find in to ask for help in identifying it. We’d love to go back there again with Rockwatchers as soon as it is safe for us to do so! Already knowledgeable about the local geology of the area and keen to understand what he had found, Oliver explained,...
Bone Cancer Diagnosed in Dinosaur
Rockwatchers interested in the fields of geology and medicine may be intrigued to read a post written by Gretchen Vogel of Science magazine that reports on some fascinating findings recently published in The Lancet Oncology confirming a bone cancer diagnosis in a dinosaur. The dinosaur bone belonged to a Centrosaurus, which was a horned, plant-eating dinosaur. This particular dinosaur, discovered in Alberta in Canada, lived...
Fossil of Hell Ant proves different killer strategy
Rockwatchers may be interested to read a post written by Lucy Hicks of Science magazine who reports on a new-found fossil which proves how an ancient species of ants known as Hell Ants – or Ceratomyrmex ellenbergeri – killed their prey differently to modern ants. Lucy writes that the scientists who wrote the paper for Current Biology believe that these ancient extinct species of ants caught and killed prey by moving its...
Rockstar Competiton!
A perfect time to work on your entry to our Rockstar Competition! This is a past entry to inspire you – a wood ammonite! Your entry can be anything to do with geology – rocks, fossils or minerals. How about a dinosaur picture, a record of your past fossil finds, a story, a film, a snakes and ladders game with dinosaurs and sink holes! Whatever you like, but it needs geological content that is accurate. The judges will...