Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

The Yorkshire Philosophical Society and Cafe Scientifique York present:

‘Bright Lights & Dinosaurs’

By Dr Phil Manning, Head of the Palaeontology Research Group, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Science, University of Manchester, and Research Fellow at the Manchester Museum

Fossils possess hidden secrets encoded in their chemistry. Some of the brightest x-ray light sources (synchrotrons) in the world allow the imaging, analysis, and reconstruction of chemical traces from prehistoric life. In this lecture particle physics and palaeontology collide, shedding intense x-ray light on very ancient remains. From the writings of Archimedes to prehistoric traces of soft tissues, we explore fossilized chemical ghosts breathing new life into old bones. Fossil remains from T. rex to Triceratops and from Archaeopteryx to Confuciusornis will be unlocked. These chemical ghosts will undoubtedly yield benefits to our understanding of Earth processes, from the past and present, but also the future.

For more information on Dr Manning, his research and outreach, please see:

http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/video-gallery/95/

http://dinosaursabbatical.blogspot.co.uk/ 

http://www.seaes.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/staff/staffprofile.php?id=158

Listen to Phil Manning on a recent episode of BBC Radio 4’s Material World:
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/material/material_20120705-1800a.mp3 (article starts at 14min 20sec)

This event is organised jointly by YPS, Cafe Scientifique and York Museums Trust. To download a promotional poster please click:

https://www.ypsyork.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Bright-Lights-Dinosaurs.pdf

Report by Peter Hogarth

Most people think of palaeontologists as exotic figures, hammering on rocks in remote places. Phil Manning certainly does that – in Hell Creek South Dakota braving temperatures of 42C and dodging rattlesnakes – but he also deploys some of the latest science and technology to squeeze information out of his finds. 3D laser scanning of fossil bones enables the reconstruction of ‘virtual’ dinosaurs in a computer, which then works out how they moved.  Intense X rays generated by a particle accelerator make it possible for individual chemical elements in a fossil to be mapped. The distribution in a fossil bird of copper, a component of the dark pigment eumelanin in modern birds, makes it possible to establish the colour pattern, even when none of the original pigment exists.
Phil told us all this – and more – with great verve and enthusiasm.  How many of the younger members of the audience will be fired to follow in his footsteps?