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July 21, 2005
Terrible Claw
Dr. John Ostrum has died. It was Dr. Ostrum's discovery in the early 1960's of Deinonychus ("terrible claw"), and subsequent work, that utterly changed the modern conception of dinosaurs. We now believe that the dinosaurs, at least the therapods, were warm-blooded (or some similar physiology), smart, fast and agile. In addition, it was Dr. Ostrum's work that established the link between dinosaurs and birds, and his work had an enormous influence on the book "Jurassic Park". Interestingly, while the Deinonychus has not, so far as I know, been found with fossilized feathers or imprints, other dromeosaurs have, much much later than Dr. Ostrum's theories about bird links to dinosaurs having become accepted. Dr. Ostrum was a treasure of the human race, and we are poorer for his departure, but richer for his having lived.
UPDATE: Political Animal also takes note, but of course the commenters cannot resist the temptation to bash the free market, young Earth creationists (which is, well, appropriate in this context) and Dick Cheney. Bah! Just remember the man for what he was; not everything has to be political.
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Comments
I was not aware that Ostrum had died. Thank you for pointing that out.
As someone who never outgrew his fascination for dinosaurs, I was delighted when Ostrum, Bakker, and others revived the study of these magnificent animals.
Posted by: Roderick Reilly at July 27, 2005 3:39 PM