Ancient Feather Discoveries Uncover Startling Connections Between Dinosaurs and Birds
Originally Published 2 years ago — by SciTechDaily
A new study using powerful X-rays has revealed that dinosaur feathers had a protein composition similar to modern birds, suggesting an early origin of bird feather chemistry, possibly 125 million years ago. The research found that the alpha-proteins in fossil feathers likely formed due to heat during fossilization, rather than being originally present. This discovery provides insights into the evolution of feathers and highlights the close relationship between dinosaurs and birds.