"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

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LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> Jeff: WELCOME TO "DIRECT CONNECTION" WE'RE ON LOCATION TODAY FROM ONE OF THE BUSIEST PARKS OF MARYLAND OFF OF ROUTE 1 IN THE TOWN OF LAUREL.

TURNS OUT, THIS WAS ALSO ONE OF THE BUSIEST PARTS OF THE AREA ABOUT 100 MILLION YEARS AGO.

WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF A NEW FOSSIL DISCOVERY MADE RIGHT BEHIND ME.

WE SPOKE ABOUT IT WITH PALEONTOLOGIST JP HODNETT.

JP THANKS VERY MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

TELL US ABOUT THIS LITTLE PIECE OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY?

>> FIRST, I WELCOME YOU TO THE MARYLAND NATIONAL CAPITAL PARKS AND PLANNING COMMISSION DINOSAUR PARK.

WE ARE WALKING ON WHAT USED TO BE THE BOTTOM OF A RIVER 115 MILLION YEARS AGO.

AND ALONG THE RIVER WAS REDWOOD AND CYPRUS FOREST AND LIVING AMONGST THE TREES AND THE RIVER WERE CREATURES GOING BACK 50 MILLION YEARS BEFORE TYRANNOSAURUS REX.

AND THIS IS HOME OF THE MARYLAND STATE DINOSAUR, ASTRODON JOHNSTONI, WHICH IS A 70 FOOT LONG GIRAFFE LIKE DINOSAUR THAT USED TO EAT OFF THE TREES.

HERE IS OUR SPECIAL PLACE THAT IS THE BONE BED OF DINOSAUR PARK AND THIS IS WHERE WE'VE BEEN FINDING SO FAR AT LEAST SEVEN SPECIES OF DINOSAURS.

>> Jeff: HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN KNOWN THERE WERE FOSSILS IN THIS AREA?

AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN ABOUT THE BONE BED?

>> THAT IS A TWO-PART ANSWER.

THE FIRST PART, HOW LONG HAVE WE KNOWN FOSSILS HERE.

THAT GOES BACK TO THE MID-1800'S.

THE FIRST TWO FOSSILS OF ASTRODON JOHNSTONI OUR STATE DINOSAUR MAY HAVE COME FROM THIS SITE.

AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS TWO TEETH WERE FOUND.

THEY WERE HANDED OFF TO GEOLOGIST AND THE GEE OBVIOUSLY GIFT PASSED THEM ON TO A DENTIST CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON AND HE CREATED THE NAME OF ASTRODON JOHNSTONI IN 1859.

858 WAS THE FIRST DOCUMENTED FOSSILS.

WE HAVE BEEN FINDING FOSSILS CONTINUOUS UP UNTIL RECENTLY.

>> Jeff: IS THE WHOLE AREA CONSIDERED A BONE BED?

OR THIS SWATH HERE FROM THE RAIN?

>> THAT IS MORE EXCITING FOR US.

THE VERY FIRST BONE BED WAS DISCOVERED IN 1887 FROM A SITE DOWN THE ROAD FROM US HERE TOWARDS THE SOUTH.

AND PALEONTOLOGIST FROM YAL UNIVERSITY CAME UP AND DISCOVERED THIS COLLECTION OF BONES POST WERE BABY DINOSAUR BONES REFERRED TO THE ASTRODON JOHNSTONI.

AND HE TOOK ALL THOSE THINGS BACK TO YALE AND STUDIED THEM AND HANDED BACK TO THE SMITHSONIAN AND NOTHING LIKE THAT HAS BEEN THAT COLLECTION OF BONES FOUND SINCE THEN.

SINCE THEN WE'VE FOUND ISOLATED TEETH AND BONES AND OTHER DINOSAURS AND REPTILES BUT BITS AND PIECES.

BUT IN 2014 WE HAD A LARGE ROCK, FIVE FEET LONG AND INSIDE WAS A BONE.

WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW BIG THE BONE WAS, SO INITIALLY BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE CHUNK OF BONE KNOCKED ACCIDENTALLY BY A LAWN MOWER.

AND BECAUSE IT WAS IN IRON STONE, A SEDIMENTARY ROCK WHICH YOU FIND MINERALS IN WE LET NATURE TAKE ITS TOLL ON THE ROCK TO EXPOSE MORE TO GIVE US A BETTER IDEA HOW BIG IT WAS.

>> Jeff: IT WAS STUCK?

>> IT WAS BASICALLY STUCK.

AND HARD TO TAKE THE BONE OUT OF THE IRON STONE.

AS THE BONE GOT MORE EXPOSED THERE'S SOMETHING BIGGER AND SPECIAL HERE SO WE NEED TO TAKED WHOLE ROCK OUT.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A JOB IN ITSELF TO REMOVE THE ROCK.

WE WERE MAKING PLANS IN 2018 AND ABOUT TO GET GOING AND COVID HAPPENED AND DELAYED US INTO 2021.

WE STARTED DIGGING IN MAY OF 2021 AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW WE ARE DIGGING BEHIND THE ROCK AND REALIZING THIS IS BIG BUT BEHIND THE ROCK WAS MORE BONES.

STARTED OFF WITH A NECK BONE TO A DINOSAUR AND PIECES OF RIB, AND THEN AS THE IT STARTED TO GROW OUT WE FOUND A LARGE IRON STONE BLK WITH A BIG VERTEBRA ON TOP OF IT.

IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO CLEAR THAT TO GET THAT OUT WE FOUND THE THREE FOOT LONG SHINBONE TO A MEAT EATING DINOSAUR, THE T REX OF ITS TIME BEFORE T RECOLLECT.

>> THERE WAS A LONGTIME AGO.

I SEE THE WHITE FLAG AND A COUPLE AROUND THE SITE.

WHAT DOES THE FLAG TELL US?

>> IT'S TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW THAT RIGHT HERE THIS SPECIFIC SPOT THERE'S A BONE TO START TO PEEK OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE HILL.

WE HAVE HE AREMOVED BIG BONES THERE'S MORE TO BE FOUND GOING INTO THE HILL.

>> Jeff: WHICH PART IS THE BONE?

>> THIS PART RIGHT HERE THAT IS IN THE IRON STONE IT WAS A CHUNK OF BONE AND WE WERE REMOVING THE TIBIA OF THE MEAT EATING DINOSAUR WHERE HALF OF IT FELL OUT AND OOPS, SO WE BAGGED THAT.

>> Jeff: PALEONTOLOGISTS PUT THINGS BACK TOGETHER.

>> THAT IS WHY GLUE HAS INVENTED.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO GO THROUGH A DIG SITE AND FIND SOMETHING ELSE THAT FELL OUT OF THE HILL AND HOLD ON AND MARK WHERE IT CAME FROM AND GO BACK AND DIG UP THE REST.

WE'RE DIGGING UP THE REST.

>> Jeff: I SEE OTHER THINGS STICKING OUT SIMILAR COLOR TO THE BONE.

>> THE BONE IS IN THE IRON STONE THIS IS ORANGE ROCK HERE.

THIS DARK MATERIAL IS ACTUALLY FOSSILIZED WOOD.

SO BEING PART OF THIS SLOW-MOVING RIVER, THE WOODS WOULD GET IN THERE AND FLOAT AROUND BUT THEY WILL JAM UP THE LOGJAM AND TRAP THINGS AND THAT IS HOW WE THINK THIS BONE BED GOT DEVELOPED WE HAD A LOGJAM AND IT TRAPPED DINOSAUR PARTS ALTOGETHER.

>> Jeff: THE PIECE OF THAT WOOD IS RIGHT OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER.

>> THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE EXPOSED.

THE WAY THIS WOOD CALLED LICK NIGHT.

THIS WOOD IS SHY OF TURNING INTO COAL.

YOU CANNOT BURN IT WELL IT'S NASTY SMELLING.

>> CAN I TOUCH THAT?

>> THIS IS EXPOSED TO THE AIR THIS FALLS APART.

SO FOR US, SCIENTIFICALLY IT HAS VALUE IN TERMS THERE'S WOOD HERE BUT WE CAN'T TELL WHAT KIND OF TREE IT IS.

IT FALL AS PART HARD TO PRESERVE.

FOR US THIS GOES ON TO OUR SPOIL PILE AND PEOPLE WHEN THEY VISIT US DURING THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS WILL TAKE PIECES HOME WITH THEM.

>> Jeff: REALLY?

I THOUGHT THIS IS 100 MILLION YEAR OLD WOOD.

>> THIS PIECE OF WOOD HERE IS OLDER THAN TYRANNOSAURUS REX.

>> Jeff: DO THE COLORATIONS MEAN ANYTHING?

>> THE YELLOW COLOR IS A LITTLE BIT OF THE IRON MINERAL RESIDUE ATTACHED TO THE WOOD AND THE DARKNESS IS THE WOOD ITSELF.

SQUISHED ALL THOSE MILLIONS OF YEARS.

>> Jeff: AS YOU LOOK FOR OTHER BIG FINDS HERE, IS IT ALL MANUAL, IS THERE ANY TECHNOLOGY, RADAR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT.

>> THERE IS TECHNOLOGY GROUND RADAR BUT BECAUSE ALL OF THIS STUFF HERE IS SO OVERLAID INTO CRISSCROSSING EACH OTHER, THE RADAR WOULD BE USELESS ALL YOU WILL SEE THE SIGNATURE OF BLOBS OF ALL THINGS.

AND NO GUARANTEE IT IS A BONE SHAPE.

IT COULD BE WOOD, IRON STONE AND A LOT OF OUR BONES DO COME INTO THE IRON STONE.

THE IRON STONE USED TO REPRESENT THE WEIRD BACTERIAL MUCK THAT LOVE THE IRON MINERALS AND THEY WOULD HARDEN AROUND THE FOSSILS LIKE A SILLY PUTTY.

>> Jeff: WE'RE NOT DOWN THAT FAR IT'S NOT THE LA BRAY YEAH TAR PITS.

WE'RE CLOSE TO SURFACE LEVEL.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

SO I MEAN RIGHT BEFORE WE IDENTIFIED THERE WAS A BONE BED WE HAVE BEEN FINDING FOSSILS ON THE SURFACE FOR MANY DECADES.

WE FOUND TEETH OF CROCODILES, PIECES OF TURTLE.

LOTS OF DIFFERENT STUFF THROUGHOUT HERE SINCE THE PARK OPENED IN 2009.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE SCHOOL KIDS COMING HERE FOR FIELD TRIPS AND THIS IS NOT WELL-KNOWN.

I DON'T LIVE FAR FROM HERE AND HONESTLY I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS HERE BUT YOU HAVE SCHOOL KIDS COMING AND WHAT DO THEY GET TO DO?

AND YOUNG KIDS ARE INTO DINOSAURS THIS HAS TO BE COOL.

>> WE OFFER TWO PROGRAMS.

THE FIRST ONE IS IS OUR EDUCATIONAL PRIVATE PROGRAM FOR FIELD TRIPS FOR SCHOOLS AND YOU KNOW, LIKE DAYCARE CENTERS.

THEY COME HERE FOR TWO HOURS TO GET A PRESENTATION OF THE THINGS WE FIND HERE.

AND AFTER THE PRESENTATION, WE LET THEM LOOSE AND HELP US FIND MORE FOSSILS.

>> Jeff: WHAT KIND OF STUFF DO THEY FIND?

>> TYPICALLY LOTS OF PLANT FOSSILS BUT SOME WILL GET LUCKY AND FIND AMAZING CROCODILE TEETH, DINOSAUR FOSSILS.

NOT FAR FROM THIS PART AROUND THE CORNER WE HAD A SUMMER SCHOOL GROUP IN 2018 BEFORE COVID HAPPENED AND THE ONE OF THE BOYS I REMEMBER HIS FACE HE WAS LIKE THE BIGGEST DINOSAUR FAN AND HE FOUND ONE OF THE BEST ASTRODON JOHNSTONI TEETH THAT WE HAVE EVER FOUND HERE IN THE PARK.

AND THE HUMAN SMILE ON HIS FACE WAS AMAZING IMPACT.

>> Jeff: REWARDING AND NOT JUST SCIENTIFICALLY.

SO FOR NONSCHOOL STUDENTS WHO MIGHT WANT TO COME TAKE A LOOK WHEN ARE YOU OPEN?

>> WE HAVE FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS EVERY FIRST AND THIRD SATURDAYS AND WE OFFER PRIVATE PROGRAM WHERE UP TO 10 PEOPLE FOR LIKE $10 A PERSON CAN HELP US EXCAVATE.

>> Jeff: OTHER COOL STUFF IT'S NOT ALL DINOSAURS.

THERE WAS A STINGRAY.

>> A TINY BARB WHICH IS LIKE THE MOST TELLTALE STINGRAY FOSSIL IS THE SPINE ON THEIR TAILS WAS FOUND AT THIS SPOT AND IT'S THE OLDEST STINGRAY FOSSIL IN NORTH AMERICA.

>> Jeff: THE MAIN DINOSAUR, THE THING WHERE YOU FOUND THE SHINBONE, GIVE US AN IDEA THE SIZE OF THAT.

I'M TRYING TO PICTURE IF WE HAPPEN TO BE STANDING HERE 115 MILLION YEARS AND THIS GUY WALKED BY.

>> IF THIS GUY WALKED BY HIS KNEE WOULD BE HEAD HEIGHT.

WE FOUND AT THIS SPOT WAS A THREE FOOT LONG SHINBONE.

YOUR SHIN IS HERE ON YOUR LEG AND THE REST OF THE TOES AND THE FOOT AND THE THIGH BONE THIS IS PROBABLY I CAN'T REACH HIGH ENOUGH.

AND WE THINK MIGHT BE ACROCANTHOSAURUS.

ACROCANTHOSAURUS 115 MILLION YEARS AGO WAS THE APEX PREDATOR OF NORTH AMERICA.

THE T REX BEFORE THERE WAS A T REX.

>> Jeff: HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ATE?

>> WE ELSEWHERE, LIKE DOWN FROM THE SITE HERE, IN THIS PARK WE HAVE FOUND ACROCANTHOSAURUS TEETH FOR SURE.

THEY ARE DEFINITIVE ACROCANTHOSAURUS TEETH.

>> Jeff: AND FROM THE TEETH YOU CAN TELL?

>> ONE IS A MEAT EATING DINOSAUR AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT THESE THINGS WERE MAJOR PREDATORS THERE IS A TRACK SITE IN GLEN ROSE TEXAS THAT SHOWS FOOTPRINTS OF A ASTRODON JOHNSTONI.

FALLING IN A HERD AND TRAILING BEHIND IT IS AN ACROCANTHOSAURUS AND ONE POINT ITS ACTUAL TRAIL GOES INTO THE HERD AND THEN LIKE VEERS OFF.

AND THINKING IT WAS A SLOW-MOVING ATTACK.

ONE OF THE MEGA PREDATORS THAT DOES THAT TODAY ARE CUOMO DOUGH DRAGONS.

THEY ARE VICIOUS HUNTERS AND THEY WILL COME IN AND TAKE A MASSIVE BITE OUT OF THE PREY ITEM AND BASICALLY LET THE ANIMAL BLEED TO DEATH AND FOLLOW ALONG UNTIL IT DROPS DEAD.

AND THAT IS HOW WE THINK THAT ACROCANTHOSAURUS FED ON GIANT DINOSAURS WAS TAKE A BIG BITE FROM THE SIDE OF THE ANIMAL AND THEN FOLLOW IT UNTIL IT DIES.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO THE KIDS ASK YOU?

I'VE COME UP WITH MY GROWN-UP QUESTIONS, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE 10-YEAR-OLD KIDS INTO DINOSAURS WHAT DO THEY MOST WANT TO KNOW FROM YOU?

>> IS T REX FOUND HERE, NO.

BUT WE HAVE A GIANT MEAT EATING DINOSAUR.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE KIDS EXPECTING HUGE SKELETONS THEY WILL ASK WHERE ARE THE BONES.

AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR THEM.

A LOT OF BONES ARE SMALL AND WE TRY TO ADJUST THEY LOOK FOR OTHER COLORED THINGS AMONGST THE GRAYS AND ORANGES AND BLACKS AND LOOK FOR THINGS THE SIZE OF MY THUMBNAIL AND YOU WILL FIND BONES AND TEETH OF DINOSAURS.

>> Jeff: BUT THE POINT IS THIS IS A BIG CONCENTRATION.

>> YES.

THIS IS THE FIRST CONCENTRATION OF BONES TO BE FOUND SINCE 1887 AND OFFERING A LOT OF INFORMATION.

THAT SHINBONE OF ACROCANTHOSAURUS THAT IS THE BIGGEST MEAT EATING DINOSAUR FOSSIL EVER FOUND ON THIS SITE IN NORTH AMERICA.

SO THERE ARE OTHER MEAT EATING DINOSAURS ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION BUT THEY ARE YOUNGER AND SMALLER.

THERE'S MORE PARTS BUT THEY ARE NOT AS BIG AS OURS.

WE'RE HOPING TO FIND MORE OF OUR ACT ROW INSIDE OF THIS HILL HERE.

YEAH, THIS IS A HUGE BOON FOR US IN TERMS OF INFORMATION AND ALL THE FOSSILS AGAIN SEVEN DINOSAURS WERE FOUND IN ONE SPOT.

IT GIVES A LOT OF INFORMATION WHO LIVED HERE AND THE PARTS WE'RE FINDING IS MISSING FILLING PIECES TO QUESTIONS THAT MYSELF AND MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ASKING LIKE WHAT KIND OF DIVERSITY OF DINOSAURS DO WE HAVE FROM COAST TO COAST.

>> Jeff: I SAW SOMEWHERE THAT SOMEBODY SAID THIS WAS THE BIGGEST EAST COAST DISCOVERY IN 100 YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THIS BONE BED IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST FINDS PROBABLY FOR THIS DECADE.

>> Jeff: MARYLAND IS NOT WITHOUT FOSSILS.

>> RIGHT.

>> Jeff: BUT CALVERT CLIFFS PEOPLE ARE FINDING OLD SHARK'S TEETH AND IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN MARYLAND THE SIDE HILL CUT WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE ROCKS THEY FIND FOSSILIZED SHELLFISH.

HARD TO WRAP YOURSELF AROUND WHAT THE WORLD LOOKED LIKE 100 MILLION YEARS AGO.

>> MARYLAND HAS A RICH FOSSIL HISTORY.

A LO OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT.

AND ESPECIALLY FOR THIS COUNTY.

THE OLDEST ROCKS WE'RE STANDING ON IN TERMS OF FOSSILS THESE ROCKS ARE THE OLDEST FOSSILS YOU WILL FIND IN THIS COUNTY.

SOUTH YOU GO UP IN AGE BEING YOUNGER.

IF YOU GO TOWARDS OX SEN HILL YOU FIND MARINE FOSSILS THE GIANT REPTILE THAT ATE THE SHARK WE FIND THAT ANIMAL HERE AND GO FURTHER TOWARDS THE PATUXENT RIVER YOU FIND CRITTERS GOING BACK AFTER THE AGE OF THE DINOSAURS.

>> Jeff: ANY PRECAUTIONS TAKEN THERE'S CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES THIS IS A NEW OFFICE FLEX SPACE WAREHOUSE PARK ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN THEY BUILD A NEW BUILDING HERE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, DO YOU WANT THEM TO DO SURVEY FIRST?

>> IT'S USUALLY RECOMMENDED BUT BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF THIS SITE ALL THIS USED TO BE MINING OPERATION.

IT STARTED IN THE 1800'S AND IN THE 20TH CENTURY IT TURNED TO CLAY MINING AND IT WAS SUCH A DESTRUCTIVE PROCESS THE FOSSIL BED THIS IS IT.

EVERYTHING IS WIPED OUT.

IT'S SHEER LUCK THAT THIS IS PRODUCING SO MUCH.

DOWN THE ROAD, LEADING AWAY FROM DINOSAUR PARK, THAT USED TO HAVE THE FOSSIL BEARING LAYERS AND PEOPLE PICKED THROUGH IT FOR MUCH OF THE 20TH CENTURY AND EARLY BEGINNING BEFORE THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT WAS BUILT.

BUT THIS IS IT.

>> Jeff: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON A BIG FIND THRILL OF A LIFETIME.

I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO TALK WITH YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE IT, TOO.

THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: AND JOINING US NOW UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND PALEONTOLOGIST TOM HOLES.

SIR YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE FIND IN LAUREL?

>> YES.

SO WHEN WE THINK OF DINOSAURS AND DINOSAUR FINDS WE THINK ABOUT PLACES LIKE MONTANA AND WYOMING AND UTAH.

OUT WEST OR MAYBE BROADLY PATAGONIA OR MONGOLIA AND TRUE THOSE PLACES YIELDED A LOT OF GREAT FOSSILS AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT THE DINOSAURS DID NOT LIVE HERE, THEY ABSOLUTELY DID.

BUT WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT MODERN TOPOGRAPHY.

WE DON'T HAVE THIS RUGGED BAD LANDS AND THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF RAIN A LOT OF GROUND COVER THAT IS GREEN AND WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE GREEN WE HAVE BUILDINGS AND PARKING LOTS AND BELTWAYS ON TOP OF IT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE AS GOOD AN ACCESS TO THE FOSSIL RECORD IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY AS WE DO OUT WEST.

AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS SITE SO IMPORTANT.

IT GIVES US A GLIMPSE INTO THE DIVERSITY OF CREATURES THAT LIVED AT THIS TIME SPACE 115 MILLION YEARS AGO IN THE WASHINGTON D.C.

REGION THAT WE OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE.

SO PREVIOUSLY WE FOUND BITS AND PIECES OF ISOLATED BONE HERE AND ISOLATED TOOTH HERE WHICH IS GREAT IT TOLD US THE CREATURES WERE HERE.

WHAT THE NEW FIND GIVES US IS AN ASSEMBLY PLEDGE OF BONES AT THE SAME SPOT, THE SAME MOMENT IN TIME AND PACE OF MULTIPLE CREATURES THAT WERE LIVING AND DYING SIDE-BY-SIDE.

AT LEAST WITHIN THIS SAME SEASON OR SO.

AND THAT WILL GIVE US A MUCH BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, THE EEK COG OF THE ECOLOGY OF THE WORLD OF LAUREL AT THAT TIME WAS LIKE.

>> Jeff: IS THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IN AGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DINOSAURS?

WHY WE DON'T STILL HAVE LARGE DINOSAURS ROAMING THE MEDIAN OF ROUTE 1?

>> ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME DISSENTERS OUT THERE AND A FEW SUBJECTS IN SCIENCE THAT DON'T HAVE DISSENTERS, THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THE REASON WE DON'T HAVE TYRANNOSAURUS REX AND HORN DINOSAURS AND THE GIANT FORMS STILL WITH US TODAY WAS THE IMPACT OF AN ASTEROID ABOUT 10-15 KILOMETRES ACROSS.

ABOUT THE SIZE OF MANHATTAN ISLAND THAT STRUCK THE YUCATAN 66 MILLION YEARS AGO BY OUR CURRENT DATING AND THIS CAUSED A DEVASTATING SERIES OF GLOBAL TRANSFORMATIONS, FIRE RAINING FROM THE SKY FOLLOWED BY INTENSE COLD, COLDER THAN THE ICE AGE THAT GRIPED THE PLANET AN AGE OF DARKNESS.

AND WERE CREATURES THAT WERE LARGE AND HAD LARGE APPETITES.

THEY COULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH.

AND IT'S WHEN THE LITTLE THINGS COUNTED THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MANAGED TO SURVIVE, INCLUDING BACK TO OUR ANCESTORS.

SO ALTHOUGH -- >> Jeff: WHAT'S THE CLOSE OF THE THING WE HAVE TO A DIRECT DES SENTIENT MAYBE BIRDS?

>> SURE.

BIRDS ARE ACTUALLY DINOSAURS TECHNICALLY SPEAKING.

A DINOSAUR ISN'T JUST A GIANT MONSTER.

A DINOSAUR IS ANY DISSENDENT OF A MEG SLOWER RUSS AND EVERY LIVING BIRD FROM A CHICKEN TO A HUMMINGBIRD TO AN OSTRICH IS A DES SENDENT OF THAT ANCESTOR.

A BIRD IS JUST AS MUCH A AN SESSER.

>> Jeff: WOW.

WHAT ERA ARE WE TALKING ABOUT.

EVERYBODY HEARD OF THE JURASSIC ERA.

THAT'S NOT WHEN THE LAUREL DINOSAUR TO SIMPLIFY IT WAS WALKING AROUND?

>> SURE.

SO THE FINDS AT LAUREL ARE FROM WE CALL THE EARLY CRETACEOUS.

SO THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD THAT'S THE LAST OF THE THREE PERIODS OF THE AGE OF DINOSAUR.

THE CRETACEOUS ENDS WITH THIS GREAT IMPACT AND THAT'S THE AGE OF TYRANNOSAURUS REX, TRYER IS TOPS AND THE CLASSIC DINOSAURS THAT ACTUALLY FRANKLY I'M GOING OUT TO DIG OUT WEST LATER THIS WEEK.

BUT THE CRETACEOUS WAS A LONG PERIOD OF TIME MORE TIME SEPARATES THE BEGINNING OF THE CRETACEOUS AND THE END OF THE CRETACEOUS THAN SEPARATES THE END OF THE CRETACEOUS AND US.

SO THE CREATURES IN LAUREL ARE 50 MILLION YEARS EARLIER THAN TYRANNOSAURUS REX.

BUT THEY ARE ABOUT 30 OR SO MILLION YEARS AFTER BRONT SAUER RUSS AND THE JURASSIC DINOSAURS.

>> Jeff: THIS IS LOCATED NOT TOO FAR FROM CAMPUS THERE IN COLLEGE PARK.

DO YOU SEE TAKEN YOUR STUDENTS ON FIELD TRIP?

WE KNOW A LOT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS ARE GOING TO FIELD TRIPS THERE.

WOULD IT MAKE SENSE FOR COLLEGE KIDS TO LOOK AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IN FACT, I HAVE HISTORICALLY AND RECENTLY BROUGHT STUDENTS OUT TO THAT SITE.

I USED TO BRING STUDENTS OUT TO THE SITE BEFORE IT WAS A FORMAL PARK WHEN IT WAS JUST A CLAY PIT QUARRY.

AND THEN PREPANDEMIC I BROUGHT STUDENTS OUT THERE AND AFTER THE WON BED WAS DISCOVERED -- BONE BED WAS DISCOVERED IN APRIL ON EARTH DAY, I LOOKED AT MY TEACHING SCHEDULE AND I SAW I HAD A LAB FROM 2-5 FOR ONE CLASS, HISTORICAL GEOLOGY, THE SUBJECT WHERE YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE EARTH AND SAID, SCREW WHAT IS ON THE SYLLABUS I'M GETTING A UNIVERSITY VAN AND WE'RE GOING TO GO THERE AND I WILL TAKE THE STUDENTS OUT TO A SITE WHERE THEY COULD PROSPECT FOR DINOSAUR BONES AND FOSSIL WOOD.

AND THEY COULD LOOK AT THIS EXCAVATION.

AS LONG AS THAT BONE BED KEEPS ON GOING AND AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL IT'S GOING INTO THE HILL I WILL SET ASIDE ONE LAB SECTION EACH YEAR TO TAKE THE STUDENTS RIGHT UP THE STREET.

BECAUSE I CAN GET UP THERE AND BACK WITHIN THE THREE-HOUR LAB TIME AND GIVE THEM THE EXPERIENCE LOOKING AT A GLIMPSE OF THE GEOLOGY OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY MARYLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CRETACEOUS.

>> IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE PRESERVATION OF A FOSSIL RECORD LIKE THIS IS LESS RARE THAN CERTAINLY AN AMATEUR WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

I THOUGHT IT REQUIRED THE TAR PITS OR A SPECIFIC CON INFLUENCE OF EVENTS TON ABLE TO PRESERVE THINGS AT THE AMBER RECORD.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE'S STUFF ALL OVER THE PLACE AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT?

>> SURE.

WHEN YOU GO OUTSIDE, AND YOU SEE STREAMS GOING ON OR GO TO A A SWAMP OR A BEACH, YOU SEE THERE'S A LOT OF SEDIMENT MOVED AROUND AND YOU MIGHT SEE MAYBE SOME DEAD ANIMALS OR SOMETHING THERE.

THOSE ARE ALL POTENTIAL FOSSILS IN THE MAKING.

A LOT OF THE SPOTS IN WHICH FOSSILS COULD BEGIN TO FORM ARE RATHER MUNDANE COMMONPLACE.

AND IT'S REALLY JUST THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT FILTERS OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME TO WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEY GET BURIED.

DO THEY GET BURIED FAST ENOUGH SO THEY DON'T DECAY?

IF THAT HAPPENS IS THAT AREA OF ROCK PRESERVED TO MAKE IT TODAY?

OR WAS IT ERODED AWAY AND WE NEVER GOT TO SEE IT.

AND CLOSE TO TODAY, WAS IT EXCAVATED BY NATURAL CAUSES LIKE A STREAM OR THE UPLIFT OF ONE BAD LANDS OR DIGGING UP CLAY FOR A QUARRY PURPOSE TO ACCESS IT.

SO ABSOLUTELY THERE IS A LOT MORE FOSSILS OUT THERE THAN ARE EXPOSED.

WE HAVE TO BE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME IN GEOLOGIC HISTORY AND THE RIGHT SPOT ON THE EARTH IN ORDER TO SEE THOSE FOSSILS FOR OURSELVES.

>> Jeff: AND IT IS A MUCH DIFFERENT QUESTION TO ASK ABOUT FINDING NOT JUST FOSSILS BUT FINDING PRESERVED DNA SOMEHOW?

>> YES.

DNA WONDERFUL MOLECULE BUT IT HAS A TENDENCY TO BREAKDOWN OVER TIME.

AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVE PALEODNA AND EVERY YEAR, A PAPER WILL COME OUT WHERE THEY ARE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES AS TO HOW LONG THAT DNA CAN BE PRESERVED AND RECOVERED.

JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS NOW WE'VE REACHED THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DNA FROM TWO MILLION YEARS AGO FROM FOSSIL MA'AM HALLS.

BUT IT IS A FRACTION WAY BACK TO 66 TO GET T REX OR 115 MILLION YEARS TO GET THE LAUREL DINOSAURS.

BUT I WON'T SAY ANYMORE THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

THE TECHNIQUES ARE GETTING BETTER.

AND BIOGEOCHEMISTS ARE GETTING CLEVER ABOUT THE ABILITY TO EXTRACT INFORMATION FROM INSIDE BONE.

SO WHO KNOWS.

MAYBE SOME DAY WE'LL HAVE DNA SEQUENCES FROM THE DINOSAURS THEMSELVES.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE MOST INTERESTING AREA OF RESEARCH RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING AREA OF RESEARCH IN PALEONTOLOGY SORT OF BROADLY SPEAKING IS THE VARIETY OF NEW TECHNIQUES THAT PEOPLE CAN APPLY TO FOSSILS WHETHER IT'S MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OR STUDYING BIOMECHANICS USING HIGH-END COMPUTERS.

OR JUST EXPLORING INTO NEW SPOTS IN TIME AND SPACE.

AS WE ADD SORT OF INCREMENTALLY FASTER AND FASTER AREAS OF RESEARCH, IT REALLY INCREASES OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ANCIENT WORLD.

>> Jeff: PROFESSOR TOM HOLTZ FROM COLLEGE PARK WE APPRECIATE THE TIME THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO PROFESSOR TOM HOLTZ AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

FROM ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.