The four-winged dinosaur

Gr 9 Up-When the fossil remains of a pigeon-sized dinosaur, the Microraptor, were unearthed, it was discovered that a volcanic explosion in China 130 million years ago perfectly preserved impressions of feathers. What makes this a unique specimen is that the creature seemed to have had two rows of aerodynamic feathers on the arms and legs suitable for flying. This is the first animal ever discovered with four wings. Paleontologists from the American Museum of Natural History joined Chinese paleontologist Xu Xing, who first named the dinosaur, built models, and studied aerodynamics and biometrics in an attempt to discover if the Microraptor flew or glided and if it is an important link in the evolution of today's birds. Picture and sound quality are excellent. Some animals are digitally created to illustrate scientific concepts and show the reconstructed Microraptor in action. Students interested in paleontology and aerodynamics will find this program fascinating. With teacher guidance, it can also lead to interesting discussions about implied issues, such as the subjective interpretation of science. Overall, a worthwhile program.-Ryan Henry, Daviess County Public Library, Owensboro, KY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.