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North Carolina State University Professor Part Of Team That Has Discovered A New Dinosaur

Author Melanie Day
BILLINGSHURST, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 14: A Plesiosaur skeleton from the Upper Jurassic period during a press preview at Summers Place Auctions on November 14, 2019 in Billingshurst, England. The piece makes up part of a collection, including taxidermy and dinosaur skeletons, and will go up for sale during the 'Evolution Auction' on November 19, 2019.

Think you know everything about dinosaurs? Not even close. Scientists are still learning more about these creatures that roamed the earth billions of years ago. And a North Carolina State University scientist was part of a research team that recently unearthed a new, previously unknown dinosaur. Lindsay Zanno who is an associate research professor at North Carolina State University and the head of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences was part of this research team. She was joined by Terry Gates and Haviv Avrahami, both of NC State and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. As well as Ryan Tucker of Stellenbosch University and Peter Makovicky of the University of Minnesota.

The New Dinosaur Iani smithi

This new dinosaur is now referred to as Iani smithi. The name comes from Janus, the two-faced god who symbolized transition. According to a press release from NC State, “Iani smithi lived in what is now Utah during the mid-Cretaceous, approximately 99 million years ago.” Noteworthy features of the dinosaur include a powerful jaw structure that researchers theorize was used to cut through tough plants. Iani smithi is believed to have been a plant-eating dinosaur. The skeleton including a skull, vertebrae, and limbs was recovered in Utah’s Cedar Mountain Formation. The size of the skeleton leads the researchers including Zanno to believe it was a juvenile dinosaur.

“Finding Iani was a streak of luck. We knew something like it lived in this ecosystem because isolated teeth had been collected here and there, but we weren’t expecting to stumble upon such a beautiful skeleton, especially from this time in Earth’s history. Having a nearly complete skull was invaluable for piecing the story together,” says Lindsay Zanno.

Furthermore, it is believed that the Iani smithi could be one of the last species of dinosaurs that lived in North America. That makes this discovery an important key in understanding the changes our planet experienced. Learn more about this fascinating discovery here.

4 Spectacular Celestial Events Await You In The Coming Weeks

June is here, and guess what? There are some cool astronomical events coming your way, right above you, as we transition from spring to summer. In June, there are several fascinating celestial events to look forward to. One notable event is the Summer solstice, which marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s the day with the longest daylight and shortest night of the year.

Additionally, June often brings a variety of meteor showers, such as the Arietids and the Bootids. These meteor showers offer the opportunity to witness shooting stars streaking across the night sky. Depending on your location and timing, there may be planets visible in the evening or morning sky, such as Jupiter, Saturn, or Venus.

Some people are deeply fascinated with the ever-changing phases of the moon and the breathtaking displays of meteor showers. For them, these celestial events are like magical experiences. These stargazing and astronomy enthusiasts eagerly mark their calendars, ready to immerse themselves in the beauty and wonder of these celestial phenomena whenever they occur.

Get ready to witness these four celestial happenings over the next few weeks.

  • June 3: The Strawberry Moon

    We’re in for a treat on June 3 at 11:42 p.m. It’s going to be the brightest full moon of the season, which is called the Strawberry Moon. The name was given by the Algonquin tribes. It can be seen from the evening of Friday, June 2, all the way till the morning of Monday, June 5, as NASA says.

  • June 7: Peak of Arietid Meteor Shower

    The Arietid meteor shower is happening, and it’s going on until June 17. But here’s the exciting part, it will reach its peak on June 7, says the International Meteor Organization (IMO). It’s a daytime meteor shower, but spotting them might be a bit challenging. These meteors streak across the sky while the sun is shining. But no worries, NASA says if you’re up for the challenge, try looking towards the Aries constellation right before dawn. You might just catch a few of these elusive shooting stars.

    ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2021

  • June 10: Peak of Zeta Perseid Meteor Shower

    Also, coming up in June is the zeta Perseids. They’re going to hit their peak on June 10, according to the IMO. Like many others, this meteor shower may be difficult to see. NASA says you should try gazing 5 degrees above the horizon at sunrise. You might be able to catch a few meteors streaking through the sky.

  • June 21: Summer Solstice

    It’s not only the official beginning of the summer season on June 21, but it’s also one of the longest days of the year. It’s called the summer solstice. This is when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and starts heading south as the year goes on.

 

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.

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