How pterosaurs learned to fly: scientists have been looking in the wrong place to solve this mystery

New findings may have solved the debate around why scientists have never found the missing link between dinosaurs and pterosaurs.

Emma Dunne, Assistant Professor in Paleobiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg • conversation
June 18, 2025 • ~8 min

How pterosaurs can inspire aircraft design

Looking back in time could inspire the aircraft innovations of the future.

Michael Habib, Adjunct Professor, Biology, College of the Canyons • conversation
June 13, 2025 • ~10 min

How ancient flying reptiles ruled the skies – new research

Pterosaurs may help inspire future technology.

Natalia Jagielska, PhD Researcher in Geosciences , University of Edinburgh • conversation
Jan. 9, 2025 • ~6 min

A 149 million-year-old pterosaur is Britain’s largest flying animal – how scientists proved it from a single finger bone

The Jurassic pterosaur’s size was estimated from only its finger bone.

Jason Gilchrist, Lecturer in the School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University • conversation
Sept. 12, 2024 • ~8 min

New fossil brings us a step closer to unravelling the mystery of feather evolution

Understanding more about feathers could change the way we think about dinosaurs.

Maria McNamara, Professor, Palaeobiology, University College Cork • conversation
May 21, 2024 • ~7 min

Newly identified prehistoric pterosaur will help us understand evolution of flying reptiles

The Isle of Skye has a rich palaeontological heritage, so perhaps it’s no surprise scientists made an important discovery there.

Paul Barrett, Individual Merit Researcher, Natural History Museum • conversation
Feb. 6, 2024 • ~7 min

Why we think that some extinct giant flying reptiles cared for their young

Reptiles don’t generally care for their offspring, but some pterosaurs may have bucked the trend.

Jason Gilchrist, Lecturer in the School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University • conversation
Aug. 18, 2023 • ~7 min

Fossil study brings us one step closer to revealing how 'flying dinosaurs' took flight

Prehistoric reptiles like pterodactyls took flight long before bats and birds, but we don’t know how it happened.

Ben Igielman, PhD Candidate, Palaeontology, University of Oxford • conversation
Jan. 17, 2023 • ~6 min

Baby giant pterosaurs may have driven smaller species extinct, fossil discovery shows

We examined pterosaur jaw fragments from the Moroccan desert to understand more about how these creatures evolved.

David Martill, Professor of ​Palaeobiology, University of Portsmouth • conversation
Nov. 11, 2021 • ~7 min

Largest ever flying creatures had longer necks than giraffes – we found out how these pterosaurs kept their heads up

Gigantic flying reptiles had impressive wingspans of up to 12 metres – and a special trick in their necks.

Cariad Williams, PhD Candidate, Paleoentomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • conversation
April 14, 2021 • ~7 min

/

2