Scientists have dated 28 dinosaur eggs, discovered in the Bluehorn Fossil Reserve in central China, to be approximately 86 million years old using a method known as uranium-lead (U-PB) dating. This technique, which assesses uranium and lead ratios, involved using microlasers to collect fossilized eggshell samples. The eggs, identified as belonging to the Placoolithus tumiaolingensis species, provide insights into the ecological adaptations of dinosaurs in response to a cooling climate during the Cretaceous period.
U-PB dating is regarded as one of the most accurate geological dating methods, useful for analyzing materials that span millions of years. While this technique is not yet commonly applied to fossils, the findings suggest its potential for improving the understanding of dinosaur breeding and nesting behaviors. The porous nature of the eggs could indicate evolutionary adaptations, though their implications in a cooling environment are still uncertain.
The research underscores the significance of this site as a snapshot of Cretaceous dinosaur behavior, with hopes that the successful application of U-PB dating could enhance knowledge of dinosaur biology and nesting ecology globally.
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