Scientists Reconstruct a Dinosaur’s Pea-Sized Brain

A boy looks on at the skull of a dinosaur fossil in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo: Chiang Ying-ying / AP
A boy looks on at the skull of a dinosaur fossil in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo: Chiang Ying-ying / AP
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Scientists Reconstruct a Dinosaur’s Pea-Sized Brain

A boy looks on at the skull of a dinosaur fossil in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo: Chiang Ying-ying / AP
A boy looks on at the skull of a dinosaur fossil in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo: Chiang Ying-ying / AP

The study of the brain of extinct organisms and speies sheds light on their behaviors. However, soft tissues, like the brain, are not usually preserved for long periods. Hence, researchers reconstruct the brains of dinosaurs by analyzing the cranial cavities under computed tomography. It demands well-preserved braincases (the upper back part of the skull), only discovered in 2015. In that year, a Brazilian paleontologist from the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Dr. Rodrigo Temp Müller unearthed an exceptionally well-preserved skeleton from a fossiliferous locality in southern Brazil.

The skeleton, approximately 233 million years old (Triassic period), belongs to a small carnivorous dinosaur named Buriolestes schultzi. Its well preserved entire braincase helped researchers reconstruct the first complete brain of one of the oldest dinosaurs worldwide- whose size was similar to a hunting dog. The study was published in in the latest issue of the Journal Nature of Anatomy.

According to a report published on the university's website, the brain of Buriolestes schultzi is relatively small and weighs approximately 1.5 grams, which is slightly lighter than a pea. The shape resembles the general morphology of a crocodile brain. In addition, the researchers found well-developed structures in the cerebellum that indicate the capability to track moving prey. Conversely, the olfactory sense was not high; therefore, it is more likely that dinosaur hunted and tracked prey based on optical capability rather than its olfactory sense.

Despite the carnivorous feeding behavior of this dinosaur, it belongs to the lineage of giant, long-necked, herbivorous sauropods, the largest land animals that ever lived. However, Buriolestes schultzi is considered the earliest member of this lineage. So, the new brain reconstruction allows researchers to analyze the brain evolution of this impressive lineage.



Cold Winds Sweep Beijing, Closing Key Sites, Disrupting Travel

 A child dressed as the emperor reacts after retrieving his crown blown away outside the Forbidden City during high winds in Beijing, China, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP)
A child dressed as the emperor reacts after retrieving his crown blown away outside the Forbidden City during high winds in Beijing, China, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP)
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Cold Winds Sweep Beijing, Closing Key Sites, Disrupting Travel

 A child dressed as the emperor reacts after retrieving his crown blown away outside the Forbidden City during high winds in Beijing, China, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP)
A child dressed as the emperor reacts after retrieving his crown blown away outside the Forbidden City during high winds in Beijing, China, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP)

China's capital hunkered down on Saturday as rare typhoon-like gales swept northern regions, forcing the closure of historic sites and disrupting travel while bringing late snowfalls and hailstone showers in some areas.

Windows shook and trees crashed onto footpaths and cars, rocked by gusts of wind driven by a cold vortex from neighboring Mongolia that sent temperatures plunging by more than 12 degrees Celsius (22 degrees Fahrenheit).

The winds, which started on Friday, are set to continue over the weekend, packing gusts of up to 150 kph (90 mph), the official Xinhua news agency said. They brought late snowfalls in Inner Mongolia and hailstones in southern China.

Beijing issued its second-highest gale alert this weekend, for the first time in a decade, warning 22 million residents to avoid non-essential travel as winds could potentially break April records dating from 1951.

The winds dominated social media chats, with many people expressing concern for food delivery workers braving the conditions.

"In weather like this, we can choose not to order delivery - it's too hard for them," one Weibo user wrote.

By 11.30 a.m. (0330 GMT), 838 flights had been cancelled at Beijing's two major airports, the Flight Master tracking app showed, while the capital's historic sights and parks were shut, with some old trees trimmed in preparation for the cold blast.

The winds forced the postponement of a half-marathon set for Sunday featuring humanoid robots competing with humans in a bid to showcase China's technological advances.

Sandstorms raging over a stretch from Inner Mongolia to the Yangtze River region crippled road travel in eight provinces, Xinhua and state broadcaster CCTV said.

Sandstorms were expected to impact Shanghai from Saturday afternoon through to Sunday morning.

Strong winds bringing sand and dust from Mongolia are routine in spring, but climate change has made weather events more extreme.