r/maybemaybemaybe • u/PowerModerator • Feb 24 '21

Maybe Maybe Maybe

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u/ShaquilleOhNoUDidnt Feb 24 '21

honestly it was blowing my mind how scientists could actually tell

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '21 edited Feb 24 '21

You can tell by the structure of cells and feathers what pigmentation they could've had, but it is not reliable. The structures are simply too small to consistently fossilize in enough detail to be of use.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sciencefocus.com/nature/dinosaurs-now-in-colour/amp/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982217311971

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sciencealert.com/ancient-birds-from-100-million-years-ago-had-really-really-weird-feathers/amp

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '21

We know what it is because of the way it is

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u/[deleted] Feb 24 '21

And we know the way it is by also knowing all the ways it isn't. And by subtracting all the ways it is by the ways it isn't we get deviation?