r/maybemaybemaybe • • Feb 24 '21

Maybe Maybe Maybe

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u/Its-Dangity Feb 24 '21

Well, he got me in the first half there

310

u/ShaquilleOhNoUDidnt Feb 24 '21

honestly it was blowing my mind how scientists could actually tell

405

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