Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration
@elevationscience.bsky.social
Hands-on paleontology in Montana.
Research. Education. Outreach.
Fossil digs, field courses, and behind-the-scenes science!
Research. Education. Outreach.
Fossil digs, field courses, and behind-the-scenes science!
Reposted by Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration
Outreach today in Columbus, GA! Teaching 6th graders all day about the paleontology of the eastern United States! 🦴🦕
January 13, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Outreach today in Columbus, GA! Teaching 6th graders all day about the paleontology of the eastern United States! 🦴🦕
Ajkaceratops...is actually a ceratopsian?
A new paper confirms that Ajkaceratops does indeed belong to Ceratopsia! Not only that, but some other rhabdodontids do too.
Were you surprised by this news? Congratulations to Susannah Maidment and fellow authors on this paper! 🎉
A new paper confirms that Ajkaceratops does indeed belong to Ceratopsia! Not only that, but some other rhabdodontids do too.
Were you surprised by this news? Congratulations to Susannah Maidment and fellow authors on this paper! 🎉
January 11, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Ajkaceratops...is actually a ceratopsian?
A new paper confirms that Ajkaceratops does indeed belong to Ceratopsia! Not only that, but some other rhabdodontids do too.
Were you surprised by this news? Congratulations to Susannah Maidment and fellow authors on this paper! 🎉
A new paper confirms that Ajkaceratops does indeed belong to Ceratopsia! Not only that, but some other rhabdodontids do too.
Were you surprised by this news? Congratulations to Susannah Maidment and fellow authors on this paper! 🎉
Fossil Friday — Hovda Highlights! 🦴
In 2025, we opened a new site discovered in 2024. It's small, but productive; producing limb bones, vertebrae, ribs, and more — likely sauropods, theropods, and maybe early ornithopters like Dryosaurus.
In 2025, we opened a new site discovered in 2024. It's small, but productive; producing limb bones, vertebrae, ribs, and more — likely sauropods, theropods, and maybe early ornithopters like Dryosaurus.
January 9, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Fossil Friday — Hovda Highlights! 🦴
In 2025, we opened a new site discovered in 2024. It's small, but productive; producing limb bones, vertebrae, ribs, and more — likely sauropods, theropods, and maybe early ornithopters like Dryosaurus.
In 2025, we opened a new site discovered in 2024. It's small, but productive; producing limb bones, vertebrae, ribs, and more — likely sauropods, theropods, and maybe early ornithopters like Dryosaurus.
New blog post in our new series The Rambling Scientist: elevationscience.org/field-journa...
Today’s topic: the 2025 Aurora Borealis
Today’s topic: the 2025 Aurora Borealis
Looking Up: Understanding the Northern Lights — Elevation Science Institute
As a scientist who spends just as much time looking at the sky as looking at the ground for dinosaurs (or so I’m told), there’s no way I’d pass up a great opportunity to watch one of nature’s…
elevationscience.org
January 8, 2026 at 1:30 AM
New blog post in our new series The Rambling Scientist: elevationscience.org/field-journa...
Today’s topic: the 2025 Aurora Borealis
Today’s topic: the 2025 Aurora Borealis
Reposted by Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration
I filmed a new segment today for Elevation Science! 🦕
This new video format will feature short-form paleontology scicomm mini-sodes, from new prehistoric animal discoveries to myth-busting.
But what should we call it? Votes are welcomed!
Paleo Bites
Paleo Nuggets
Paleo Pops
Or something else?
This new video format will feature short-form paleontology scicomm mini-sodes, from new prehistoric animal discoveries to myth-busting.
But what should we call it? Votes are welcomed!
Paleo Bites
Paleo Nuggets
Paleo Pops
Or something else?
January 7, 2026 at 8:28 PM
I filmed a new segment today for Elevation Science! 🦕
This new video format will feature short-form paleontology scicomm mini-sodes, from new prehistoric animal discoveries to myth-busting.
But what should we call it? Votes are welcomed!
Paleo Bites
Paleo Nuggets
Paleo Pops
Or something else?
This new video format will feature short-form paleontology scicomm mini-sodes, from new prehistoric animal discoveries to myth-busting.
But what should we call it? Votes are welcomed!
Paleo Bites
Paleo Nuggets
Paleo Pops
Or something else?
We did it — we surpassed our fundraiser goal! 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone who donated, shared, and supported Elevation Science. Your generosity fuels hands-on discovery, outreach, and work on the next incredible find.
January 7, 2026 at 1:30 AM
We did it — we surpassed our fundraiser goal! 🎉 Huge thanks to everyone who donated, shared, and supported Elevation Science. Your generosity fuels hands-on discovery, outreach, and work on the next incredible find.
We're kicking off a new series on the Elevation Science blog: The Rambling Scientist, by Dr. Rick Schmidt.
It’s for anyone who's ever looked at the stars, the sky, the Earth, and thought, “Huh… what’s going on here?”
Stay tuned on The Field Journal.
elevationscience.org/field-journal
It’s for anyone who's ever looked at the stars, the sky, the Earth, and thought, “Huh… what’s going on here?”
Stay tuned on The Field Journal.
elevationscience.org/field-journal
January 4, 2026 at 7:31 PM
We're kicking off a new series on the Elevation Science blog: The Rambling Scientist, by Dr. Rick Schmidt.
It’s for anyone who's ever looked at the stars, the sky, the Earth, and thought, “Huh… what’s going on here?”
Stay tuned on The Field Journal.
elevationscience.org/field-journal
It’s for anyone who's ever looked at the stars, the sky, the Earth, and thought, “Huh… what’s going on here?”
Stay tuned on The Field Journal.
elevationscience.org/field-journal
Big congrats to former Elevation Science intern Jeb Bugos! 🎉
Jeb is a co-author on a 2025 Science paper featuring new research related to Nanotyrannus. So proud to see our past interns contributing to paleontology!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Jeb is a co-author on a 2025 Science paper featuring new research related to Nanotyrannus. So proud to see our past interns contributing to paleontology!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
January 3, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Big congrats to former Elevation Science intern Jeb Bugos! 🎉
Jeb is a co-author on a 2025 Science paper featuring new research related to Nanotyrannus. So proud to see our past interns contributing to paleontology!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Jeb is a co-author on a 2025 Science paper featuring new research related to Nanotyrannus. So proud to see our past interns contributing to paleontology!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Hello, 2026. 💛
A new year means new questions and more discovery ahead. Happy New Year from Elevation Science!
A new year means new questions and more discovery ahead. Happy New Year from Elevation Science!
January 2, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Hello, 2026. 💛
A new year means new questions and more discovery ahead. Happy New Year from Elevation Science!
A new year means new questions and more discovery ahead. Happy New Year from Elevation Science!
Today is the LAST day to support discovery experiences and the work behind incredible discoveries like The Queen of Skywalker B. Donations are matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 through midnight.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
January 1, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Today is the LAST day to support discovery experiences and the work behind incredible discoveries like The Queen of Skywalker B. Donations are matched dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 through midnight.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
And with that… 2025 comes to an end.
A quick recap of field days, lab work, and discovery made possible by our team and community. Grateful for everyone who was part of it. Goodnight, 2025. ❤️✨
See everyone next year!
A quick recap of field days, lab work, and discovery made possible by our team and community. Grateful for everyone who was part of it. Goodnight, 2025. ❤️✨
See everyone next year!
December 31, 2025 at 1:52 AM
And with that… 2025 comes to an end.
A quick recap of field days, lab work, and discovery made possible by our team and community. Grateful for everyone who was part of it. Goodnight, 2025. ❤️✨
See everyone next year!
A quick recap of field days, lab work, and discovery made possible by our team and community. Grateful for everyone who was part of it. Goodnight, 2025. ❤️✨
See everyone next year!
Top Fossil Discoveries of 2025 🦴 🦕
2025 was a big year for fossils. We rounded up some highlights of the coolest and most fascinating discoveries here:
2025 was a big year for fossils. We rounded up some highlights of the coolest and most fascinating discoveries here:
Top 2025 Fossil Discoveries — Elevation Science Institute
2025 was a spectacular year for paleontology! Dinosaur skin color patterning, groundbreaking news about the Nanotyrannus vs young T. rex debate that shook the paleontology community, ancient…
elevationscience.org
December 30, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Top Fossil Discoveries of 2025 🦴 🦕
2025 was a big year for fossils. We rounded up some highlights of the coolest and most fascinating discoveries here:
2025 was a big year for fossils. We rounded up some highlights of the coolest and most fascinating discoveries here:
Discovery builds curiosity, confidence, and connection through hands-on science. As the year comes to a close, there’s still time to support discovery, and December gifts go even further with matching donations up to $10,000!
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
December 28, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Discovery builds curiosity, confidence, and connection through hands-on science. As the year comes to a close, there’s still time to support discovery, and December gifts go even further with matching donations up to $10,000!
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
Kelley (Week 1 participant of our 2025 field season) stopped by to visit our Paleo Prep Lab Manager Katie at the Cincinnati Museum Center! We love seeing participants outside of field season, too.
Hope to dig dinosaurs with you again next year, Kelley!
Hope to dig dinosaurs with you again next year, Kelley!
December 24, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Kelley (Week 1 participant of our 2025 field season) stopped by to visit our Paleo Prep Lab Manager Katie at the Cincinnati Museum Center! We love seeing participants outside of field season, too.
Hope to dig dinosaurs with you again next year, Kelley!
Hope to dig dinosaurs with you again next year, Kelley!
Need a last-minute gift idea? 🦕 🎁
Give the gift of discovery with Dinosaur Discovery Days: a hands-on fossil dig day trip in Montana (no experience needed!)
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-d...
Give the gift of discovery with Dinosaur Discovery Days: a hands-on fossil dig day trip in Montana (no experience needed!)
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-d...
December 21, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Need a last-minute gift idea? 🦕 🎁
Give the gift of discovery with Dinosaur Discovery Days: a hands-on fossil dig day trip in Montana (no experience needed!)
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-d...
Give the gift of discovery with Dinosaur Discovery Days: a hands-on fossil dig day trip in Montana (no experience needed!)
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-d...
Happy Holidays from Elevation Science! ✨
We’re grateful for our staff, volunteers, participants, interns, partners, donors, and everyone who supports discovery and hands-on science.
Wishing you a joyful season and a bright New Year.
We’re grateful for our staff, volunteers, participants, interns, partners, donors, and everyone who supports discovery and hands-on science.
Wishing you a joyful season and a bright New Year.
December 20, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Happy Holidays from Elevation Science! ✨
We’re grateful for our staff, volunteers, participants, interns, partners, donors, and everyone who supports discovery and hands-on science.
Wishing you a joyful season and a bright New Year.
We’re grateful for our staff, volunteers, participants, interns, partners, donors, and everyone who supports discovery and hands-on science.
Wishing you a joyful season and a bright New Year.
Discovery changes people.
Hands-on science builds curiosity, confidence, and connection.
This December, your support helps make those experiences possible, and your impact goes twice as far. Donations are matched up to $10,000 by the Stahl family.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
Hands-on science builds curiosity, confidence, and connection.
This December, your support helps make those experiences possible, and your impact goes twice as far. Donations are matched up to $10,000 by the Stahl family.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
December 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Discovery changes people.
Hands-on science builds curiosity, confidence, and connection.
This December, your support helps make those experiences possible, and your impact goes twice as far. Donations are matched up to $10,000 by the Stahl family.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
Hands-on science builds curiosity, confidence, and connection.
This December, your support helps make those experiences possible, and your impact goes twice as far. Donations are matched up to $10,000 by the Stahl family.
givebutter.com/Elevation-Di...
Need the perfect gift for the dinosaur lover in your life? 🎁🦕
Give them the gift of discovery: a real fossil dig expedition in Montana. Hands-on paleontology, Jurassic fossils, unforgettable memories.
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e...
Give them the gift of discovery: a real fossil dig expedition in Montana. Hands-on paleontology, Jurassic fossils, unforgettable memories.
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e...
December 17, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Need the perfect gift for the dinosaur lover in your life? 🎁🦕
Give them the gift of discovery: a real fossil dig expedition in Montana. Hands-on paleontology, Jurassic fossils, unforgettable memories.
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e...
Give them the gift of discovery: a real fossil dig expedition in Montana. Hands-on paleontology, Jurassic fossils, unforgettable memories.
elevationscience.org/fossil-dig-e...
New research just dropped on Diplodocus skin...and it’s giving us our first evidence of sauropod colour patterning! 🦕✨
How exciting is this new paper!?
Full paper: royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
www.instagram.com/reel/DSLEUEl...
How exciting is this new paper!?
Full paper: royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
www.instagram.com/reel/DSLEUEl...
Skye Walker on Instagram: "New research just dropped on Diplodocus skin...and it’s giving us our first evidence of sauropod colour patterning! 🦕✨
By looking at microscopic, melanin-related structures...
thedinomancer on December 12, 2025: "New research just dropped on Diplodocus skin...and it’s giving us our first evidence of sauropod colour patterning! 🦕✨
By looking at microscopic, melanin-related ...
www.instagram.com
December 13, 2025 at 1:29 AM
New research just dropped on Diplodocus skin...and it’s giving us our first evidence of sauropod colour patterning! 🦕✨
How exciting is this new paper!?
Full paper: royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
www.instagram.com/reel/DSLEUEl...
How exciting is this new paper!?
Full paper: royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
www.instagram.com/reel/DSLEUEl...
Reposted by Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration
Result from today's stream!
A bby Diplodocus in 2 hours!
In light of the new paper by Tess Gallagher I was really excited to draw a colorful little sauropod! I've studied and compiled knowledge on the Morrison for years so it's always amazing to see big new research! #paleoart #sciart
A bby Diplodocus in 2 hours!
In light of the new paper by Tess Gallagher I was really excited to draw a colorful little sauropod! I've studied and compiled knowledge on the Morrison for years so it's always amazing to see big new research! #paleoart #sciart
December 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration
Analysis of Diplodocus skin fossils indicates the presence of diverse melanosome types, suggesting these dinosaurs may have exhibited speckled color patterning rather than uniform coloration. doi.org/qh3n
Analysis of Diplodocus dinosaur scales reveals possible speckled color patterning
Scientists have long been trying to reconstruct the appearance of dinosaurs. The tidbits they are able to piece together from fossils and other analysis are displayed in museums, educational materials, and media, lending to our idea of what these ancient creatures looked like.
phys.org
December 10, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Analysis of Diplodocus skin fossils indicates the presence of diverse melanosome types, suggesting these dinosaurs may have exhibited speckled color patterning rather than uniform coloration. doi.org/qh3n
Reposted by Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration
If you created any artwork based on our recent study on Diplodocus color patterns, we would love to see it!!! Please feel free to reply to this with your colorful dippy art 🦕🖌️🎨
December 12, 2025 at 2:43 AM
If you created any artwork based on our recent study on Diplodocus color patterns, we would love to see it!!! Please feel free to reply to this with your colorful dippy art 🦕🖌️🎨
Reposted by Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration
Some exciting news relevant to sauropod life appearance (specifically, to diplodocids) has just been published by @tessasaurus.bsky.social and colleagues, excellent! In time, a Part II to this article will definitely be required .... tetzoo.com/blog/2019/1/... #dinosaurs #FossilFriday
The Life Appearance of Sauropod Dinosaurs — Tetrapod Zoology
If you’re a regular TetZoo reader you’ll be familiar with my several articles on the life appearance of Mesozoic dinosaurs, an issue in which I have a special interest…
tetzoo.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Some exciting news relevant to sauropod life appearance (specifically, to diplodocids) has just been published by @tessasaurus.bsky.social and colleagues, excellent! In time, a Part II to this article will definitely be required .... tetzoo.com/blog/2019/1/... #dinosaurs #FossilFriday
NEW paper out today in Royal Society Open Science: “Fossilized melanosomes reveal colour patterning of a sauropod dinosaur” (2025). 🦕
Research conducted in part & facilitated by Elevation Science.
Art by Tess Gallagher.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
Research conducted in part & facilitated by Elevation Science.
Art by Tess Gallagher.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
December 11, 2025 at 12:30 AM
NEW paper out today in Royal Society Open Science: “Fossilized melanosomes reveal colour patterning of a sauropod dinosaur” (2025). 🦕
Research conducted in part & facilitated by Elevation Science.
Art by Tess Gallagher.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
Research conducted in part & facilitated by Elevation Science.
Art by Tess Gallagher.
royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article...
Reposted by Elevation Science Institute for Natural History Exploration
Excited to announce that my second manuscript, “Fossilised Melanosomes Reveal Colour Patterning in A Sauropod Dinosaur” has been published in
@royalsociety.org !! Diplodocus scales are complex and diverse, and it turns out their color patterning was even more so. A 🧵🦕 1/26
@royalsociety.org !! Diplodocus scales are complex and diverse, and it turns out their color patterning was even more so. A 🧵🦕 1/26
December 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Excited to announce that my second manuscript, “Fossilised Melanosomes Reveal Colour Patterning in A Sauropod Dinosaur” has been published in
@royalsociety.org !! Diplodocus scales are complex and diverse, and it turns out their color patterning was even more so. A 🧵🦕 1/26
@royalsociety.org !! Diplodocus scales are complex and diverse, and it turns out their color patterning was even more so. A 🧵🦕 1/26