Name: The secret weapon that let dinosaurs take over the planet
Uploaded: 2020-01-08T16:11:28Z
Duration: 10 min 2 s
Description: We've all heard the theories on why the dinosaurs died -- but how did they come to dominate the earth for so long in the first place? (Hint: it has nothing to do with their size, speed, spikes or fantastic feathers.) Travel back in time to 200 million years before their extinction with paleontologist Emma Schachner for a breath of fresh air on dinosaur history.

We've all heard the theories on why the dinosaurs died -- but how did they come to dominate the earth for so long in the first place? (Hint: it has nothing to do with their size, speed, spikes or fantastic feathers.) Travel back in time to 200 million years before their extinction with paleontologist Emma Schachner for a breath of fresh air on dinosaur history.

The secret weapon that let dinosaurs take over the planet

Dinosaurs flourished for millions of years thanks to a unique lung structure that set them apart from early mammals. Fossil clues and modern bird anatomy reveal that their lungs were rigid and highly efficient, optimized for Earth's low-oxygen Triassic atmosphere. Unlike the flexible lungs of mammals, these immobilized lungs allowed for a thinner gas barrier, making oxygen uptake far more effective. This evolutionary advantage helped dinosaurs outcompete rivals and conquer a harsh, resource-limited world.