Ask an Antipaleontologist

Barron Goodfellow, Ph.D.

Thank you for your thoughtful question, Janice. Think of big scientific ideas like evolution, the Big Bang, and gravity as heavyweight champions in the science world. We’re often told that stuff like fossils or cosmic background radiation proves these theories without a doubt. But it’s not simple.

Sure, things like fossils and how the universe is expanding do make a strong case for these theories. But calling them proof is a stretch. In science, proving something is as tricky as trying to catch a unicorn — it sounds cool, but it’s not happening anytime soon.

Let’s take Jupiter’s great red spot, for example. We’ve got lots of ideas about what it is, what it’s composed of, and why it’s there, but even with all the evidence we have, we can’t slap a big “scientifically proven” label on any of them. Reality is complex, and all we’ve got to understand it are the tools and observations we’ve got.

The catch is that our tools aren’t perfect. Whether we’re measuring distances in space or counting tiny particles, there’s always a chance we could get it wrong. So, even though our measurements might seem really accurate, there’s only so much they can tell us about the vast universe out there.

We can’t put the whole universe under a microscope. Even if we could, there’s just no way we could keep track of every little thing happening all the time. We’ve got to draw the line somewhere, right? That’s where making educated guesses comes in handy.

Now, let’s talk about making predictions in science. It’s not as easy as throwing some equations together and hoping they work out. We need to understand what we’re measuring, how accurate our measurements are, and what laws are holding everything together. We’re cooking up recipes for super awesome scientific theories. Sometimes they’ll taste great, other times they’ll cause diarrhea.

Here’s the bottom line: Science isn’t about saying “yes” or “no” definitively. It’s more like a “maybe” or a “probably not.” And that’s what makes it so exciting! It’s always pushing us to ask questions and dig deeper.

Now, let’s talk dinosaurs. The idea that we can prove dinosaurs existed overlooks the fact that science is always changing. The evidence for dinosaurs isn’t perfect. Some findings might be based on incomplete data, and even our fossil records can be biased. So, it’s okay to question things and ask for solid evidence. That’s what keeps science moving forward — always asking questions and searching for answers.

We often think of fossils as slam-dunk evidence, but it’s not as straightforward as it seems. It’s true that fossils give us a glimpse into the past, but saying they 100% prove dinosaurs existed is like saying you can always trust the weather forecast — sometimes it’s spot-on, other times not so much.

In science, nothing’s ever set in stone (pun intended). Fossil interpretation is like solving a puzzle with missing pieces, and sometimes those pieces might be from a different puzzle altogether! Plus, figuring out how old fossils are and what the world was like back then involves a bit of educated guesswork.

We also can’t forget about biases. Fossil discoveries don’t just pop up randomly — they’re influenced by a bunch of different factors. Here’s a rundown:

Location, Location, Location: Fossils are like real estate — they’re more likely to show up in certain spots. Places with the right geological conditions, like sedimentary rock formations, are prime fossil-hunting grounds. So, you’ll find more fossils in places where preservation is on point, whether it’s coastal areas for marine fossils or specific continental regions for land-dwelling critters. There have been some serious disputes about so-called dinosaur fossils being seriously out-of-place in some of these areas.

Accessibility Matters: Ever tried digging up fossils buried deep underground? It’s no walk in the park. Accessibility plays a big role — if a fossil’s tucked away in a hard-to-reach spot, it might stay hidden for ages. But sometimes, human activities like construction or erosion accidentally unearth fossils, giving us a lucky break.

Where the Science Leads: Scientists follow the clues, and that often means focusing on areas with a track record of fossil finds or where there’s potential for groundbreaking discoveries. It’s like following a treasure map — except the treasure is millions of years old and buried under layers of rock.

Tech Upgrades: We’ve got some serious high-tech tools these days, like satellite imaging and 3D scanning, that make fossil hunting way more efficient. These gadgets help us map out promising spots, analyze geological formations, and even create super-detailed reconstructions of fossils. It’s like having a fossil-finding superhero squad at our disposal.

Cultural Considerations: Sometimes, cultural beliefs, land rights, and politics can throw a wrench into fossil exploration. Collaboration with local communities and navigating these sensitive issues is crucial to ensuring ethical and inclusive scientific practices.

All in all, fossil discoveries are a mix of science, luck, and a bit of good old-fashioned exploration. Understanding the factors at play helps us interpret the fossil record more accurately and piece together the puzzle of our planet’s past. But ultimately, the real answer is that we don’t know if the fossil record proves dinosaurs existed or not, and there’s many sound arguments opposing the existence of authentic dinosaur fossils, as well as some that could be in favor of them.

So, it’s totally cool to wonder if dinosaurs were real. Asking questions and challenging what we think we know is what keeps science moving forward. Groups like Christians Against Dinosaurs have presented arguments against dinosaurs’ existence, showing us that we can challenge what we think we know. This kind of questioning and reevaluation is a normal part of the scientific process. We have to be open to wherever the evidence leads us, even if it means changing our ideas. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll stumble upon a discovery that changes everything we thought we knew and sway the tide in the other direction, but expecting definitive proof or disproof about dinosaurs will likely always be a fairy tale. That’s just science.

Dr. Barron Goodfellow is a lifelong studyist of extreme science, pre-eminent Animalologist and Consultant Scientician. He is a true example of scientific excellence. His insatiable curiosity and dedication have propelled him to the forefront of scientific inquiry, where he has mastered every field he has dared to explore. As a true scientician, Dr. Goodfellow has won top prize in every type of science he has ever attempted. His interests include pigeon fancying, caber-tossing and darts.