DINOSAURS: THE EXTREME AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
WASHINGTON (Nov. 15, 2007) –The prehistoric creatures that once ruled the Earth and sea are back, beginning this month at the National Geographic Society:
-National Geographic magazine features the strangest of them in its December cover article, “Extreme Dinosaurs,” and poster supplement, “Planet of the Dinosaurs.” NGM.com, the magazine’s Web site, has an exclusive interview with, and reading by, acclaimed author John Updike, who wrote the December National Geographic “Extreme Dinosaurs” essay. University of Maryland paleontologist Thomas Holtz provides commentary on what scientists have learned about dinosaurs since their depiction in the 20th century, accompanied by past National Geographic illustrations of dinosaurs. Also included is an interactive with the 22 dinosaurs showcased in the magazine article and poster supplement.
-National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall houses a new exhibition, “Extreme Dinosaur: Africa’s Long-Necked Fern Mower,” that displays the original fossil bones, a flesh head and neck model, and a 30-foot reconstructed skeleton of the bizarre dinosaur Nigersaurus. The exhibition, created by Project Exploration, runs from Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, through Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
-National Geographic Digital Media is launching NationalGeographic.com/dinosaurs,which features Society-wide dinosaur content. The new Web site contains an interactive timeline with photos and text, topic overviews of Earth’s geological periods, photo galleries, a dinosaur quiz and more. On the Animals.NationalGeographic.com site, 10 new dinosaur profiles will be added to the Prehistoric Animals section. On Kids.NationalGeographic.com, where December is “Dino-mite” month, a new dinosaur dig game called Zipper’s Cave Maze will be featured, as well as dinosaur quizzes, stories and more.
-National Geographic Books is publishing GRAVE SECRETS OF DINOSAURS: Soft Tissues and Hard Science (Jan. 8, 2008; $28), by paleontologist Phillip Manning, a gripping paleontological detective story that examines a 65 million-year case so cold that it’s the hottest development in modern dinosaur hunting.
-National Geographic Channel U.S. will premiere two dinosaur programs in December. Both shows also will premiere in the United Kingdom on Dec. 9, and globally on Dec. 16. Times vary by region.
-”Dino Death Trap” — Sunday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT (World Premiere). “Dino Death Trap” unearths a mass dinosaur grave in an area in western China known to scientists as “The Pit of Death” and “Dinosaur Pompeii.” It contains well-preserved dinosaur fossils that lie stacked one on top of the other and piled four and five high, many of which have never been seen before. The special documents several finds, including T-Rex’s great-great-grandfather Guanlong, a swift, meat-eating raptor; a triceratops ancestor; an ancient crocodilian; and nearly 40 more different species dating back 160 million years to a little-known time in dinosaur history.
-”Dino Autopsy” — Sunday, Dec. 9, at 9 p.m. ET/10 p.m. PT (World Premiere). Following “Dino Death Trap” is the world premiere of “Dino Autopsy.” It’s a discovery that promises to transform what scientists believe about dinosaurs — a virtually intact mummified dinosaur. Nearly everything we know of dinosaurs comes from bones and teeth, usually the only tissue durable enough to fossilize. The conditions that preserved this extraordinary mummy were one in a million, and early examination offers never-before-seen details of what this dinosaur really looked like, as well as clues to how it moved and lived.
-National Geographic Cinema Ventures’ newest giant-screen film, “Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure,” is currently playing in IMAX; and specialty theaters in 2-D and 3-D worldwide. Narrated by Tony Award-winning actor Liev Schreiber and with an original score by longtime musical collaborators Richard Evans, David Rhodes and Peter Gabriel, the film takes audiences on a remarkable journey into the relatively unexplored world of the “other dinosaurs,” those creatures that lived beneath the water more than 80 million years ago.
