Spinosaurus Found to NOT be a Swimming Dinosaur Again (again) | 7 Days of Science

Item: Spinosaurus Found to NOT be a Swimming Dinosaur Again (again) | 7 Days of Science
Rating: 4
Author: PostSingularity Institute

by Ben G Thomas

Life & Natural Systems Biology PSALife sciences: general issues PSAJEvolution

🎙 Ben G Thomas 👥 763K 📅 June 19, 2024 ⏱ 14 min 👁 94K 📄 news review 🧭 2026-09-06

Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

SpinosauruspaleontologyVoyager 1black holewhalinggray whalevaquitapterosaurdinosaurichthyosaur

Summary

This episode of ‘7 Days of Science’ covers a range of recent scientific news. The main story is a new study on Spinosaurus, which uses skull shape analysis to argue that it was more likely a wading predator than a specialized swimmer, adding to the ongoing ‘Spinosaurus Wars’. Other paleontology news includes the discovery of a new pterosaur species (Haliskia peterseni) from Australia, a new dinosaur species (Diuqin lechiguanae) from Argentina, a new ichthyosaur species (Mixosaurus luxiensis) from China, a study on the evolution of ichthyosaur flippers, a micro-CT scan of a dicynodont skull, and the discovery of the oldest southern sauropterygian. The video also covers non-paleontology news: Voyager 1 has resumed full science operations, astronomers have witnessed the awakening of a supermassive black hole, Iceland has issued a whaling permit, gray whales are shrinking, and the vaquita population has declined to a critical level.

145 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides a high density of information, covering multiple significant scientific discoveries and news items in a concise format. The argumentation is generally solid, with the presenter clearly explaining the methods and findings of each study. For the Spinosaurus segment, the presenter fairly presents the new study’s methodology (skull shape analysis) and its conclusions, while also acknowledging the limitations and the ongoing debate. The video adds value by contextualizing each finding within the broader scientific landscape, such as explaining the significance of the new pterosaur as the most complete from Australia. The presenter also provides critical context, such as noting the controversy around the new dinosaur’s classification. Overall, the video is informative and well-argued, though the depth of analysis is limited by the format.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The video demonstrates strong scientific rigor by consistently citing peer-reviewed papers and official sources for each news item. The sources are listed in the description, including links to the studies in journals like PeerJ, Nature, and Current Biology, as well as official NASA and ESO announcements. The presenter accurately represents the findings and clearly distinguishes between established facts and hypotheses. The title accurately reflects the main story about Spinosaurus, and the ‘(again)’ humorously acknowledges the recurring nature of the debate. The ‘7 Days of Science’ framing is also clear. The video’s content aligns well with its title and description.

239 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the main story about Spinosaurus, and the '(again)' humorously acknowledges the recurring nature of the debate. The '7 Days of Science' framing is also clear.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The video is a science news roundup that consistently cites peer-reviewed studies and official sources (NASA, ESO, scientific journals). The presenter clearly distinguishes between established facts and hypotheses, and provides context for ongoing debates. The information is accurate and up-to-date as of the publication date.

Chapters

Cited Sources

Voyager 1 Returning Science Data From All Four Instruments — Source for the Voyager 1 news.
Voyager 1 Science Operations — Additional source for the Voyager 1 news.
Voyager Mission Website — Official NASA page for Voyager mission.
ESO News: The Awakening of a Supermassive Black Hole — Source for the supermassive black hole awakening story.
Iceland Review: Parliamentary Party Wants to Ban Whaling by Law — Source for the Iceland whaling news.
Gray Whales Shorter on Pacific Coast — Source for the gray whale size story.
Metro: Time Running Out for World's Rarest Sea Animal — Source for the vaquita population news.
Haliskia peterseni, a new anhanguerian pterosaur from the late Early Cretaceous of Australia — Scientific paper describing the new pterosaur species.
Haliskia peterseni: New Pterosaur Species From Australia — News article about the new pterosaur.
Diuqin lechiguanae gen. et sp. nov., a new unenlagiine (Theropoda, Dromaeosauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of northern Patagonia — Scientific paper describing the new dinosaur species.
Mixosaurus luxiensis, a new ichthyosaur species from China — Scientific paper describing the new ichthyosaur species.
The evolution of ichthyosaur fins — Scientific paper on ichthyosaur flipper evolution.
Spinosaurus found to be a wader again — Scientific paper on Spinosaurus ecology.
Micro-CT scanning a dicynodont — Scientific paper on the dicynodont skull scan.
Elgin Marvel Fossil — News article about the dicynodont fossil.
The oldest southern sauropterygian — Scientific paper on the oldest southern sauropterygian.

Concurring Sources

Spinosaurus: The Aquatic Dinosaur — National Geographic article discussing the aquatic adaptations of Spinosaurus, which aligns with the debate presented in the video.
Voyager 1: Humanity's Farthest Spacecraft — Space.com article providing updates on Voyager 1, consistent with the video's report.

Dissenting Sources

Spinosaurus: The Aquatic Dinosaur

External References

Contribution & Novelties

The video’s main contribution is its synthesis of a week’s worth of scientific news, making it accessible to a broad audience. Its original value lies in the presentation of the Spinosaurus debate, highlighting the new study’s methodology and its implications. The video also brings attention to lesser-known but significant discoveries, such as the new pterosaur and the ichthyosaur fin evolution.

Pour aller plus loin :

Spinosaurus — Wikipedia article providing an overview of the genus and the ongoing debate about its lifestyle.
Ichthyosaur — Wikipedia article on ichthyosaurs, including their evolution and diversity.
Voyager 1 — Wikipedia article on the Voyager 1 spacecraft, its mission, and recent status.
Supermassive black hole — Wikipedia article explaining supermassive black holes and their role in galaxies.
Vaquita — Wikipedia article on the vaquita, the world’s most endangered marine mammal.

136 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows a well-rounded video with high scores in information quantity and quality, reflecting its comprehensive coverage of multiple scientific topics. The technical level is moderate, making it accessible to a general audience while still providing depth. The reliability score is high, supported by consistent citation of peer-reviewed sources.

Reliability 8/10

💬 The comments are predominantly positive and humorous, with many viewers engaging in playful banter about the Spinosaurus debate. The tone is lighthearted and meme-driven, reflecting a community that enjoys the ongoing scientific discourse.