Why Were Dinosaurs So Big?
I’ve been enjoying myself creating a short video to introduce the reduced gravity theory. I hope you enjoy it!
Written by Stephen W. Hurrell
Enter the content which will be displayed in sticky bar
Why Were Dinosaurs So Big?
Stephen,
Thanks for a very informative video correlating reduced gravity with the size of life, but it does not fully unravel the dinosaur paradox.
Your work regarding ancient gravity on a smaller Earth permitting larger life sizes that could not survive today is indisputable. However, gravity on a smaller planet does not adequately explain the size of gigantic dinosaurs. The largest recorded land creature today is a 12 ton elephant killed in 1956. Accordingly, the largest life size permitted with a 50% reduction in gravity (~200 MYA?) would be a dinosaur weighing 24 tons. How is that possible when the biggest dinosaur is reported to weigh 70 tons and lived 100 MYA?
Gigantic sizes appear to be possible because we are finding and measuring dinosaur fossils and not considering the minerals that replace the organic dinosaur bone substances. For example, dinosaur bones were found in a French gypsum (calcium sulfate) quarry. Belgian coal miners discovered dinosaur fossil remains that turned into pyrite (iron sulfide or “fool’s gold”) when exposed to moisture. Discoveries in Colorado and Wyoming produced silicified bone (silicon). Magnesium rich bones were found in Calgary.
The predominate element(s) of those fossils is from the 8-elements comprising 98.8% of Earth’s mass which, at specific times, are increasing in size and weight. In essence, the fossils are growing along with the planet and together with reduced gravity, negate the dinosaur paradox. The paradox is applicable to those who think the mass of the Earth is constant and unchanging while everything else changes.
The Standard Model of Particle Physics relies on Friar Thomas’ (Aquinas- 1225 to 1274 AD) assumption that the essence of matter is unchanging (atoms cannot change in size or numbers). Is modern science open for a change?
Gene
Thanks for your thoughts Gene. I’m sorry for the slow response but I’ve only just noticed the comment flag!
You calculate that the largest life permitted in 50% gravity would be 24 tons but I calculate a different value. Have you forgotten the 2D/3D scale effect?
I calculate that in order for the leg stress of the largest animal to remain constant in 50% gravity the volume would be 8 times, the area 4 times and the linear dimension 2. So assuming that your 12 ton elephant is the largest that could survive in our gravity, the largest animal in 50% gravity would be 12 x 8 = 96 tons. That’s roughly the mass of the largest sauropod dinosaurs.
I’ve explored this in greater detail in my book. You may be able to see the most relevant page 39 on Google Books: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DZrHAAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&dq=dinosaurs%20and%20the%20expanding%20earth&pg=PA39#v=onepage&q&f=false
All the best.
Stephen