What’s covered in spikes and 76 million years old? The answer isn’t a prehistoric pincushion. It’s Akainacephalus johnsoni, the newest dinosaur to be named from Utah.
Carolyn Levitt-Bussian has a fossil lover’s dream job. Every day that she comes to work at the Natural History Museum of Utah, she gets to roam among the dinosaurs.
What was it like to be there when a 76 million year-old tyrannosaur was airlifted from its longtime grave? And where had that grave been over those many millions of years?
Kenneth Lacovara visited the Natural History Museum of Utah recently and discussed why dinosaurs matter, the future of paleontology, and NHMU's Past Worlds gallery.
Natalia Wilkins-Tyler is a Salt Lake City-based scientific illustrator who has accomplished a number of fantastic illustrations for NHMU. Read about her profession and see a video of her in action.
Hear what paleontologists have to say about NHMU's Past Worlds exhibition--with its Utah dinosaurs, including more than a dozen species that are new to science and have only been found in Utah.
If you think your spring cleaning is difficult, try our Past Worlds Gallery on for size. Our exhibits team recently spent the better part of a week spiffing up all of our dinosaur skeletons.
![[image] Spiky-Headed Dinosaur a First for Utah](/sites/default/files/Akainacephalus-croppedweb-by-Andrey-Atuchin_0.jpg)
![[image] Akainacephalus johnsoni Video](/sites/default/files/Screen Shot 2018-07-20 at 3.45.51 PM.png)
![[image] Behind the Scenes, a Fossil Treasure Trove](/sites/default/files/050918_carrie-levitt-bussian_02.jpg)
![[image] Utah Tyrannosaur Discovered After 76 Million-Year Slumber](/sites/default/files/elliott_0.jpg)
![[image] Q&A with Paleontologist Kenneth Lacovara](/sites/default/files/Lacovara 1.jpg)
![[image] A Labor of Love: Museum Paleontology Volunteers Ann and Randy Johnson](/sites/default/files/072817_superstar_volunteers_01.jpg)
![[image] Science beyond the headlines](/sites/default/files/1L5A6872.jpg)
![[image] The Art and Details of Scientific Illustration](/sites/default/files/allosaurus-skull-sketch-blogheader.jpg)
![[image] Paleontologists discuss NHMU's Past Worlds exhibition](/sites/default/files/Paleo-blogheader.jpg)
![[image] Dusting our Dirty Dinosaurs](/sites/default/files/Geoffrey-blogheader_0.jpg)