Exploring the Evolution of Birds from Dinosaurs
How birds survived the mass extinction event that killed off the dinosaurs
Image: Wbur
Birds are the only descendants of dinosaurs that survived the mass extinction 66 million years ago. Paleontologist Steve Brusatte discusses their evolution in his book, linking modern songbirds to ancient species like velociraptors and T. rex.
- 01Birds are the only surviving lineage of dinosaurs after the asteroid impact 66 million years ago.
- 02Modern songbirds are directly related to ancient species such as velociraptors, triceratops, and T. rex.
- 03Paleontologist Steve Brusatte authored a book titled 'The Story of Birds' that details this evolution.
- 04The discussion aired on June 9, 2026, on WBUR's Here & Now.
- 05The book explores how birds adapted and survived the mass extinction event.
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Birds are recognized as the sole survivors of the mass extinction event that occurred 66 million years ago, which was triggered by an asteroid impact. In a recent discussion, paleontologist Steve Brusatte elaborated on this topic, highlighting that modern songbirds are descendants of ancient dinosaurs like the velociraptor, triceratops, and T. rex. Brusatte's new book, 'The Story of Birds: A New History from Their Dinosaur Origins to the Present,' provides insights into how birds evolved and managed to survive when many other species perished. This segment aired on June 9, 2026, on WBUR's Here & Now.
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