PNSO, an organization devoted to the creation of and research related to scientific art, was founded
PNSO is a global leading scientific art research institution, co-founded by science artist ZHAO Chuang and science fairy tale writer YANG Yang in 2009. Project Darwin, initiated by PNSO, is a grand natural science art project, which has been collaborating with many renowned scientists around the world to restore images, skeleton structures, and 3D models of more than 500 paleontological fossils of
07/03/2025
THU | July 3, 2025
Beipiaosaurus:
An Unusual Theropod
Beipiaosaurus was a therizinosauroid dinosaur with a considerable body covered in complex feathers. Its large head had a hard, beaked mouth that lacked teeth. However, it had cheek teeth. Beipiaosaurus fed on plants and was an unusual "vegetarian" among theropod dinosaurs.
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Q: What were the functions of different types of feathers on Beipiaosaurus?
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07/02/2025
WED | July 2, 2025
Ningyuansaurus:
A Seed-eater
Ningyuansaurus is considered one of the most primitive oviraptorosaurs. Scientists have discovered numerous tiny, oval-shaped grains in the fossilized body cavity and speculate that these may be seed remains, suggesting that Ningyuansaurus might have fed on seeds when it was alive.
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Q: What made Ningyuansaurus more primitive than other oviraptorosaurs?
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07/01/2025
TUE | July 1, 2025
The Party’s Day
Sinocalliopteryx:
The Largest Known Compsognathid
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The 2.4-meter-long Sinocalliopteryx was the largest of all known compsognathids. Its relatively large body made it an aggressive hunter. Researchers once discovered an incomplete leg bone of a Sinornithosaurus in its stomach and speculated that the two dinosaurs might have engaged in a fierce battle during their lifetimes.
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Q: What were compsognathid dinosaurs?
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06/30/2025
MON | June 30, 2025
Liaoceratops:
Primitive Ceratopsian Dinosaur
Liaoceratops was a primitive ceratopsian dinosaur. It was small, about the size of a large dog, not even close to any of the later, larger ceratopsians. Although it had developed a head frill, the frill was relatively small. This dinosaur also featured a pair of prominent jugal horns below the eyes and a pair of small lacrimal horns positioned in front of them.
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Q: Have ceratopsians developed their horns for attack and defense?
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06/29/2025
SUN | June 29, 2025
Microraptor:
The First Flying Dinosaur Ever Found
Microraptor is a well-known feathered dinosaur from the dromaeosaurid family. It was the first flying dinosaur ever discovered. Paleontologists believe that its flight mode is very similar to that of a biplane. In flight, it folded its hind legs forward under its torso. Together with its forelimbs, the four limbs formed two layers of wings.
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Q: How many wings did Microraptor have?
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06/28/2025
SAT | June 28, 2025
Sinornithoides:
Preying on Small Mammals
Sinornithoides was not large, with a body length of about 1.1 meters. However, it had a relatively large head, indicating that this dinosaur was intelligent. It featured numerous teeth, sharp claws, and slender hind limbs. This dinosaur could run quickly and was an excellent hunter. It preferred to prey on small mammals and occasionally fed on insects.
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Q: Are big-headed dinosaurs smarter?
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06/27/2025
FRI | June 27, 2025
Sinusonasus:
Small Swift Hunter
Sinusonasus, a member of the troodontid family, was a small carnivorous dinosaur. It had slender hind limbs and exceptionally long lower legs, indicating it could sprint. Despite its small size, this dinosaur was also an excellent hunter, thanks to its agility!
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Q: How did Sinusonasus get its name?
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06/26/2025
THU | June 26, 2025
Jinfengopteryx:
Not Bird but Dinosaur
Jinfengopteryx belongs to the Troodontidae family. During the initial study, paleontologists thought it was a bird that lived in the Mesozoic era. However, some paleontologists later proposed that Jinfengopteryx possessed many characteristics similar to troodontid dinosaurs, so they classified it into the Troodontidae family.
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Q: What are the unique features of troodontid dinosaurs?
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06/25/2025
WED | June 25, 2025
Liaoningvenator:
A Relative of Eosinopteryx
Liaoningvenator is a relatively primitive member of the Troodontidae family. Its fossils are among the most complete troodontid specimens found to date. The fossilized body exhibits a distinctive posture, with its forelimbs folded into its chest, which is quite similar to the movements of birds. Liaoningvenator is closely related to Eosinopteryx.
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Q: What type of dinosaur is Eosinopteryx?
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06/24/2025
TUE | June 24, 2025
Daliansaurus:
Specialized Toes
Daliansaurus was a type of troodontid dinosaur known for its highly specialized toes. Its digit II had specialized into a sickle-shaped claw, while its fourth toe was notably enlarged and nearly as robust as the second one. This distinctive feature distinguished Daliansaurus from other troodontids.
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Q: What were the specialized toes of Daliansaurus used for?
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06/23/2025
Huigui the "Hongkongosaurus" wants to be friends with you. Please stay tuned.
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PNSO is a specialized organization devoted to Scientific Art creation and research. It was founded in Beijing on June 1, 2010, by Mr. ZHAO Chuang, a Scientific Artist, and Ms. YANG Yang, a science writer for children. At its founding, PNSO launched its Plan of Scientific Art Projects: the Stories on Earth (2010-2070). The plan follows the tradition of story-telling through Scientific Art, is based on the latest scientific research, tells the complex relationship between species, natural environments, communities, and cultures as life evolves, and expresses Earth’s past, present and future from the perspective of human civilization. PNSO’s founders, Mr. ZHAO and Ms. YANG hope to work for 60 years in creating works in and doing research on science, art and literature, in order to share knowledge through publishing, exhibitions, and courses, eventually to serve Scientific Art to research institutions and the general public, especially to young people.
PNSO has independently completed or participated in a number of creative and research projects, and its work has been widely applied and disseminated. In professional collaboration with scientists, PNSO has accepted invitations of many key laboratories around the world to create Scientific Art works, providing professional support for mankind’s state-of-art scientific explorations, with many pieces being published in leading journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell. In mass communication, a large number of works were published and cited in more than 1,000 media outlets, including The New York Times, Washington Post, The Guardian, Asahi Shimbun, People's Daily and BBC, CNN, Fox News, CCTV, and PNSO’s works were used to help the public understand the latest scientific facts and developments. In public education, PNSO has held joint exhibitions with public scientific organizations including the American Museum of Natural History, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the City Museum of Nottingham, and the Chongqing Natural Museum. It has also conducted international cooperation projects with the alliance with the World Youth Geoscientists and the International Geosciences Fund, helping young people in different parts of the world to understand and appreciate Scientific Art.
Since its founding, the founders of PNSO, Mr. ZHAO and Ms. YANG have always believed in and adhered to the motto of “small team, big project, independence, and continuity”. Their creative work and research follows scientific methods, which allows them to use artistic methods to present scientific facts and concepts. This gradually formed their own theoretical framework and creative methods.
