225 million years ago, a creature that looked like a dolphin swam in the ocean. The Shonisaurus was the size of a whale with 60 razor-sharp teeth and two giant eyes. It could swim 35 miles an hour and dive 3,000 feet. Today it’s 40 feet off the ground. Now, the Nevada state fossil is on display at the Discovery Museum.
Sculptors spent last weekend installing the life-sized skeletal replica of the Shonisaurus above the museum’s lobby. Matt Sinclair is the Executive Director of the Discovery Museum.
“My initial thought was wow, the opportunity to hang a replica of the state fossil right here in our lobby was an opportunity hard to pass up.”
The sculpture was created for the Burning Man festival. Sinclair says it fits the museums mission of trying to incorporate art as a way to better explain science.
“Art informs science and science informs art and this is a great piece because it really mixes both of those together," explains Sinclair.
Related Stories
Homeless Camps Along Truckee River Posing Waste Problems For Reno City Workers
January 8, 2020Reno’s housing affordability crisis is leading to encampments that add waste to the Truckee River. Now the city is turning to private contractors to clean it up, but homeless advocates want other solutions for addressing the root of the problem.
Catch A Snowflake And Help Scientists Understand How Winter Storms Change The Sierra Nevada
December 20, 2018Scientists are partnering with kids to help catch snowflakes. Their goal? Working with students to study what crystals can tell us about snow, the weather and how climate change impacts our water supply.
Nevada Attorney General Laxalt Rails Against California Laws In Bid For Governor
May 18, 2018(AP) — Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt urged fellow Republicans in Reno on Thursday to rally around his gubernatorial campaign as the best way to fend off what he described as overzealous, California-style regulations.
Strong End Of Year Home Sales Predicted For Reno
November 30, 2017A new list of 123 U.S. metro areas where home buyers are most likely to move in the fourth quarter puts Reno at No. 8 and Sacramento at 46. The list is based on the number of home mortgage applications filed between July and September.
Red Flag Warning Due To Fire Danger In Nevada
July 17, 2017Windy, dry conditions that have raised the threat of wildfires in Nevada has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for most of the northern half of the state into Tuesday.
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
Comments