Hold onto your feathers, science fans! 🧪 A game-changing study reveals modern birds began evolving 87 million years ago—way before dinosaurs went extinct 66 million years ago. This flips the script on the long-held belief that birds diversified rapidly after the asteroid wiped out their scaly neighbors.
🕵️ How Did They Crack the Case?
Scientists from China and the U.S. analyzed genomes of 124 bird species (think: evolutionary family tree meets DNA detective work 🔍). They found birds split into two groups during the Late Cretaceous: land birds (like eagles) and waterbirds (penguins, seagulls). Spoiler: Dinosaurs were still roaming!
🌡️ Climate’s Role in Bird Evolution
Another plot twist? A global warming event 55 million years ago sparked the rise of modern seabirds. Penguins sliding into the scene? Thank ancient climate change. ❄️➡️🔥
Lead researcher Wu Shaoyuan from Jiangsu Normal University said, \"The dinosaur extinction had limited impact on birds' evolution.\" Co-author Zhou Zhonghe added that bird evolution was a \"gradual dance with nature,\" tied to changes in plants and other animals.
So next time you spot a sparrow, remember: its ancestors might’ve outlived T-Rex! 🌍✨
