PALEOTAC: exhibition unveiling the hidden life inside fossils inaugurated
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The exhibition “PALEOTAC. Come guardare attraverso i fossili” (“PALEOTAC. How to Look Inside Fossils”) has been inaugurated at the Geological Collection “Giovanni Capellini Museum” of the University of Bologna.
Organised by the University of Bologna’s University Museum System and funded within the research programme of Spoke 4 “Virtual Technologies for Museums and Art Collections” of the PNRR CHANGES project, the exhibition illustrates how Computed Axial Tomography (CT scanning) has revolutionised palaeontology, allowing researchers to observe the interior of fossils without damaging them. Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste is among the key contributors to the research presented in the exhibition, thanks to its close collaboration with the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences of the University of Bologna in studying the small crocodile Acynodon from the Villaggio del Pescatore. This fossil is encased in a rock so compact that it is difficult to analyse with standard medical CT scans. |
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In this context, Elettra’s contribution has been crucial: synchrotron light, capable of penetrating extremely dense materials and producing ultra-high-resolution images, made it possible to observe internal parts of the specimen that would otherwise be inaccessible. The combination of the palaeontological expertise of the University of Bologna and the advanced imaging techniques available at Elettra has enabled an accurate reconstruction of Acynodon’s dentition and cranial morphology, revealing previously unknown features. |
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