But in Mongolia at least, they appear to have been relatively common. With the discovery of Jaculinykus, nine genera of alvarezsaurid have now been found in the region. Meanwhile, their thumbs develop a big claw and get much larger, while their arms become shorter but stronger. It’s thought they might be anteaters, and they also have flexible skulls which might have helped them to eat larger, struggling insects.’

We previously reviewed the smaller gemstone set which contains 3 gemstones, but the Ultimate set contains an impressive 20! I really like this set because it was easier to find the stones, but also you end up with a brilliant collection. The gems include ones we were familiar with, but also some I hadn’t heard of like snowflake obsidian (although as a big fan of Minecraft my daughter had heard of this one and she was rather excited by it). Some of the gemstones have been polished and are all smooth while others are in the natural state and you can see the crystal formations. We have bought gemstones before, but discovering them through the excavation made them far more special. Finding out what this common ancestor could be, however, is difficult, as the fossils of small dinosaurs like the alvarezsaurids are often badly preserved. AD) We are very excited to be ambassadors for the 2021 Bandai National Geographic Stem blogger club which means we will be reviewing lots of the great products from the National Geographic range over the next few months. These sets are suitable for children aged 8 and upwards and they are a great way to get children engaged and learning about different topics in a fun way.Named Jaculinykus yaruui, or the ‘speedy clawed dragon’, the small, possibly feathered, dinosaur was well adapted to dashing around what is now Mongolia. With hands dominated by a large thumb, it could have dug into insect colonies in the search for food. However it came to be buried, being underground protected it from scavengers. This ensured it is one of the best preserved alvarezsaurids from this period, greatly improving our understanding of their anatomy and ecology.’ The learning guide is a great introduction to sharks and includes: myth busting about them being man-eaters (apparently only 10 of the more than 500 species have been known to bite a human), the importance of sharks to the ecosystem and the threat to sharks from humans. This diversity might be explained by the environments of the past,’ Kohta says. ‘The Cretaceous sediments in the Nemegt Basin suggest there were once a variety of moist and dry habitats.’

Among the many dinosaurs to be discovered in the region are the alvarezsaurids, a group of dinosaurs with many similarities to birds. These include characteristics such as a light skull, small body size and a structure known as a keeled sternum, which allows large arm muscles to attach. Volcanos feel like something that should have died out with the dinosaurs, or at least with the Romans, so part of me is always a little surprised when I remember there are lots of volcanic activity across the Earth everyday. This week we have been watching the live feed from Fagradalsfjall erupting in Icelandand the Build Your Own Volcano set has been a great way to continue the conversation. The Shark Tooth Dig Kit enables you to excavate 3 different types of shark's teeth. This is a great opportunity to feel what shark teeth are like and talk about why the teeth might be that particular shape. We even took a brief detour into talking about the oral hygiene of sharks and humans. This is telling us about eating interactions between organisms, about recycling processes," says Chin. "When you're holding a piece of fossil poop, that really shows us how dynamic life has been — not only today, but in the past." This T. rex tooth is a very special item because it was molded from a real T. rex tooth fossil. This gives your child the chance to see, feel, and treasure an artifact from one of the most famous and fearsome dinosaurs yet discovered.Though they’re not directly related to birds, the alvarezsaurids continue to fascinate due to their unusual characteristics – most peculiarly of all, their hands. M loved finding out more about gemstones with the National Geographic STEM learning kit from Bandai UK

All STEM toys are designed to introduce educational concepts to kids in a digestible and fun way. Find an age-appropriate toy in a subject that interests your child and will keep them engaged and entertained for hours. These toys are meant to challenge children and foster problem-solving skills while learning about math and science. For a challenging and educational toy, we love the ThinkFun Gravity Maze. These sets are really accessible with easy to follow instructions and learning guides. They are in-depth enough that even adults will learn something, but not too complicated so that Tweens get lost. Alternatively, it’s possible that it was buried while in a burrow. Alvarezsaurids like Jaculinykus had tiny but powerful forelimbs that might possibly have allowed them to excavate underground tunnels, and if this collapsed, it would have preserved its life position. The eruption is created by placing a mix of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate into the top of the volcano then adding water. The instructions also have tips for variations to make bigger eruptions and other household chemicals you can use. Be warned that the eruption powder contains red colouring which will stain some materials.Designing environmentally-friendly items is a newer aspect of STEM, but one that is very important for budding scientists. STEM activity kits tend to have more one-time-use parts than other toys, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be eco-friendly. Look for ways to reuse or reinvent activities once you are done for added exploration and play. The Osmo Genius Kit connects to your iPad, so it doesn't rely on waste or other pieces, but if you are looking for something screen-free, we love the 4M Crystal Growing Kit. Kits like this produce something kids can cherish and keep forever, limiting waste.

The similarities are so pronounced that when they were first discovered, some scientists believed these dinosaurs might be the direct ancestors of some living birds. More recent research has instead revealed that they are relatives who adapted to similar challenges in a process known as convergent evolution. Most 8 (ish) year olds will probably find the best thing about this set is that it contains fossilised dinosaur poo. To be honest it looks pretty much like a stone to me, but apparently it is far more amusing to wave under your sister’s nose than a stone. I personally think it is more exciting to find the piece of a fossilised dinosaur bone. It's impossible to know which one of the 1000 plus dinosaur species it’s from, but that wont stop my children from guessing. Like all meat-eating dinosaurs, or theropods, the earliest alvarezsaurids had three-fingered hands,’ Paul explains. ‘Over time, however, the outer fingers get smaller, and eventually disappear altogether.’Kohta Kubo, a PhD student and lead author of new research describing the new species, says, ‘As most of Jaculinykus’ skeleton has remained in its original position, it could have been buried rapidly during a sandstorm or a catastrophic event.’ Preserved in a resting pose for more than 70 million years, a new species of dinosaur has finally been brought to light.