One of the ideas generated by this higher oxygen atmosphere is that perhaps the minuscule dinosaur brains operated with greater efficiency, if only because their blood supply was more highly oxygenated. The high carbon dioxide levels we found are largely attributable to volcanic activity. Increased carbon dioxide levels cause global warming and stimulate plants to photosynthesize more rapidly, giving rise to increased levels of oxygen. Humans have not come close to creating that kind of environment yet. This is an example of how dinosaur science can contribute to our understanding of important questions such as a worldwide climate change.
Paleontology is the most widely used method of learning about dinosaurs.
Fossils are the only real evidence of ancient plants and animals that allows us to reconstruct the past worlds. One of the exciting aspects of the field is that it is truly international, addressing questions of worldwide significance. For example, recently I had the opportunity to study newly discovered dinosaur fossils in China. Working in China is very different from working in the United States. Details, such as the availability of maps and aerial photographs that we take for granted can pose problems.