John H. Ostrom

John H. Ostrom was a pioneering paleontologist whose research drastically changed our understanding of dinosaurs. In the 1960s, he discovered fossils of a small, bird-like dinosaur called Deinonychus, which demonstrated that some dinosaurs were active, intelligent, and closely related to birds. His work challenged the long-held view of dinosaurs as slow and sluggish creatures, helping to establish the idea that birds evolved from certain groups of dinosaurs. Ostrom’s discoveries and ideas played a crucial role in what’s known as the "dinosaur renaissance," inspiring ongoing research into dinosaur behavior, physiology, and evolution.