The Shape of Eggs: A History of Research, Hypotheses, and a Modern Breakthrough
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The Shape of Eggs: A History of Research, Hypotheses, and a Modern Breakthrough

ByMichael Naghan

The egg, an ancient and essential form of life, has fascinated naturalists, artists, and scientists for centuries. Among vertebrates, birds produce the most visually and structurally diverse eggs, ranging from nearly perfect spheres to sharply pointed ellipsoids. But why are bird eggs shaped the way they are? What evolutionary forces molded their geometry? And what physical processes produce such shapes inside the bird’s body?

Reconstructing Mesozoic Bird Eggs Using Non-Invasive Methods
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Reconstructing Mesozoic Bird Eggs Using Non-Invasive Methods

ByMichael Naghan

Reconstructing the size, shape, surface texture, and coloration of extinct Mesozoic bird eggs is challenging because actual egg specimens from Mesozoic birds are extremely rare. Paleontologists must rely on indirect, non-destructive methods to infer these characteristics for museum displays and scientific understanding. Here we outline key non-invasive methods and their applications, with examples from recent scientific literature.

Egg Coloration in Birds
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Egg Coloration in Birds

ByMichael Naghan

Bird eggs exhibit a remarkable variety of colors and patterns, ranging from plain white to vibrant blue-green or speckled brown. In this paper, we examine the pigments responsible for egg colors, the process of pigment deposition during egg formation, the biological purposes of colored eggs, variations across species and environments, and the influences of diet, health, and genetics on egg color.