RE: ultrasound and dinosaur eggs

["Rafert, John" <JRAFERT@xray.indyrad.iupui.edu>]

Dr. Carpenter,
     I hope I am not repeating thing already covered on the list in the past 
few weeks, but my system has been down while we upgraded. I have had a 
preliminary discussion with our resident physicist in radiology. He infoms 
me that ultrasound will indeed function in a non-liquid environment. He 
noted the use in industry for finding cracks in engine castings, etc. He 
said it works very well in solids. In addition, he provided me with the name 
of our top researcher on campus in ultrasound. I am planning to contact him, 
but I may need a bit more info on the nature and consistency for the matrix 
of eggs as compared to fossil embryonic bone. Are you aware of such 
information, or could you recommend a source? Please bear in mind that I am 
a prof. in human orthopedic radiography, and not a Ph.D.. I do, however, 
have a strong interest in the field of paleontology and would be pleased to 
provide any help I may be able to regarding imaging with radiologic 
technologies.

PS, Is your book on Tyrannosaurs by China Ocean Press available in this 
country ? If so, would you provide a source.

Thank you for your attention,

John Rafert
e-mail: jrafert@xray.indyrad.iupui.edu
Telephone: 1-317-274-5255
Fax: 1-317-274-4074

 ----------
>From: dinosaur
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: RE: ultrasound and dinosaur eggs
Date: Monday, February 13, 1995 9:09AM

Sean Doyle wrote:

>.. but what about ultrasound? I would imagine
>that there would have to be pretty sophisticated filtering of the
>return signals. I also don't know if the resolution is adequate for
>the level of detail needed. Has anyone tried this?


I don't know if anyone has tried it, nor do I know if it would work in
the absence of water within the egg to transmit the sound waves.
Another option not explored is ground penetrating radar.  However, my
attempt last summer to locate dinosaur bones leads me to doubt the
usefulness of the technique without major technological advances.  There
is certainly a problem with resolution, which is presently too coarse
for small embryonic bones.  Nevertheless, I would be interested in
hearing of anyone playing with either techniques.

Kenneth Carpenter