In the scientific world, we often focus on what we see. We discover things that can be seen with our eyes, touched and easily perceived. What about the voices of the past; dinosaur sounds exactly? How can we know what a living thing sounded like millions of years ago? This can be answered with paleoacoustics.

Before we get into the how, let’s think about what we’re talking about. Imagine parasaurolophus, a duck-billed dinosaur with a unique crest. This massive creature, about 5 feet tall and weighing between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds, dominated this landscape approximately 70 to 80 million years ago. It has been mentioned in many dinosaur-themed science fiction movies and games.

He presented his research on the acoustic properties of a physical model of a parasaurolophus crest at the 187th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in November 2024.

“I’ve been fascinated by giant animals since I was a child. I would spend hours reading books, watching movies, and imagining what it would be like if dinosaurs were still alive today,” Lin said.

However, a realization at university gave Lin’s passion a new direction. “It wasn’t until I started college that I realized that the sounds we hear in movies and TV shows, although fascinating, were created entirely using the sounds of modern animals.”

“Then I decided to dig deeper and discover what dinosaurs were really like.”

Making dinosaur sounds

To bring mathematics into the material world, Lin created a physical device he affectionately calls “Linophone.” It is made of tubes similar to the resonance chambers used in musical instruments. This theoretical model, despite its simplicity, was key to predicting what was going on acoustically inside the parasaurolophus crest.

The linophone is not a perfect copy of Parasaurolophus, but it is a stepping stone; It is a means of testing the mathematical foundation. Lin’s initial findings indicate that Parasaurolophus’s crest was used for resonance, a phenomenon unknown to us; This is the same principle that gives birds their unique songs.

Where should we go next?

The journey has just begun. Lin’s research is not yet complete and the mathematical model is still under development. But the implications of this research go beyond dinosaurs. This research paves the way for the study of animals with similar sound structures, leading to a deeper understanding of Earth’s ancient inhabitants.

The idea doesn’t end there. Lin shares his plan for the future; It’s an accessible plugin that people can try out and even add dinosaur sounds to the music. Can you imagine rock ‘n’ roll mixed with Parasaurolophus?

“Once we have a working model, we will move on to using fossil scans,” Lin said. “My ultimate goal is to reproduce the sound of Parasaurolophus.”

Understanding how dinosaurs communicated

Understanding how dinosaurs communicated gives us insight into their social structure and behavior. With its crest capable of producing characteristic sounds, Parasaurolophus is a fascinating subject to study these dynamics. This anatomical feature may have allowed it to produce low-frequency calls that can travel long distances; this is a valuable adaptation for mass communication over large areas.

This type of communication would play an important role in coordinating movements, warning of approaching predators, and even in mating rituals. During the research, scientists hope to find out whether these sounds are unique to each species, region, or even individual, providing a more detailed picture of dinosaur life.

Wider implications of the study

Although Lin’s work has focused primarily on the reproduction of Parasaurolophus sounds, the broader implications of paleoacoustic research are enormous. As techniques and understanding improve, scientists can apply these techniques to other prehistoric animals, providing a complete soundtrack of the past. These innovations enhance educational tools, enabling students and enthusiasts around the world to engage more deeply with Earth history through audio.

The field also enriches other disciplines such as paleontology, biology, and acoustics, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative thinking. As the frontiers of current research continue to expand, so does our ability to connect to the ancient world, transforming silent fossils into a prehistoric symphony.