Q Dinosaurs dominated Earth for 160 million years, beginning 245 million years ago. They are fierce and fascinating animals, celebrities of our natural-history museums, and have much to teach us about our own world. What do the dinosaurs teach us about earth sciences, time, the history of life, and our own place in history? Reflect upon the statement “ The world of the dinosaurs is a natural experiment for predicting our future, and their descendants are still with us.”