Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 hr ago
Jurassic Park appearances best predict public interest in dinosaur species
Researchers studied 3.5 billion Wikipedia page views from 2015 to 2025 to find out which dinosaur species attract public interest.
The study found that appearing in the Jurassic Park franchise was the strongest predictor of attention.
Large, meat-eating dinosaurs were also more popular, but screen exposure mattered more than biological traits such as size or diet.
This helped smaller dinosaurs and plant-eaters, including Dilophosaurus and Triceratops, gain attention too.
The researchers say the franchise has kept these dinosaurs in the public imagination through films, books, sequels and spin-offs.
That attention may encourage interest in the natural world, including visits to museums and fossil sites.
A study found that appearances in the Jurassic Park franchise were the strongest predictor of public interest in dinosaur species.
Researchers analysed 3.5 billion Wikipedia page views from 2015 to 2025.
The franchise effect was stronger than biological traits such as size or whether a dinosaur ate meat.
Larger, meat-eating dinosaurs were also more popular, but screen appearances could boost interest in smaller or plant-eating species.
The researchers said media exposure may encourage interest in the natural world and visits to museums or paleontological sites.
- Who
- Researchers led by Dr Pamela Lima of the Federal University of Alagoas. Co-author Dr Ricardo Correia is an associate professor at the University of Turku.
- What
- The study found that appearances in the Jurassic Park franchise were the strongest predictor of public interest in dinosaur species.
- When
- The researchers analysed Wikipedia page views from 2015 to 2025. The study’s publication date is not stated.
- Where
- The study is reported in the journal Biology Letters. The researchers’ institutions are in Brazil and Finland.
- Why
- The researchers examined which dinosaur species continue to capture public attention. They found media exposure was a stronger predictor than biological traits.
Earlier scientific view
Study researchers
Main factor in dinosaur fame
Earlier scientific view
Earlier experts had thought size and diet would be the biggest factors determining public attention.
Study researchers
The researchers found that Jurassic Park appearances were the strongest predictor, surpassing traits such as size and diet.
Jurassic Park was released.
Researchers analysed 3.5 billion Wikipedia page views to assess public interest in dinosaur species.
- Wikipedia page views analysed
- 3.5 billion
- Period analysed
- 2015–2025
- Strongest predictor of public interest
- Appearance in the Jurassic Park franchise
- Study journal
- Biology Letters
- Lead author
- Dr Pamela Lima, Federal University of Alagoas
2 sources
What people are saying
Our models reveal that appearance in the Jurassic Park movie franchise is the strongest predictor of contemporary public interest, surpassing biological traits such as size or whether the dinosaur was a carnivore.
The Jurassic Park franchise, including the books and the movies, has helped to both raise awareness of certain dinosaurs and contribute to materialising in our collective imagination how these extinct creatures might have looked and behaved.
I think this increased attention towards dinosaurs is positive because it can represent a first step for people to engage with and become more interested in the natural world.