Press + Media

Scientific Discoveries

Tyrannoroter heberti — Discovered 2017, Published 2026

Originally discovered by Brian Hebert in 2017 in Cape Breton, Tyrannoroter heberti was formally described and published in 2026, generating significant national and international media attention.

  • Nature (Shared Access Link) — Peer‑reviewed publication describing Tyrannoroter heberti — Read Publication
  • Reuters — Canadian fossil reveals one of the first plant-eating animals — Read Article
  • CNN — New fossil discovery sheds light on early digging herbivore Tyrannoroter heberti — Read Article
  • Smithsonian Magazine — A football-sized creature that lived 307 million years ago may have been one of the first land vertebrates to eat plants — Read Article
  • Discover Magazine — This 307-million-year-old animal may have been one of the first plant eaters — Read Article
  • Popular Mechanics — This Ancient Creature May Have Been One of the First Plant-Eating Animals — Read Article
  • ScienceAlert — Newly discovered fossil among the earliest land creatures to enjoy a salad — Read Article
  • ScienceDaily — New fossil discovery reveals early plant-eating land animal with powerful digging adaptations — Read Article
  • Sci.News — Tyrannoroter heberti: New species of early digging herbivore identified — Read Article
  • Earth.com — Scientists think this is the first plant-eating land animal: Tyrannoroter heberti — Read Article
  • Science News Today — Scientists found a 300-million-year-old ‘tyrant digger’ that chose plants over prey — Read Article
  • CBC News — New fossil discovery suggests early herbivore with powerful digging claws — Read Article
  • Saltwire — Brian Hebert’s ‘tyrant digger’ fossil discovery at Point Aconi may reveal early plant eater — Read Article

Dendromaia unamakiensis — Published 2019

Dendromaia unamakiensis represents the earliest known evidence of parental care in the fossil record, based on a remarkable specimen from Nova Scotia.

  • Nature Ecology & Evolution — Dendromaia unamakiensis: the earliest evidence of parental care in the fossil record — Read Publication
  • The Guardian — 300‑million‑year‑old fossil is early sign of creatures caring for their young — Read Article
  • Smithsonian Magazine — 306‑million‑year‑old fossil shows earliest evidence of parental care — Read Article
  • Sci.News — Dendromaia unamakiensis: earliest evidence of parent caring for offspring — Read Article
  • Paleontology World — Dendromaia unamakiensis: 305‑million‑year‑old fossil shows earliest evidence of parental care — Read Article
  • Everything Dinosaur — Carboniferous parental care: Dendromaia unamakiensis — Read Article
  • Saltwire — Fossil discovered in Cape Breton earliest evidence of parental behaviour — Read Article
  • Guinness World Records — Earliest brood care by a vertebrate — View Record
  • GBIF — Taxonomic record for Dendromaia unamakiensis — View Record
  • ResearchGate — Photographic figures of the Dendromaia unamakiensis holotype — View Figures

Additional Significant Discoveries

  • Saltwire — Joggins amateur geologist may have another significant discovery — Read Article

Documentaries & Video Features

  • Inhabited — Award-winning documentary featuring Brian — Watch on Amazon Prime | Watch on Tubi
  • Faux Pas Rêver: Acadie — French documentary featuring our fossil tour (2016). Watch from 1:01–1:06 to see our tour in action. — Watch
  • The Cliffs of Fundy and the Dawn of The Jurassic — Episode 1 — The Story in the Rocks — Watch
  • The Cliffs of Fundy and the Dawn of The Jurassic — Episode 2 — Minerals and Gems — Watch
  • The Cliffs of Fundy and the Dawn of The Jurassic — Episode 3 — Dinosaurs and More — Watch
  • The Cliffs of Fundy and the Dawn of The Jurassic — Episode 4 — Oral Tradition and History — Watch
  • Joggins Fossil Cliffs — Educational video — Watch
  • Arisaig Geological Site — Educational video — Watch

Podcasts & Radio Features

  • The Great Amherst Podcast — Featured guest interview — Listen on Spotify
  • CBC Radio — Quirks & Quarks — One of the world's earliest plant-eaters discovered in Nova Scotia (Tyrannoroter heberti) — Listen to Episode

News Articles

  • Saltwire — Joggins amateur geologist may have another significant discovery — Read Article
  • Saltwire — Beauty in your own backyard — Read Article
  • Saltwire — Old science, new technology combine to unlock mysteries of Joggins Fossil Cliffs — Read Article
  • Saltscapes Expo — Meet the Makers — Fundy Treasures feature — Read Article
  • Canada.com — Must-have souvenirs from your next trip to Nova Scotia — Read Article
  • Air Canada enRoute Magazine — From Gemstones to Jewelry Tour featured in the Summer 2024 print edition — Print feature (no online link available)

Broadcast Appearances

  • CBC Radio — Ottawa Morning with Robyn Bresnahan — Interview segment featuring Brian Hebert — Broadcast appearance (no online link available)
  • CBC Radio — Listen — Feature on local geology and fossil discoveries — Broadcast appearance (no online link available)
  • CBC Television — Land and Sea — Feature segment on Fundy Treasures and Nova Scotia geology — Broadcast appearance (no longer available online)
  • CTV Live at 5 — Broadcast appearance — No longer available online
  • CTV National — Feature on Cliffs of Fundy Geopark — No longer available online
  • CTV National — Feature on Dendromaia unamakiensis — No longer available online
  • Global News — Feature on Fundy Treasures — No longer available online

Awards & Recognition

  • Paleontological Society — Harrell L. Strimple Award (2023)
  • Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards — Recipient in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025
  • Cumberland Chamber of Commerce — Exporter of the Year Award (2019)
  • CCMA Awards — Official Sponsor of the CCMA Awards Gift Lounge (2015)
  • CBC News — Nova Scotia paleontologist honoured with science award — Read Article