Last week, researchers studying a dinosaur named Microraptor published the results of a remarkable discovery: this small, four-winged dinosaur was covered from head-to-toe in black feathers, but shone with a glossy hint of blue. In other words, its plumage was iridescent.

Don't miss your chance to participate in a live talk about dinosaurs with members of the American Museum of Natural History's Paleontology Division, today at 12:30 ET!

What color were the dinosaurs? It's a question that people have puzzled over for close to 200 years, and one that many long believed to be unanswerable. But a few years ago, scientists discovered that microscopic structures called melanosomes could be used to reveal prehistoric creatures' true hues.