Railroad spikes. Knives. Razors. The teeth of carnivorous dinosaurs like Allosaurus and Tyrannosaurus have been compared to plenty of piercing and cutting tools over the years, but such comparisons are far too rough. In a study published earlier this month, University of Toronto paleontologist Kirstin Brink and colleagues uncovered new evidence that the teeth of flesh-ripping dinosaurs possessed specialized internal structures that strengthened their impressive chompers.

Look closely at the tooth of a Gorgosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, or most any carnivorous theropod dinosaur and you’ll see bumps of enamel on the front and back edges. Run your thumb along them – if you’re allowed to do so – and you can feel the subtle tickle of those little edges. You can feel why