World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking Current World Ranking National Ranking Current National Ranking Publications Citations
Ecology and Evolution 100 276 259 43 39 648 37010
Earth Science 94 196 167 22 17 606 33256

Michael J. Benton publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by Michael J. Benton between 1975 and 2026, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. Michael J. Benton published across 52 years, from 1975 to 2026, averaging 18.1 papers a year. Output peaked at 60 publications in 2023. 30 of the 940 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
20 40 60
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1975 to 2026. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 60. Peak 60 publications in 2023. 1975: 1 publication 1976: 0 publications 1977: 0 publications 1978: 2 publications 1979: 3 publications 1980: 4 publications 1981: 5 publications 1982: 6 publications 1983: 7 publications 1984: 14 publications 1985: 12 publications 1986: 10 publications 1987: 5 publications 1988: 6 publications 1989: 12 publications 1990: 18 publications 1991: 37 publications 1992: 10 publications 1993: 22 publications 1994: 17 publications 1995: 25 publications 1996: 30 publications 1997: 29 publications 1998: 9 publications 1999: 16 publications 2000: 21 publications 2001: 10 publications 2002: 11 publications 2003: 12 publications 2004: 13 publications 2005: 8 publications 2006: 6 publications 2007: 21 publications 2008: 45 publications 2009: 16 publications 2010: 30 publications 2011: 26 publications 2012: 18 publications 2013: 20 publications 2014: 18 publications 2015: 31 publications 2016: 25 publications 2017: 28 publications 2018: 24 publications 2019: 33 publications 2020: 33 publications 2021: 38 publications 2022: 36 publications 2023: 60 publications 2024: 27 publications 2025: 29 publications 2026: 1 publication
1975 2026

940 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
Michael J. Benton: publications per year, 1975 to 2026
Year Publications
1975 1
1976 0
1977 0
1978 2
1979 3
1980 4
1981 5
1982 6
1983 7
1984 14
1985 12
1986 10
1987 5
1988 6
1989 12
1990 18
1991 37
1992 10
1993 22
1994 17
1995 25
1996 30
1997 29
1998 9
1999 16
2000 21
2001 10
2002 11
2003 12
2004 13
2005 8
2006 6
2007 21
2008 45
2009 16
2010 30
2011 26
2012 18
2013 20
2014 18
2015 31
2016 25
2017 28
2018 24
2019 33
2020 33
2021 38
2022 36
2023 60
2024 27
2025 29
2026 1
Total 940
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Michael J. Benton publications per year - data summary

  • Michael J. Benton, a Earth Science scholar from University of Bristol, has 940 publications recorded across 52 years, from 1975 to 2026.
  • The oldest publication on record dates to 1975 and the most recent to 2026.
  • The most productive year is 2023, with 60 publications.
  • The least productive years with any output are 1975 and 2026, with 1 publication each.
  • 2 of the 52 years in the span carry no publications at all (1976 and 1977).
  • The rate of publication averages 18.1 papers per year over the whole span, or 18.8 per year counting only the 50 years with at least one publication.
  • The last 5 years on the chart (2022-2026) hold 153 publications, 16% of the career total.
  • Split into equal eras - 1975-1992: 152 publications (8.4 per year); 1993-2010: 341 publications (18.9 per year); 2011-2026: 447 publications (27.9 per year).
  • Comparing the opening and closing eras, the overall trend of publication is rising.

Michael J. Benton publication distribution in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Earth Science in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Michael J. Benton sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300 400 500
Bar chart with 58 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 38–47 to 603+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 557. Most scientists, 557, have 128–137 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 603 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 603+ publications, is where this scientist sits. 38–47 publications: 5 scientists 48–57 publications: 33 scientists 58–67 publications: 94 scientists 68–77 publications: 161 scientists 78–87 publications: 278 scientists 88–97 publications: 376 scientists 98–107 publications: 404 scientists 108–117 publications: 484 scientists 118–127 publications: 540 scientists 128–137 publications: 557 scientists 138–147 publications: 491 scientists 148–157 publications: 495 scientists 158–167 publications: 458 scientists 168–177 publications: 490 scientists 178–187 publications: 414 scientists 188–197 publications: 401 scientists 198–207 publications: 333 scientists 208–217 publications: 292 scientists 218–227 publications: 290 scientists 228–237 publications: 262 scientists 238–247 publications: 243 scientists 248–257 publications: 208 scientists 258–267 publications: 185 scientists 268–277 publications: 147 scientists 278–287 publications: 128 scientists 288–297 publications: 119 scientists 298–307 publications: 120 scientists 308–317 publications: 107 scientists 318–327 publications: 93 scientists 328–337 publications: 87 scientists 338–347 publications: 64 scientists 348–357 publications: 87 scientists 358–367 publications: 60 scientists 368–377 publications: 60 scientists 378–387 publications: 34 scientists 388–397 publications: 50 scientists 398–407 publications: 44 scientists 408–417 publications: 31 scientists 418–427 publications: 39 scientists 428–437 publications: 27 scientists 438–447 publications: 36 scientists 448–457 publications: 27 scientists 458–467 publications: 29 scientists 468–477 publications: 30 scientists 478–487 publications: 19 scientists 488–497 publications: 15 scientists 498–507 publications: 18 scientists 508–517 publications: 19 scientists 518–527 publications: 16 scientists 528–537 publications: 10 scientists 538–547 publications: 11 scientists 548–557 publications: 14 scientists 558–567 publications: 11 scientists 568–577 publications: 7 scientists 578–587 publications: 14 scientists 588–597 publications: 5 scientists 598–602 publications: 4 scientists 603+ publications: 100 scientists
38–47 publications 603+

This scientist: 606 publications — 99th percentile

99% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 603 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Earth Science scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,176 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
38–47 5
48–57 33
58–67 94
68–77 161
78–87 278
88–97 376
98–107 404
108–117 484
118–127 540
128–137 557
138–147 491
148–157 495
158–167 458
168–177 490
178–187 414
188–197 401
198–207 333
208–217 292
218–227 290
228–237 262
238–247 243
248–257 208
258–267 185
268–277 147
278–287 128
288–297 119
298–307 120
308–317 107
318–327 93
328–337 87
338–347 64
348–357 87
358–367 60
368–377 60
378–387 34
388–397 50
398–407 44
408–417 31
418–427 39
428–437 27
438–447 36
448–457 27
458–467 29
468–477 30
478–487 19
488–497 15
498–507 18
508–517 19
518–527 16
528–537 10
538–547 11
548–557 14
558–567 11
568–577 7
578–587 14
588–597 5
598–602 4
603+ 100 606
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Michael J. Benton publication distribution in Earth Science in 2026 - data summary

  • The chart plots the publication count of all 9,176 Earth Science scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026, grouped into 58 ranges running from 38–47 to 603+ publications.
  • Michael J. Benton, a Earth Science scholar from University of Bristol, records 606 publications - the 99th percentile of the discipline.
  • 99% of ranked Earth Science scientists score the same or lower than Michael J. Benton, and about 1% score higher.
  • The median of the discipline falls in the 168–177 publications range, and Michael J. Benton ranks above the median.
  • The most crowded range is 128–137 publications, holding 557 scientists (6% of the field).
  • 58% of the field sits in the lowest quarter of the value range (up to 178–187 publications), so the distribution is heavily right-skewed and high scores are rare.
  • The final bar has no upper bound: it groups every scientist with 603 publications or more, 100 scientists in all (1% of the field).

Michael J. Benton D-index placement in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Earth Science scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Michael J. Benton sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300
Bar chart with 77 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 30 to 106+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 389. Most scientists, 389, have 36 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 106 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 94 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 30 D-Index: 144 scientists 31 D-Index: 215 scientists 32 D-Index: 278 scientists 33 D-Index: 379 scientists 34 D-Index: 366 scientists 35 D-Index: 372 scientists 36 D-Index: 389 scientists 37 D-Index: 366 scientists 38 D-Index: 344 scientists 39 D-Index: 349 scientists 40 D-Index: 296 scientists 41 D-Index: 289 scientists 42 D-Index: 277 scientists 43 D-Index: 279 scientists 44 D-Index: 248 scientists 45 D-Index: 257 scientists 46 D-Index: 212 scientists 47 D-Index: 202 scientists 48 D-Index: 207 scientists 49 D-Index: 204 scientists 50 D-Index: 183 scientists 51 D-Index: 178 scientists 52 D-Index: 182 scientists 53 D-Index: 178 scientists 54 D-Index: 163 scientists 55 D-Index: 117 scientists 56 D-Index: 163 scientists 57 D-Index: 120 scientists 58 D-Index: 113 scientists 59 D-Index: 136 scientists 60 D-Index: 135 scientists 61 D-Index: 96 scientists 62 D-Index: 103 scientists 63 D-Index: 83 scientists 64 D-Index: 103 scientists 65 D-Index: 83 scientists 66 D-Index: 89 scientists 67 D-Index: 92 scientists 68 D-Index: 89 scientists 69 D-Index: 78 scientists 70 D-Index: 75 scientists 71 D-Index: 53 scientists 72 D-Index: 62 scientists 73 D-Index: 54 scientists 74 D-Index: 35 scientists 75 D-Index: 52 scientists 76 D-Index: 50 scientists 77 D-Index: 32 scientists 78 D-Index: 37 scientists 79 D-Index: 20 scientists 80 D-Index: 33 scientists 81 D-Index: 36 scientists 82 D-Index: 34 scientists 83 D-Index: 34 scientists 84 D-Index: 24 scientists 85 D-Index: 19 scientists 86 D-Index: 18 scientists 87 D-Index: 26 scientists 88 D-Index: 30 scientists 89 D-Index: 17 scientists 90 D-Index: 21 scientists 91 D-Index: 19 scientists 92 D-Index: 15 scientists 93 D-Index: 14 scientists 94 D-Index: 20 scientists 95 D-Index: 9 scientists 96 D-Index: 10 scientists 97 D-Index: 15 scientists 98 D-Index: 13 scientists 99 D-Index: 3 scientists 100 D-Index: 13 scientists 101 D-Index: 3 scientists 102 D-Index: 9 scientists 103 D-Index: 4 scientists 104 D-Index: 6 scientists 105 D-Index: 6 scientists 106+ D-Index: 98 scientists
30 D-Index 106+

This scientist: 94 D-Index — 98th percentile

98% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 106 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Earth Science scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,176 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
30 144
31 215
32 278
33 379
34 366
35 372
36 389
37 366
38 344
39 349
40 296
41 289
42 277
43 279
44 248
45 257
46 212
47 202
48 207
49 204
50 183
51 178
52 182
53 178
54 163
55 117
56 163
57 120
58 113
59 136
60 135
61 96
62 103
63 83
64 103
65 83
66 89
67 92
68 89
69 78
70 75
71 53
72 62
73 54
74 35
75 52
76 50
77 32
78 37
79 20
80 33
81 36
82 34
83 34
84 24
85 19
86 18
87 26
88 30
89 17
90 21
91 19
92 15
93 14
94 20 94
95 9
96 10
97 15
98 13
99 3
100 13
101 3
102 9
103 4
104 6
105 6
106+ 98
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Michael J. Benton D-index placement in Earth Science in 2026 - data summary

  • The chart plots the discipline H-index (D-index) of all 9,176 Earth Science scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026, grouped into 77 ranges running from 30 to 106+ D-Index.
  • Michael J. Benton, a Earth Science scholar from University of Bristol, records 94 D-Index - the 98th percentile of the discipline.
  • 98% of ranked Earth Science scientists score the same or lower than Michael J. Benton, and about 2% score higher.
  • The median of the discipline falls in the 44 D-Index range, and Michael J. Benton ranks above the median.
  • The most crowded range is 36 D-Index, holding 389 scientists (4% of the field).
  • 62% of the field sits in the lowest quarter of the value range (up to 49 D-Index), so the distribution is heavily right-skewed and high scores are rare.
  • The final bar has no upper bound: it groups every scientist with 106 D-Index or more, 98 scientists in all (1% of the field).

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2014 - Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom
  • 2008 - Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh

Overview

Michael J. Benton is affiliated with the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom and has a significant body of research within Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Science. Their work extensively covers Paleontology and its related disciplines, contributing notably to both the fossil record and evolutionary biology.

The scientist's main research fields include:

  • Earth and Planetary Sciences
  • Environmental Science

Subfields of interest focus on:

  • Paleontology
  • Nature and Landscape Conservation
  • Global and Planetary Change
  • Geology
  • Atmospheric Science

Michael J. Benton's published topics emphasize:

  • Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Evolution and Paleontology Studies
  • Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Ichthyology and Marine Biology
  • Amphibian and Reptile Biology
  • Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
  • Marine Biology and Ecology Research

Noteworthy recent publications include:

  • The Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution and the origins of modern biodiversity, 2021, New Phytologist
  • The origin of endothermy in synapsids and archosaurs and arms races in the Triassic, 2020, Gondwana Research

In collaboration, Benton frequently partners with other researchers, including:

  • Emily J. Rayfield (20 joint publications)
  • Thomas L. Stubbs (19 joint publications)
  • David I. Whiteside (16 joint publications)
  • Christopher J. Duffin (13 joint publications)
  • Li Tian (11 joint publications)

The scientist has contributed multiple articles to key venues such as:

  • Proceedings of the Geologists Association
  • Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology
  • Current Biology
  • Palaeontology
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

Michael J. Benton has also authored books published by Princeton University Press, including titles focused on dinosaur behavior published in 2023.

Recognition includes fellowships awarded by authoritative scientific bodies:

  • Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom (2014)
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2008)

Best Publications

  • Paleontological Evidence to Date the Tree of Life

    Michael J Benton;Philip C J Donoghue

  • Diversification and extinction in the history of life

    MJ Benton

  • The timing and pattern of biotic recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction

    Zhong-Qiang Chen;Michael J. Benton

  • Best practices for justifying fossil calibrations

    James F. Parham;James F. Parham;James F. Parham;Philip C. J. Donoghue;Christopher J. Bell;Tyler D. Calway

  • The fossil record 2

    M. J. Benton

  • The Red Queen and the Court Jester: Species Diversity and the Role of Biotic and Abiotic Factors Through Time

    Michael J. Benton

  • How to kill (almost) all life: the end-Permian extinction event

    Michael J. Benton;Richard J. Twitchett

  • When Life Nearly Died: The Greatest Mass Extinction of All Time

    Michael J. Benton

  • Superiority, Competition, and Opportunism in the Evolutionary Radiation of Dinosaurs

    Stephen L. Brusatte;Michael J. Benton;Marcello Ruta;Graeme T. Lloyd

  • Classification and phylogeny of the diapsid reptiles

    Michael J. Benton

  • Rocks and clocks: calibrating the Tree of Life using fossils and molecules

    Philip C.J. Donoghue;Michael J. Benton

  • Recovery from the most profound mass extinction of all time.

    Sarda Sahney;Michael J Benton

  • Dinosaurs and the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution

    Graeme T Lloyd;Katie E Davis;Davide Pisani;James E Tarver

  • Fossilized melanosomes and the colour of Cretaceous dinosaurs and birds

    Fucheng Zhang;Stuart L. Kearns;Patrick J. Orr;Michael J. Benton

  • Early Jurassic mass extinction: A global long-term event

    Crispin T. S. Little;Michael J. Benton

  • The origin and early radiation of dinosaurs

    Stephen L. Brusatte;Sterling J. Nesbitt;Randall B. Irmis;Richard J. Butler

  • Constraints on the timescale of animal evolutionary history

    Michael J. Benton;Philip C.J. Donoghue;Robert J. Asher;Matt Friedman

  • PHYLOGENY OF THE MAJOR TETRAPOD GROUPS - MORPHOLOGICAL DATA AND DIVERGENCE DATES

    Michael J. Benton

  • Ecosystem remodelling among vertebrates at the Permian–Triassic boundary in Russia

    M. J. Benton;V. P. Tverdokhlebov;M. V. Surkov

  • Dating the Tree of Life

    Michael J. Benton;Francisco J. Ayala

  • The Unity of Evolutionary Biology

    Michael J Benton

  • The age of dinosaurs in Russia and Mongolia

    Michael J Benton

Frequent Co-Authors

Zhong-Qiang Chen
Zhong-Qiang Chen China University of Geosciences
Xing Xu
Xing Xu Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jinnan Tong
Jinnan Tong China University of Geosciences
Philip C. J. Donoghue
Philip C. J. Donoghue University of Bristol
Howard J. Falcon-Lang
Howard J. Falcon-Lang Royal Holloway University of London
Richard J. Twitchett
Richard J. Twitchett Natural History Museum
James F. Parham
James F. Parham California State University, Fullerton
Haijun Song
Haijun Song China University of Geosciences
Ricard V. Solé
Ricard V. Solé Pompeu Fabra University
Walter G. Joyce
Walter G. Joyce University of Fribourg

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