Now that “Ida” is a star, a look at some other famously transitional stars of the fossil record

The London Archaeopteryx Called “arguably the best-known fossil anywhere” by Richard Fortney in his book Life, and mentioned in the forth edition of the Origin of Species, Archaeopteryx lithographica provided Darwin with the evidence he needed to convince some of his most skeptical opponents that evolution has, does, and will continue to occur. The original “missing link”, Archaeopteryx has the skeleton of a small dinosaur, but unmistakable feathers, linking it to birds. courtesy of Wikimedia commons

The phrase “missing link” first appeared in print only four years after the publication of The Origin of the Species. By the end of that year, legendary paleontologist Richard Owen published a description of the fossil Archaeopteryx, the first specimen to carry that moniker. And with that, the concept of a “missing link” embedded itself in the popular imagination.

With missing links again thrust hastily and breathlessly into the spotlight again with the History Channel's hyped-through-the-roof unveiling of Ida, "the most important find in 47 million years," a look at missing links throughout history may help put things in perspective.

Of course, anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of evolution knows that there’s no such scientific concept as a missing link, that the gradual nature of evolution renders all species “intermediates” between past and future forms, and that filling in the gaps between distinct groups is the paleontological equivalent of Zeno’s paradox. That has not, however, stopped almost 150 years of hype around the spectacular fossils whose chimerical appearance seems to embody the very concept of evolution.

So, in the spirit of the description of Darwinius masillae, have a look at some of the exquisite fossils that have served as prima facie evidence for the process of evolution. See it here.

Want to learn more about breakthroughs in electronics, medicine, nanotech, and more?
Subscribe to Popular Science and enter to win $5,000!

0 Comments



Download Our iPhone App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed



Become a Fan On Facebook

Share links with friends, comment on stories and more


December 2009: Best of What's New

In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.

Check out the best of what's new here.

Popular Science Photo Pool


Share your photos in the Pop Sci pool at www.flickr.com!
tags_sprite.png
POP_embeddedForm_cover_May09.jpg