Digital News Report

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Digital News Report- The Natural History Museum in New York unveiled a new fossil named “Aunt Ida,” whom many claim is the notorious “missing link” in our evolutionary tree.  The 47-million year fossil was discovered in Germany by paleontologist Jorn Hurum and has officially been named Darwinius masillae. The two foot long creature was found in 1983 in the Messel Pit in Frankfurt and kept in a private collection until 2006, when it was sold to the University of Oslo.

At a press conference at the Natural History Museum on Tuesday, Jens Franzen of the Senckenberg Research Institute clarified the fossils relationship to humans. “We are not dealing with our grand-grand-grand-grandmother, but perhaps our grand-grand-grand-aunt,” he said.  Ida lived during the Eocene era, which was important for the development of primates.

The fossil shows that Ida had opposable thumbs, fingernails instead of claws, and a talus bone in her ankle that links her to humans.  Its hind legs also indicate an evolutionary change towards standing upright.  Analysis of her stomach contents showed that she ate leaves and seeds.

Ida has been the subject of a large media blitz, which included a mysterious book sent to retailers that came with specific instructions to not be opened until May 20th.  The book was simply known as “Project X.”   The books official name is The Link, which is also the title of a documentary that will premier on the History Channel on Monday, May 25th.  Google also got in on the act and changed its homepage image in honor of the fossil (pictured).

Many are skeptical over the discovery and the subsequent media blitz. Dr Chris Beard, curator of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, told the BBC that the hype could damage the popularization of science. “I would be absolutely dumbfounded if it turns out to be a potential ancestor to humans,” he said.