The Archaeopteryx may not be as unique as first thought.
New evidence has emerged that dents the reputation of the "first bird" Archaeopteryx, a feathered descendant of the dinosaurs, which lived 150 million years ago. Three-dimensional scans of skulls of early birds and dinosaurs suggest that at least a few species had brains with the neurological wiring for flight, said a paper in Nature. " Archaeopteryx has always been set up as a uniquely transitional species between feathered dinosaurs and modern birds, a halfway point," said paper author Amy Balanoff of the American Museum of Natural History. "By studying the cranial volume of closely related dinosaurs, we learned that Archaeopteryx might not have been so special." AFP
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Astronomers due to meet this week to discuss observing plans for the comet Ison may not have much to talk about. The so-called "Comet of the century" may already have fizzled out. "The future of comet Ison does not look bright," astronomer Ignacio Ferrin, with the University of Antioquia in Colombia, said. Reuters
