據(jù)美國(guó)國(guó)家地理網(wǎng)站報(bào)道，“國(guó)家地理新聞”網(wǎng)站最受歡迎的年度十大科學(xué)發(fā)現(xiàn)已經(jīng)新鮮出爐。在此次十大科學(xué)發(fā)現(xiàn)排行榜上，巨蟒、長(zhǎng)著透明腦袋的魚(yú)、“幽靈船”殘骸以及一些最終被我們吃掉的稀有動(dòng)物紛紛榜上有名。
1.人類進(jìn)化缺失一環(huán) 連接人類與狐猴 "Missing Link" Found: Fossil Connects Humans, Lemurs?
靈長(zhǎng)類動(dòng)物“艾達(dá)”的化石年代可追溯到4700萬(wàn)年前，于5月20日被揭開(kāi)神秘面紗。一些科學(xué)家表示，這是有關(guān)人類進(jìn)化的一項(xiàng)重大發(fā)現(xiàn)。艾達(dá)化石是“國(guó)家地理新聞”網(wǎng)站2009年點(diǎn)擊率最高的圖片。但有些專家認(rèn)為，這一化石的發(fā)現(xiàn)更是媒體事件，而非具有里程碑意義的事件。
The 47-million-year-old, exceptionally preserved primate fossil "Ida," unveiled on May 20, was hailed by some as a major discovery in human evolution.
The publicity frenzy made National Geographic News's brief coverage our most viewed page of the year—and inspired a backlash as some experts, including one here at Nat Geo HQ, suggested Ida was more media event than milestone.
2.長(zhǎng)著透明頭的魚(yú) Fish With Transparent Head Seen Alive for First Time
長(zhǎng)著透明頭的魚(yú)可能是2009年最為怪異的一項(xiàng)自然發(fā)現(xiàn)。在2月公布的照片中，這條生活在太平洋的管眼魚(yú)正在炫耀它的透明腦袋以及管狀眼睛。據(jù)悉，這是迄今為止發(fā)現(xiàn)的第一個(gè)活標(biāo)本。
Perhaps the most bizarre nature discovery of the year—though Stephen Colbert put it a bit less delicately—a Pacific barreleye fish shows off its transparent head and barrel-like eyes in pictures released on February of the first specimen ever found alive.
3.新云型 New Cloud Type Discovered?
新發(fā)現(xiàn)的云型昵稱“雅克·庫(kù)斯托云”。專家們6月表示，天空中出現(xiàn)的這些“狂暴”的云海是自1951年以來(lái)首次觀察到的新云型。
Nicknamed "Jacques Cousteau" clouds, these "turbulent" seas in the sky could be examples of the first official new cloud type since 1951, experts said in June.
4.已“滅絕”鳥(niǎo)類 "Extinct" Bird Seen, Eaten
專家們2月表示，長(zhǎng)久以來(lái)一直被打上“滅絕”標(biāo)簽的菲律賓鵪鶉仍然健在。不幸的是，在第一次拍照之后，這只罕見(jiàn)的鵪鶉便淪為家禽市場(chǎng)上被出售的對(duì)象并最終被吃掉。
Long believed to be extinct, a rare quail from the Philippines was photographed for the first time ever—then sold at a poultry market, experts said in February.
5.最古老人類祖先骨骼化石 Oldest Skeleton of Human Ancestor Found
10月進(jìn)行的一項(xiàng)骨骼化石研究顯示，人類與現(xiàn)代猿之間并不存在類黑猩猩動(dòng)物這樣缺失的一環(huán)。最古老人類祖先骨骼化石的發(fā)現(xiàn)將改寫(xiě)人類進(jìn)化史。一名科學(xué)家說(shuō)：“它將改變一切?！?/div>
There was never a chimp-like missing link between humans and today's apes, according to an October fossil-skeleton study that could rewrite human evolutionary history. Said one scientist, "It changes everything."
