Video: Charles Darwin’s Fossils Newly Discovered

Pixabay (Created by Candice Gaukel Andrews)

Charles Darwin’s visit to the Galapagos Islands had a profound impact on his later theories of natural selection. These volcanic islands are home to many unique species that still fascinate visitors today.

Curiosity can lead to wondrous things, as every scientist knows. And it certainly did recently for Dr. Howard Falcon-Lang at the British Geological Survey.

Poking around in a dusty corner in the survey’s archives, Falcon-Lang happened to come across an old cabinet. Being a researcher, of course, he opened a few drawers to see what was inside. He was shocked by what he found: the first slide he pulled out of its pocket turned out to be one of the specimens collected by Charles Darwin on his famous expedition to the Galapagos Islands on the HMS Beagle—one of many such items that have been hidden for more than 165 years.

The first fossil Dr. Falcon-Lang pulled out had “C. Darwin, Esq.” printed on it. ©From the video “Scientist Uncovers Lost Darwin Fossil Samples,” CBS News

To see this fascinating story, as reported by CBS Evening News, go to YouTube and paste this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msq6PwCqSns.

Here’s to finding your true places and natural habitats,

Candy

9 Comments

Travis on March 13, 2012 at 3:45 pm

The last shot looks like the warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I’m sure production was aware of that, or is at least drawing a parallel!

Teresita Bastides-Heron on February 4, 2012 at 7:12 am

I am sharing this on my FB.

Richard Frisbie on January 25, 2012 at 12:53 pm

Fascinating! Thanks for the link.

Teresita Bastides-Heron on January 24, 2012 at 12:19 pm

This is a very very important rediscovery of Charles Darwin’s fossils from the Galapagos Islands. It is also emotionally incredible that the fossils that Darwin collected so many years ago are still there and in very good conditions. Hopefully the rediscovery and the study of same with the technology that is available now will bring some new knowledge [probably on evolution] to everyone. I am super excited. Thank you Candice for this posting.

Valli Sanstrom on January 22, 2012 at 6:19 pm

oh wouldn’t I love to spend some time exploring in there.

Jan on January 20, 2012 at 12:41 pm

G r e a t !!

Anne Forbes on January 20, 2012 at 8:24 am

Thanks for sharing this. The history of human exploration of the fossil world is fascinating. I’ve recently read The Fossil Hunter by Shelley Emling, about Mary Anning (an uneducated, lower class English woman who made some of the most important fossil finds of the 19th century) and the struggle to define her important place in the emerging field of paleontology.