Science

New fossil scans challenge insect flight timeline, suggesting origins up to 80 million years later

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Briefings

A tiny fossil discovered exactly a century ago has caused an enormous change in our understanding of when flying insects first appeared on Earth. The new fossil scans suggest that flying insects originated up to 80 million years later than previously believed, challenging the long-standing timeline of insect evolution. This discovery fundamentally alters the understanding of early insect flight capabilities and their evolutionary history.

Key points

• A tiny fossil discovered exactly a century ago has caused an enormous change in our understanding of when flying insects first appeared on Earth.
• New fossil scans suggest that flying insects originated up to 80 million years later than previously believed, challenging the long-standing timeline of insect evolution.

Context

This finding challenges the long-standing scientific consensus regarding the timing of insect flight evolution, potentially shifting the timeline by up to 80 million years.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single tiny fossil discovered exactly a century ago, with no additional data or broader context provided.

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