Something Like Feathers Grew on a 247-Million-Year-Old Reptile
Something Like Feathers Grew on a 247-Million-Year-Old Reptile
The discovery, in a bizarre animal not closely related to birds, could change how scientists think about the origin of feathers.
Read the full article on NY Times World
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article's central claim about feathers on a 247-million-year-old reptile is partially supported by source 1, which mentions similar aged marine reptiles and feathers on pterosaurs. However, the relationship to dinosaurs and birds requires further scrutiny. The article exhibits moderate bias through selective reporting, focusing on the novelty of the discovery without providing a comprehensive view of existing research on feather origins.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim: Something Like Feathers Grew on a 247-Million-Year-Old Reptile
- Verification Source #1: States that marine reptiles lived 247 to 244 million years ago and that exquisitely preserved fossils prove pterosaurs grew bird-like feathers.
- Assessment: Partially supported. Source 1 confirms the age and the presence of feathers on related reptiles (pterosaurs), but doesn't directly confirm the specific reptile mentioned in the article or the 'something like feathers' claim.
- Claim: The discovery, in a bizarre animal not closely related to birds, could change how scientists think about the origin of feathers.
- Verification Source #2: Mentions non-bird dinosaurs like Microraptor possessing feathers.
- Assessment: Potentially misleading. While the specific reptile's relation to birds is unverified by the provided sources, source 2 indicates that feathers on non-bird dinosaurs are already known, suggesting the impact on scientific thinking might be overstated. The 'bizarre animal' description contributes to potential bias.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Source 1: 'Exquisitely preserved fossils prove pterosaurs grew bird-like feathers.' supports the presence of feathers on reptiles from a similar time period.
- Source 2: 'Some non-bird dinosaurs like Microraptor possess feathers basically...' suggests the idea of feathers on non-bird relatives isn't entirely new.