E59: What can fossils tell us about the nervous system's evolution? [SJK Audio Edition]

Read this article at https://www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/what-can-fossils-tell-us-about-the-nervous-systems-evolution/ or watch at https://youtu.be/69sv6Tf9HEoSummary: Paleontologists examined a well-preserved fossil of the central nervous system in an extinct horseshoe crab. Abstract: What can we learn from fossils? We can estimate the shape and size of an extinct animal. Anything else? Well, if soft tissues (like the brain or muscles) fossilize, it could tell us how the animal functioned or behaved. Unfortunately, soft tissue decomposes quickly after an animal dies. They aren’t preserved as fossils very often. That’s why we felt really lucky when we came across a fossil of an extinct horseshoe crab with a preserved central nervous system (CNS). We discovered that the organization of the CNS in our fossil is the same as in horseshoe crabs living today. It hasn’t changed in over 300 million years! We also figured out how our unique fossil might have formed. This could help others discover similar fossils in the future. About us: Science Journal for Kids is a non-profit organization that “translates” academic papers into easy-to-understand science articles for school students. Why? Because children have the right to know about the latest scientific discoveries. #science #article #teach #STEM #students #readaloud #paleontology #horseshoecrab #fossils #CNS This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencejournalforkids.substack.com