Lucy, the world’s most famous fossil human ancestor, has gone digital in 3-D. A new high-resolution CT scan of the 3.2 million-year-old skeleton will provide scientists around the globe with information that may help settle debates about human evolution. According to paleoanthropologist John Kappelman of the University of Texas, several versions of the virtual Lucy will eventually be available to the public. A website with a basic version will allow students to look at Lucy and compare her skeleton with those of modern humans and apes, while researchers will be able to access high-resolution files. Now that Lucy has been digitally archived, scientists and students will be able to harmlessly examine the bones using tools available on the web.
Wired Science
Lucy 2.0: Famous Fossil Hominid Goes Digital
Feb. 5
