A Paleo-Detective's Incredible Discovery

Paleontology resembles a thrilling detective story, piecing together fragmented clues to unveil the mysteries of ancient life. Enter Sue, an extraordinary fossil unearthed from the rock layers in South Africa, capturing the fascination of scientists and enthusiasts alike.

Professor Sarah Gabbott, who led the discovery, recalls her excitement: "When I first discovered Sue, I knew we had stumbled upon something truly unique. After carefully extracting her from the rock over three painstaking days, we encased her in plaster and she was flown back to England in first class—thanks to British Airways!" Sue's hefty 70 kilograms made her quite the travel burden.

An Inside-out Wonder!

What puzzled Gabbott was Sue's incredibly rare preservation. Unlike any other fossil, all the tough outer shell that usually withstands time was absent, leaving behind an intriguingly preserved set of internal muscles. As Gabbott explored further, it became clear: Sue is an inside-out fossil!

A Snapshot From a Deadly Era

Sue lived around 440 million years ago during a harsh glaciation period that led to one of Earth's largest mass extinctions, wiping out 85% of life. Remarkably, Sue was found in a marine basin that seemed to offer refuge amidst the icy chaos—a pocket of survival in a world turned upside down.

"The conditions were extreme—near-zero oxygen and lethal hydrogen sulfide suffused the ocean floor," Gabbott explains. "It was these harsh environments that likely resulted in Sue's remarkable preservation.

25 Years of Research Comes to Fruition

Determining Sue's position on the evolutionary tree proved challenging due to her intricate details. After 25 years of relentless research, Gabbott finally described the fossil in a recently published paper, naming it Keurbos susanae after her mother. Gabbott humorously noted, "I told her to make sure she didn’t fossilize before I could name a fossil after her!"

A Legacy of Discovery and Passion

In naming Sue, Gabbott found a meaningful connection to her mother’s encouragement to chase her passions. She shares, "I jestfully tell her that I named the fossil Sue because she’s well-preserved, but it really honors her encouragement to explore the wonders of our ancient Earth."

Sue isn't just another fossil; she's a stunning testament to life's resilience and the joy of scientific discovery.