據美國國家地理網站報道，“國家地理新聞”網站最受歡迎的年度十大科學發現已經新鮮出爐。在此次十大科學發現排行榜上，巨蟒、長著透明腦袋的魚、“幽靈船”殘骸以及一些最終被我們吃掉的稀有動物紛紛榜上有名。
1.人類進化缺失一環 連接人類與狐猴 "Missing Link" Found: Fossil Connects Humans, Lemurs?
靈長類動物“艾達”的化石年代可追溯到4700萬年前，于5月20日被揭開神秘面紗。一些科學家表示，這是有關人類進化的一項重大發現。艾達化石是“國家地理新聞”網站2009年點擊率最高的圖片。但有些專家認為，這一化石的發現更是媒體事件，而非具有里程碑意義的事件。
The 47-million-year-old, exceptionally preserved primate fossil "Ida," unveiled on May 20, was hailed by some as a major discovery in human evolution.
The publicity frenzy made National Geographic News's brief coverage our most viewed page of the year—and inspired a backlash as some experts, including one here at Nat Geo HQ, suggested Ida was more media event than milestone.
2.長著透明頭的魚 Fish With Transparent Head Seen Alive for First Time
長著透明頭的魚可能是2009年最為怪異的一項自然發現。在2月公布的照片中，這條生活在太平洋的管眼魚正在炫耀它的透明腦袋以及管狀眼睛。據悉，這是迄今為止發現的第一個活標本。
Perhaps the most bizarre nature discovery of the year—though Stephen Colbert put it a bit less delicately—a Pacific barreleye fish shows off its transparent head and barrel-like eyes in pictures released on February of the first specimen ever found alive.
3.新云型 New Cloud Type Discovered?
新發現的云型昵稱“雅克·庫斯托云”。專家們6月表示，天空中出現的這些“狂暴”的云海是自1951年以來首次觀察到的新云型。
Nicknamed "Jacques Cousteau" clouds, these "turbulent" seas in the sky could be examples of the first official new cloud type since 1951, experts said in June.
4.已“滅絕”鳥類 "Extinct" Bird Seen, Eaten
專家們2月表示，長久以來一直被打上“滅絕”標簽的菲律賓鵪鶉仍然健在。不幸的是，在第一次拍照之后，這只罕見的鵪鶉便淪為家禽市場上被出售的對象并最終被吃掉。
Long believed to be extinct, a rare quail from the Philippines was photographed for the first time ever—then sold at a poultry market, experts said in February.
5.最古老人類祖先骨骼化石 Oldest Skeleton of Human Ancestor Found
10月進行的一項骨骼化石研究顯示，人類與現代猿之間并不存在類黑猩猩動物這樣缺失的一環。最古老人類祖先骨骼化石的發現將改寫人類進化史。一名科學家說：“它將改變一切?！?/div>
There was never a chimp-like missing link between humans and today's apes, according to an October fossil-skeleton study that could rewrite human evolutionary history. Said one scientist, "It changes everything."
