IT鈥橲 a shame when the demands of the media overshadow those of science. The closely managed razzmatazz that accompanied the debut of Ida 鈥� the fossil 鈥渢hat could change everything鈥� about our ancestry 鈥� ensured that everyone was talking about her for a day or two. But it also meant that no one was allowed to see the relevant paper until after the event, so there was little chance to seek disinterested comment on the researchers鈥� claim (see 鈥淲hat you should know about chiropractic鈥�). By the time doubts about Ida鈥檚 role in our past emerged, the circus had moved on.
Overselling Ida
It's a shame when the demands of the media are allowed to overshadow those of science