…and media darling! This fossil, formerly referred to as Darwinius masillae, emerged yesterday in a media storm as what is believed by her discoverers to be human’s oldest known ancestor, and proof of our evolution from apes. Take that creationists!

But really, with all the fuss about Ida today and yesterday, one would think she had a new film premiering or a hit show on Broadway. Flash bulbs went wild as she was unveiled yesterday at New York’s Museum of Natural History, with the celeb mayor Michael Bloomberg in attendance.

Dozens of reporters swarmed to the museum for Tuesday’s announcement at the museum, where even New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was on hand to extol the discovery. The fossilized creature lay on its side, suspended in a block of amber-colored material sitting in a brightly lit specimen case.

Before Tuesday’s event, the fossil was shrouded in secrecy, and its unveiling unfolded more like a Hollywood production than a scientific discovery. When asked if the publicity was overdone, Hurum said he didn’t think so.

“That’s part of getting science out to the public to get attention,” he said. “I don’t think that’s so wrong.”

Ida apparently lived some 20 times earlier — 47 million years ago, when the Himalayas were just forming – than the last known fossil of this type, making her super old…and super cool! Ida makes Lucy look like chopped liver. So 1974!

Via / MSNBC