"Long-Debated Fossil Unmasked as Elaborate Forgery"

A fossil discovered in the Italian Alps in 1931, believed to be an ancient lizard with exceptionally preserved soft tissue, has been revealed to be a fake. A recent analysis led by paleobiologist Valentina Rossi discovered that the soft tissue was actually black paint. While the revelation was unexpected and disappointing, it opens up new opportunities for studying the genuine parts of the fossil and potentially finding new specimens at the excavation site. The research sheds light on the history of paleontology and the advancements in molecular-level fossil analysis.