April 1st
April 1st is Fossil April Fools' Day, and on this day the world of paleontology gets into the spirit of playfulness. Created by scientists and enthusiasts, the date celebrates historical errors, mistakes and pranks in the discovery of fossils.
The event recalls famous cases, such as the Piltdown Man, a hoax that fooled experts for decades, and other scientific confusions that led to misinterpretations. In museums and on social media, researchers share funny stories about dubious fossils and creatures that never existed.
In addition to the fun, the date reinforces the importance of critical thinking and rigorous checking of evidence in science. After all, even in the prehistoric world, not everything is what it seems!
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