The exceptionally preserved skeleton of Darwinius, known popularly as “Ida.” From PLoS One.

Even though it has been about a month since Darwinius (or “Ida”, if you like) hit the public scene there is still plenty to talk about. From uncertain evolutionary relationships to the interaction between scientists and the media, this controversy has given us plenty to discuss. One of the most worrying aspects of this entire ordeal, however, has been the prospect that media companies influenced the scientific study of Ida.

As Earle Holland wrote on the Ohio State University On Research… blog, the tight relationship between the scientists describing Darwinius and the companies involved in promoting the fossil (Atlantic Productions, History Channel, BBC,