Scientists Found a 520 Million-Year-Old Fossil With an Incredibly Well Preserved Nervous System
The fossil of an ancient shrimp-like crustacean has been discovered with possibly the most well-preserved nervous system ever found. It's called a Chengjiangocaris kunmingensis and it lived 520 million years ago. This specimen doesn't only show large nerve clusters as pictured. Some of the finest fibers of nerve tissue are also observable under a microscope.
Scientists are hoping that this fossil will give new insight into the evolution of nervous systems, particularly in modern worms and arthropods who are both related to this animal.