"This specimen is like finding the lost ark for archaeologists. It is the scientific equivalent of the Holy Grail."

Jørn Hurum, University of Oslo, at the New York press unveiling of a 47-million-year-old fossil, christened Ida (pictured), last week.

"[It is] like the eighth wonder of the world."

Jens Franzen, Natural History Museum of Basel, Switzerland, who was involved in analysing the fossil.

"Any pop band is doing the same thing. We have to start thinking the same way in science.

Hurum justifies the attention.

"There was a TV company involved and time pressure. We've been pushed to finish the study; it's not how I like to do science."

Hurum's co-worker Philip Gingerich of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, reflects.

Credit: J. L. FRANZEN

Sources: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BBC, Fox News, The Guardian