Aired On CrossTalk February 02, 2009

In 1938, the discovery of a large, unusual fish turned the scientific community on end. Dubbed a "living fossil," the discovery of a coelacanth in South Africa shocked scientists aroudn the world who thought this type of fish had died out millions of years prior during the process of evolution.

Living fossils are organisms found preserved in the fossil record, which still exist in similar form today. If the core concepts of the theory of evolution presuppose change over time, then how can these living fossils exist for millions of years remaining virtually unchanged?

Whether a shark, leaf, frog, or crab, living fossils are a challenge for evolutionary theorists and create a fascinating debate among scholars. Do they indicate a younger earth that some have thought, placing the millions f years timeline of evolution into question? Or do they represent a deep mystery? Living Fossils - Evolution: The Grand Experiment Vol.2 delves into these provocative questions and more