据美国国家地理网站报道，"国家地理新闻"网站最受欢迎的年度十大科学发现已经新鲜出炉。在此次十大科学发现排行榜上，巨蟒、长着透明脑袋的鱼、"幽灵船"残骸以及一些最终被我们吃掉的稀有动物纷纷榜上有名。

    1.人类进化缺失一环 连接人类与狐猴 "Missing Link" Found: Fossil Connects Humans, Lemurs?

    灵长类动物"艾达"的化石年代可追溯到4700万年前，于5月20日被揭开神秘面纱。一些科学家表示，这是有关人类进化的一项重大发现。艾达化石是"国家地理新闻"网站2009年点击率最高的图片。但有些专家认为，这一化石的发现更是媒体事件，而非具有里程碑意义的事件。

    The 47-million-year-old, exceptionally preserved primate fossil "Ida," unveiled on May 20, was hailed by some as a major discovery in human evolution.

    The publicity frenzy made National Geographic News's brief coverage our most viewed page of the year-and inspired a backlash as some experts, including one here at Nat Geo HQ, suggested Ida was more media event than milestone.

    2.长着透明头的鱼 Fish With Transparent Head Seen Alive for First Time

    长着透明头的鱼可能是2009年最为怪异的一项自然发现。在2月公布的照片中，这条生活在太平洋的管眼鱼正在炫耀它的透明脑袋以及管状眼睛。据悉，这是迄今为止发现的第一个活标本。

    Perhaps the most bizarre nature discovery of the year-though Stephen Colbert put it a bit less delicately-a Pacific barreleye fish shows off its transparent head and barrel-like eyes in pictures released on February of the first specimen ever found alive.

    3.新云型 New Cloud Type Discovered?

    新发现的云型昵称"雅克·库斯托云".专家们6月表示，天空中出现的这些"狂暴"的云海是自1951年以来首次观察到的新云型。

    Nicknamed "Jacques Cousteau" clouds, these "turbulent" seas in the sky could be examples of the first official new cloud type since 1951, experts said in June.

    4.已"灭绝"鸟类 "Extinct" Bird Seen, Eaten

    专家们2月表示，长久以来一直被打上"灭绝"标签的菲律宾鹌鹑仍然健在。不幸的是，在第一次拍照之后，这只罕见的鹌鹑便沦为家禽市场上被出售的对象并最终被吃掉。

    Long believed to be extinct, a rare quail from the Philippines was photographed for the first time ever-then sold at a poultry market, experts said in February.

    5.最古老人类祖先骨骼化石 Oldest Skeleton of Human Ancestor Found

    10月进行的一项骨骼化石研究显示，人类与现代猿之间并不存在类黑猩猩动物这样缺失的一环。最古老人类祖先骨骼化石的发现将改写人类进化史。一名科学家说："它将改变一切。"

    There was never a chimp-like missing link between humans and today's apes, according to an October fossil-skeleton study that could rewrite human evolutionary history. Said one scientist, "It changes everything."

    6.淘金热时期"幽灵船"残骸 Gold Rush-Era "Ghost Ship" Wreck Found

    考古学家11月表示，在最近重见天日的"A.J. 戈达德"号明轮船残骸上，人们发现了当时被匆匆扔到甲板上的靴子以及散落的餐具。这些发现有助于了解这艘淘金热时期"幽灵船"上的船员生命的最后时刻。

    With boots thrown hastily on deck and cooking utensils scattered, the last moments of the crew aboard the gold rush-era paddleboat A.J. Goddard are preserved in the ship's recently found wreck, archaeologists announced in November.

    7.最长蛇 身长超过巴士 Biggest Snake Discovered; Was Longer Than a Bus

    这只生活在6000万年前的爬行动物体重超过一辆汽车。科学家2月表示，最长蛇化石的发现为了解气候变化提供了重要依据。

    The 60-million-year-old reptile was also heavier than a car, scientists said in February, adding that the fossil could shed light on climate change.

    8.美国三分之一地区面临外来巨蟒入侵威胁 Alien Giant Snakes Threaten to Invade Up to 1/3 of U.S.

    根据10月公布的一份报告，如果能够在美国野外安家落户并繁衍生息，9条外来巨蟒便可能引发一场生态学灾难。现在，至少已有两条外来巨蟒在佛罗里达州定居。

    Nine giant snakes could be on the verge of causing ecological catastrophe if they establish themselves in the U.S. wild-at least two have already set up shop in Florida-according to an October report.

    9.古代镶宝石牙齿 Ancient Gem-Studded Teeth Show Skill of Early Dentists

    古代镶宝石牙齿这一发现说明为牙齿"美容"绝不是hip-hop明星的首创。5月进行的一项研究显示，先进的牙科技术允许美洲土着人为他们的牙齿镶嵌宝石。这种为牙齿美容的做法年代最远可追溯到2500年前。

    The glittering "grills" of some hip-hop stars aren't exactly unprecedented. Sophisticated dentistry allowed Native Americans to add bling to their teeth as far back as 2,500 years ago, a May study said.

    10.超罕见巨口鲨 Ultra-Rare Megamouth Shark Found, Eaten

    这是迄今为止发现的第41条巨口鲨。3月，不幸最终降临到这条原本生活在菲律宾海域的鲨鱼头上，等待它的是在椰子汁中温火慢煮并最终被吃掉的厄运。

    In March, the 41st megamouth shark ever found went from swimming in Philippine waters to simmering in coconut milk.