A megalodon was a giant prehistoric shark. Research on fossilized teeth in the 1950s showed the teeth to be 11,000–24,000 years old. However, modern research used new testing methods that showed the teeth to be over five million years old. What should this error show students about performing scientific research?
1 answer
This error should show students that scientific research is an ongoing process and that new methods and technologies can lead to new discoveries and insights. It also shows that it is important to be open to new ideas and to continually question and re-evaluate existing theories. Finally, it demonstrates the importance of being able to adapt to new information and to update theories and hypotheses as new evidence is uncovered.