A fossil of a feathered species provides new evidence that dinosaurs evolved flight more than once.

What it means

A newly discovered feathered dinosaur fossil from China, likely named Norellraptor barsboldi, shows distinct flight-related anatomical features that differ from those of early birds. This adds to the evidence that the ability to fly evolved independently multiple times among dinosaurs, not just once in the lineage leading to modern birds.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is reported in a Nature news article (doi:10.1038/d41586-026-03126-8) that directly covers a peer-reviewed study describing the fossil. The article is a reputable secondary source closely tied to the primary research, and multiple other outlets confirm the same discovery, supporting the claim's validity.

How new

The Nature article was published on October 2, 2026, making this genuinely new research coverage.

Go deeper

• Nature (current) — first to publish