When in the 15th Century a young Leonardo da Vinci discovered fossilized shells, whale and fish bones in mountain caves in the north Italian Alps he questioned the prevailing Judeo-Christian worldview of his time. Da Vinci is famous for his exquisite paintings and during his lifetime was sought after as a military engineer and inventor. His anatomical drawings are so precise that they are still being used by medical students 500 years later.
A new exhibition at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum brings to light the lesser-known brilliance of da Vinci\’s discoveries in geology and paleontology.
The claim that fossils were swept there by the biblical flood is a completely inadequate explanation. So the surface of the earth has changed over time, with land where once there was sea.
J.Jones, Leonardo da Vinci\’s earth-shattering insights about geology, theguardian.com, 23/11/2011
Here is a sneak preview of Da Vinci Machines & Robotics, the acclaimed traveling exhibition that explores and connects da Vinci\’s studies in nature, anatomy, mechanics, flight and robotics.
Las Vegas Natural History Museum until 10 September 2022.
Book tickets online
Check out the installation in this 2 minute timelapse video.